1997–98 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 95th in the Football League. They finished in seventh position in the 24-team Division One, the second tier of the English football league system, missing out on the playoff places on goals scored. Needing to win their last game, at home to Charlton Athletic, and hope that Sheffield United failed to win theirs, Birmingham "were repeatedly foiled in this emotionally-charged game by a brilliant display from Charlton's goalkeeper" Saša Ilić; the game finished goalless.[2] They entered the 1997–98 FA Cup at the third round, losing to Leeds United in the fifth, and entered the League Cup in the first round and lost to Arsenal in the third.

Birmingham City F.C.
1997–98 season
ChairmanDavid Gold
ManagerTrevor Francis
GroundSt Andrew's
Division One7th
FA CupFifth round
(eliminated by Leeds United)
League CupThird round
(eliminated by Arsenal)
Top goalscorerLeague: Paul Furlong (15)
All: Paul Furlong (19)
Highest home attendance24,663 vs Nottingham Forest, 21 March 1998
Lowest home attendance4,900 vs Stockport County, League Cup 2nd round 1st leg, 17 September 1997
Average home league attendance18,751[1]

In August 1997, co-owner David Gold took up the post of chairman after Jack Wiseman's retirement.[3]

Football League First Division
Main article: 1997–98 Football League

Match details
DateLeague
position		Opponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
9 August 1997 1stStoke CityH W2–0Devlin 33', Ndlovu 87' 20,608 [4]
23 August 1997 5thReadingH W3–0Devlin 38', Bruce 81', Ndlovu 88' 16,495 [4]
29 August 1997 3rdStockport CountyA D2–2Devlin 68', Francis 72' 6,260 [4]
2 September 1997 3rdTranmere RoversA W3–0Hughes 11', Ndlovu 44', Furlong 65' 6,620 [4]
9 September 1997 2ndHuddersfield TownA W1–0Furlong 70' 9,477 [4]
14 September 1997 4thSunderlandH L0–1 17,478 [4]
20 September 1997 7thMiddlesbroughA L1–3Furlong 51' 30,125 [4]
27 September 1997 7thSheffield UnitedA D0–0 20,553 [4]
4 October 1997 9thCrewe AlexandraH L0–1 16,548 [4]
12 October 1997 6thWolverhampton WanderersH W1–0Marsden 8' 17,822 [4]
18 October 1997 8thBuryA L1–2Grainger 90' 5,700 [4]
22 October 1997 12thCharlton AthleticA D1–1Devlin 83' 10,070 [4]
25 October 1997 12thOxford UnitedH D0–0 16,352 [4]
28 October 1997 11thIpswich TownH D1–1Bruce 81' 16,778 [4]
1 November 1997 11thQueens Park RangersA D1–1Furlong 42' 12,715 [4]
4 November 1997 13thBradford CityH D0–0 14,554 [4]
8 November 1997 14thNorwich CityH L1–2Devlin 27' pen. 16,464 [4]
15 November 1997 14thNottingham ForestA L0–1 19,610 [4]
23 November 1997 14thWest Bromwich AlbionA L0–1 18,444 [4]
29 November 1997 14thPortsmouthH W2–1Furlong (2) 36', 73' 17,738 [4]
13 December 1997 11thPort ValeA W1–0Cottee 18' 7,509 [4]
6 December 1997 11thManchester CityH W2–1Forster 90', O'Connor 90' 21,014 [4]
20 December 1997 11thSwindon TownA D1–1Forster 22' 10,900 [5]
26 December 1997 10thIpswich TownA W1–0McCarthy 83' 17,459 [4]
28 December 1997 10thTranmere RoversH D0–0 19,533 [4]
10 January 1998 8thStoke CityA W7–0Hughes (2) 4', 9', Forster 26, Furlong (3) 50', 69', 87', McCarthy 56' 14,940 [4]
17 January 1998 8thHuddersfield TownH D0–0 17,850 [4]
27 January 1998 7thStockport CountyH W4–1Furlong (3) 7', 31', 90', McCarthy 16' 17,118 [4]
31 January 1998 9thReadingA L0–2 10,315 [4]
7 February 1998 9thMiddlesbroughH D1–1McCarthy 3' 20,639 [4]
17 February 1998 9thCrewe AlexandraA W2–0Adebola 42', Hughes 45' 5,559 [4]
22 February 1998 8thSheffield UnitedH W2–0Grainger 31', Johnson 66' 17,965 [4]
25 February 1998 9thBuryH L1–3Johnson 90' 20,021 [4]
28 February 1998 6thWolverhampton WanderersA W3–1Ndlovu (2) 35', 77' pen., Adebola 71' 25,591 [4]
4 March 1998 8thNorwich CityA D3–3Ndlovu (2) 13', 88', Adebola 44' 9,819 [4]
7 March 1998 7thQueens Park RangersH W1–0Adebola 68' 18,298 [4]
10 March 1998 6thSunderlandA D1–1Adebola 50' 37,602[4] [4]
14 March 1998 7thBradford CityA D0–0 16,392 [4]
21 March 1998 7thNottingham ForestH L1–2Ndlovu 61' pen. 24,663 [4]
28 March 1998 7thWest Bromwich AlbionH W1–0Johnson 90' 23,260 [4]
4 April 1998 7thPortsmouthA D1–1Adebola 84' 14,591 [6]
11 April 1998 7thPort ValeH D1–1Ndlovu 87' 17,193 [4]
13 April 1998 7thManchester CityA W1–0Adebola 90' 29,569 [4]
18 April 1998 7thSwindon TownH W3–0Furlong (2) 9', 34' pen., Hughes 82' 17,016 [4]
25 April 1998 7thOxford UnitedA W2–0Ford 73' o.g., Furlong 85' 8,818 [4]
3 May 1998 7thCharlton AthleticH D0–0 25,877 [2]

