The 1996–97 season was the 26th in the history of Essex Senior Football Leagueafootball competition in England.[1]
The league featured 13 clubs which competed in the league last season, along with two new clubs:
Ford United were champions, winning their second Essex Senior League title and were promoted to the Isthmian League.
| Season | 1996–97 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Ford United |
| Promoted | Ford United |
| Matches played | 210 |
| Goals scored | 707 (3.37 per match) |
← 1995–96 1997–98 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford United | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 91 | 24 | +67 | 69 | Promoted to the Isthmian League |
| 2 | Great Wakering Rovers | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 67 | 19 | +48 | 66 | |
| 3 | Concord Rangers | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 99 | 31 | +68 | 62 | |
| 4 | Stansted | 28 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 53 | 37 | +16 | 59 | |
| 5 | Burnham Ramblers | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 62 | 39 | +23 | 46 | |
| 6 | Brentwood | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 43 | |
| 7 | Hullbridge Sports | 28 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 52 | 42 | +10 | 43 | |
| 8 | Basildon United | 28 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 37[a] | |
| 9 | Ilford | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 34 | |
| 10 | Saffron Walden Town | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 32 | |
| 11 | Southend Manor | 28 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 29 | |
| 12 | Bowers United | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 32 | 77 | −45 | 28 | |
| 13 | East Ham United | 28 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 54 | −25 | 24 | |
| 14 | Sawbridgeworth Town | 28 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 69 | −52 | 12 | |
| 15 | Eton Manor | 28 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 108 | −95 | 7 |
