The 1896-97 English football season was Aston Villa's ninth season in the Football League since being one of its 12 founding members in 1888. The season got off to a slow start, with Villa recording only two wins in the first six games. An unbeaten run of 12 games took them to the top, where they finished with a lead of 11 points. The title was won when Derby County F.C. failed to win on 10 April; Villa had three games left to play, all of which were won. For good measure, the FA Cup was also won, to make Villa the second team to complete "The Double".