League table (part)
Final Division One table (part)
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts
5th Ipswich Town46231497743+3283
6th Sheffield United461917106954+1574
7th Birmingham City461917106035+2574
8th Stockport County46198197169+265
9th Wolverhampton Wanderers461811175753+465
Key Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played;
W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;
F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Source [7]

Note that goals scored took precedence over goal difference as a tiebreaker in the Football League.[7]

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 19 17 10 60 35  +25 74 10 8 5 27 15  +12 9 9 5 33 20  +13

Source: [7]

FA Cup
Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
Third round 4 January 1998Crewe AlexandraA W2–1Furlong 22' pen., 55' 4,607 [4]
Fourth round 24 January 1998Stockport CountyH W2–1Hughes 32', 84' 15,882 [4]
Fifth round 14 February 1998Leeds UnitedA L2–3Ablett 63', Ndlovu 81' 35,463 [4]

League Cup
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
First round 1st leg 12 August 1997GillinghamA W1–0Francis 85' 5,246 [8]
First round 2nd leg 26 August 1997GillinghamH W3–0
4–0 agg.		Devlin 68', Ndlovu 75', Furlong 78' 7,921
Second round 1st leg 17 September 1997Stockport CountyH W4–1Hughes 41', Robinson 51', Devlin 77' pen., 87' 4,900 [4]
Second round 2nd leg 23 September 1997Stockport CountyA L1–2
5–3 agg.		Furlong 70' pen. 2,074 [4]
Third round 14 October 1997ArsenalA L1–4Hey 20' 27,097 [4]

Transfers

In
Date Player Club Fee Ref
July 1997Peter NdlovuCoventry City£1.6m [9]
August 1997Jerry GillYeovil Town£30,000 [10]
August 1997Howard ForintonYeovil Town£70,000 [10]
August 1997Tony HeySC Fortuna Köln£300,000 [11]
September 1997Jon McCarthyPort Vale£1.5m
October 1997Chris MarsdenStockport County£500,000
January 1998Simon CharltonSouthampton£200,000
February 1998Dele AdebolaCrewe Alexandra£1m
February 1998Darren PurseOxford United£700,000a [12]
a. Purse joined from Oxford United in exchange for £600,000 and Kevin Francis, with Francis valued at £100,000.[12]

Out
Date Player Fee Joined Ref
July 1997Dave BarnettFree(Dunfermline Athletic) [13]
July 1997Mike Newell£160,000Aberdeen [14]
August 1997Kenny Brown£40,000Millwall
October 1997Barry HorneFreeHuddersfield Town
December 1997Jason Bowen£200,000Reading
February 1998Kevin Francis£100,000aOxford United [12]
February 1998Andy Legg£75,000Reading
March 1998Paul Devlin£200,000Sheffield United [15]
Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.
a. Valued at £100,000 in the deal in which Darren Purse joined Birmingham from Oxford United in exchange for £600,000 plus Francis.[12]

