1996–97 KNVB Cup

The 1996-97 KNVB Cup (at the time called Amstel Cup) was the 79th edition of the Dutch national football annual knockout tournament for the KNVB Cup. 78 teams contested, beginning on 1 June 1996 and ending at the final on 8 May 1997.

1996–97 KNVB Cup

Tournament details
Country	Netherlands
Teams	78
Defending champions	PSV
Final positions
Champions	Roda JC
Runners-up	sc Heerenveen
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)	Harry van der Laan (7 goals)
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

Roda JC beat sc Heerenveen 4–2 and won the cup for the first time.

Teams

• All 18 participants of the Eredivisie 1996-97, four of which entering in the knock-out stage, the rest entering in the group stage
• All 18 participants of the Eerste Divisie 1996-97, entering in the group stage (only FC Den Bosch entered in the preliminary round)
• 39 teams from lower (amateur) leagues, six of which entering in the group stage, the rest entering in the preliminary round
• 3 youth teams, one entering in the group stage, the other two in the preliminary round

Preliminary round

The matches of the preliminary round were played on 1, 2, 6 and 9 June 1996. Except for Eerste Divisie club FC Den Bosch, only amateur clubs and two youth teams participated.

Home team	Result	Away team
VV Geldrop/AEK	2–2 (p)	USV Holland
HSC '21	2–1	HVV Hollandia
SC Genemuiden	3–4 (aet)	De Treffers [1]
VV DOVO	2–1	FC Lisse
Young sc Heerenveen	1–5	Quick Boys
IJsselmeervogels	1–0 (aet)	SV Panningen
VV Hoogezand	5–2	RKFC Lindenheuvel
VV Sneek	2–2 (p)	RKSV Wittenhorst
Quick '20	2–3	Kozakken Boys (on June 15)

Home team	Result	Away team
Young Sparta	4–1	DCV
AFC '34	3–3 (p)	GVVV
VV Bennekom	3–1	DOS Kampen
VV Gemert	2–4	De Treffers [1]
VV Katwijk	2–0	ACV
Achilles Veen	1–1 (p)	AFC
RKSV Halsteren	8–1	FVC
RIOS '31	3–0	VV Sittard
DCV	2–6	FC Den Bosch

Group stage

The matches of the group stage were played between August 15 and October 1, 1996. Except for four Eredivisie clubs, all other participants entered the tournament this round. 56 clubs participated, 28 advanced to the next round.

Group 1

Team	Pts
1. FC Emmen 1	9
2. FC Groningen E	6
3. VV Appingedam A	3
4. VV Hoogezand A	0

Group 2

Team	Pts
1. sc Heerenveen E	9
2. Cambuur Leeuw. 1	6
3. SV Urk A	3
4. VV Sneek A	0

Group 3

Team	Pts
1. FC Twente E	9
2. Veendam 1	6
3. Young Ajax	3
4. HSC '21 A	0

Group 4

Team	Pts
1. Vitesse Arnhem E	7
2. FC Zwolle 1	4
3. GVVV A	3
4. VV DOVO A	3

Group 5

Team	Pts
1. Fortuna Sittard E	5
2. Helmond Sport 1	3
3. MVV 1	3
4. RIOS '31 A	2

Group 6

Team	Pts
1. Willem II E	9
2. FC Eindhoven 1	6
3. FC Den Bosch 1	3
4. Geldrop/AEK A	0

Group 7

Team	Pts
1. De Graafschap E	7
2. SC Heracles 1	4
3. IJsselmeervogels A	3
4. De Treffers A	3

Group 8

Team	Pts
1. NAC Breda E	9
2. VV Baronie A	4
3. Dordrecht'90 1	3
4. Kozakken Boys A	3

Group 9

Team	Pts
1. RKC Waalwijk E	9
2. RBC Roosendaal 1	6
3. RKSV Halsteren A	3
4. HSV Hoek A	0

Group 10

Team	Pts
1. TOP Oss 1	6
2. SC Feyenoord A	6
3. FC Utrecht E	3
4. Young Sparta	3

Group 11

Team	Pts
1. AZ E	7
2. Go Ahead Eagles 1	6
3. AFC A	3
4. Excelsior 1	1

Group 12

Team	Pts
1. NEC E	9
2. VVV-Venlo 1	6
3. BVV/Verachtert A	1
4. VV Bennekom A	1

Group 13

Team	Pts
1. Sparta E	7
2. Telstar 1	4
3. ADO Den Haag 1	3
4. SVV Scheveningen A	1

Group 14

Team	Pts
1. FC Volendam E	7
2. VV Katwijk A	5
3. HFC Haarlem 1	3
4. Quick Boys A	1

_E Eredivisie; ₁ Eerste Divisie; _A Amateur teams

Knock-out Stage

First round

The matches of the first knock-out round were played on November 27, 1996. The four highest ranked Eredivisie teams from last season entered the tournament this round.

Home team	Result	Away team
SC Heracles	1–0	Ajax E
FC Volendam	1–0	SC Feyenoord (amateurs)
FC Emmen	0–3	FC Groningen
Telstar	0–2	De Graafschap
Cambuur Leeuwarden	0–2	Willem II
VV Baronie	0–2	Feyenoord E
Sparta	0–1	FC Twente
FC Zwolle	2–1	Fortuna Sittard (on December 1)

Home team	Result	Away team
Roda JC E	6–2	VV Katwijk
AZ	4–1	Go Ahead Eagles
RBC Roosendaal	3–4	NEC
sc Heerenveen	3–2 (aet)	TOP Oss
Vitesse Arnhem	3–2	FC Eindhoven
VVV-Venlo	1–2	PSV E
Veendam	1–2	RKC Waalwijk
Helmond Sport	1–1 (p)	NAC Breda

_E four Eredivisie entrants

Round of 16

The matches of the round of 16 were played between February 7 and 12, 1997.

Home team	Result	Away team
FC Zwolle	2–1	FC Volendam
FC Twente	0–0 (p: 3-5)	Vitesse Arnhem
SC Heracles	2–4	Helmond Sport
sc Heerenveen	2–0	NEC Nijmegen
Feyenoord	1–0	RKC Waalwijk
PSV	2–3	AZ
Willem II	2–0	FC Groningen
De Graafschap	0–2	Roda JC (on February 19)

Quarter finals

The quarter finals were played on March 11 and 12, 1997.

Home team	Result	Away team
FC Zwolle	0–5	Roda JC
Helmond Sport	2–1	Vitesse Arnhem
sc Heerenveen	2–1	Feyenoord
AZ	0–2	Willem II

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played on April 16 and 17, 1997

Home team	Result	Away team
Roda JC	1–0	Willem II
sc Heerenveen	5–0	Helmond Sport

Final

Main article: 1997 KNVB Cup Final

8 May 1997

18:00 CEST

Roda JC	4–2	Heerenveen
Sibon 4' Senden 16' Van der Luer 48' Schops 56'	Report	Korneev 12' Talan 83'

De Kuip, Rotterdam

Attendance: 48,000

Referee: Hans Reygwart

Roda JC would participate in the Cup Winners' Cup.