Gimnasia–LP was founded 3 de junio de 1887, with Héctor Atilio Delmar as club president at the time of this guide. Club colors: blanca, cruzada al medio por una franja horizontal azul. Home ground: "Juan Carlos Zerrillo", Calle 60 esquina 118 (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires. Head coach for the 1996/97 preseason per the guide: Carlos Timoteo Griguol. Mariano Messera was one of 31 players listed in the Gimnasia–LP first-team squad in this edition of the guide, playing as a midfielder (Vol.(10) in the source).
| Apellido/Nombres (as printed) | F./Nacim. | Lugar | Puesto | Procedencia | Condición |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MESSERA, Mariano | 23-02-78 | Posadas (MIS) | Vol.(10) | Div. Inf. | Del club |
Transcribed verbatim from the club's page in the guide. This edition prints Procedencia and Condición as two separate columns (unlike the 1986/87 edition's single combined field). Not editorially expanded beyond common football-transfer shorthand: a youth-academy product of the club (“Divisiones Inferiores”).
Solo Fútbol Guía 1996/97. Uploaded by Jim Totime, 1 September 2026. Cross-reference against a modern source (Transfermarkt / RSSSF) recommended before this is used for anything client-facing — this stub has not been independently verified against a second source.