Loan in
Date Player Club Return Ref
November 1997 Tony CotteeLeicester CityOne month [16]
December 1997 Simon CharltonSouthamptonOne month [17]

Loan out
Date Player Club Return Ref
September 1997 Ricky OttoNotts CountyOne month [18]
December 1997 Paul TaitNorthampton TownOne month [19]

Appearances and goals
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with name struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
Players included in matchday squads
Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK ENG Ian Bennett 450305053000
GK ENG Kevin Poole 1000001000
DF ENG Gary Ablett 34 (2)0315042 (2)140
DF ENG Jon Bass 300303 (1)036 (1)010
DF ENG Steve Bruce 402302045280
DF ENG Simon Charlton 23 (1)0100024 (1)040
DF ENG Jerry Gill 3000003000
DF ENG Martin Grainger 27 (6)2304 (1)034 (7)270
DF JAM Michael Johnson 22 (16)30 (2)01 (4)023 (22)331
DF ENG Darren Purse 2 (6)000002 (6)010
DF ENG Simon Rea 0000000000
DF ENG Darren Wassall 140005019042
MF SCO Paul Devlin 13 (9)50 (1)05318 (10)820
MF GER Tony Hey 8 (1)0002110 (1)100
MF ENG Chris Holland 2 (8)000305 (8)010
MF ENG Bryan Hughes 34 (6)5324141 (6)810
MF ENG Chris Marsden 31 (1)1200033 (1)161
MF NIR Jon McCarthy 414300044440
MF ENG Martyn O'Connor 32 (1)1303038 (1)130
MF ENG Steve Robinson 17 (8)00 (1)04121 (9)120
FW NGA Dele Adebola 16 (1)7000016 (1)710
FW ENG Tony Cottee* 4 (1)100004 (1)100
FW ENG Howard Forinton 0 (1)000000 (1)000
FW ENG Nicky Forster 12 (16)3300015 (16)310
FW SKN Kevin Francis 2 (18)10 (2)00 (5)12 (25)230
FW ENG Paul Furlong 24 (1)15224230 (1)1981
FW ZIM Peter Ndlovu 29 (10)91 (1)15135 (11)1150
Players not included in matchday squads
Pos. Nat. Name
MF WAL Jason Bowen
MF WAL Barry Horne
MF WAL Andy Legg
MF ENG Ricky Otto
MF ENG Paul Tait

See also

References

General

  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  • Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
  • Source for match dates, league positions and results: "Birmingham City 1997–1998: Results". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 430–31.
  • Source for goal times: "Birmingham Results 1997/98". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • Source for transfers: "Birmingham Transfers 1997/98". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  • Source for discipline: individual player pages linked from "Birmingham Squad details 1997/98". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 June 2013. Soccerbase omits details of the visit to Nottingham Forest, so cards received in that game are sourced from Rodgers, Ian (15 November 1997). "Nottingham Forest 1 Birmingham 0". sportinglife.com. British Sky Broadcasting. PA Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

Specific

  1. "English historical attendance and performance: Birmingham City". European Football Statistics. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  2. "Birmingham 0 Charlton 0". sportinglife.com. British Sky Broadcasting. 3 May 1998. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. Willcock, John (5 August 1997). "People & Business: Tennis anyone? City clears out for the summer holidays". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  4. "Birmingham City Reports – 1997–1998". sportinglife.com. 365 Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Individual match reports are linked from this page.
  5. Steggles, Jack (21 December 1997). "Ref in red card fury". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  6. Steen, Rob (5 April 1998). "Thomson's touch livens up party". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  7. "Birmingham City 1997–1998 : English Division One Table". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  8. "Thank Kevin!". Daily Mirror. 13 August 1997. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  9. Tattum, Colin (6 July 2009). "Medical concerns delay Benitez's £9m move to Blues". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  10. "Yeovil's £10,000 windfall". Western Daily Press. 20 August 1999. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  11. Curtis, John (26 July 1997). "Birmingham City 1 Derby 0". sportinglife.com. British Sky Broadcasting. PA Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. "Sporting Digest: Football". The Independent. London. 17 February 1998. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  13. "Rougier heads for Hibs in swop deal". The Herald. Scotland. 10 July 1997. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  14. McGregor, Derek (15 October 1997). "We can't talk our way out of this slump". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  15. Murray, Adrian (27 December 1999). "Devlin in full support of a happy return". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  16. "Tony Cottee". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  17. "Simon Charlton". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  18. "Ricky Otto: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  19. "Paul Tait: Career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
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