1997–98 Fulham F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was Fulham's 100th season in professional football. They played in the Second Division (previously known as the Third Division).

Fulham F.C.
1997–98 season
ChairmanMohammed Al Fayed
ManagerMicky Adams (until 25 September)
Ray Wilkins (from 25 September to 3 May)
Kevin Keegan (from 3 May)
Second Division6th
Play-offsSemi-finals
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Auto Windscreens ShieldQuarter finals
Top goalscorerMoody (15)
Average home league attendance9,018

Season summary

Manager Micky Adams was sacked in September, soon after Mohammed Al Fayed's take-over. Ray Wilkins and Kevin Keegan were appointed as head coach and director of football respectively. The club managed to make the play-offs despite losing their last three games, but this wasn't good enough for Al Fayed, who sacked Wilkins and promoted Keegan to his position. Keegan was unable to navigate Fulham through the play-offs as they were defeated by Grimsby Town 2–1 on aggregate (1–1 and 1–0 over two legs) in the semi-finals.

Final league table
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1Watford4613733622119331196741+2688
2Bristol City461652411795928226939+3085
3Grimsby Town461175301488725235537+1872
4Northampton Town4614543317412719205237+1571
5Bristol Rovers461328433378827317064+670
6Fulham4612743114831229296043+1770
7Wrexham4610103312386924285551+470
8Gillingham4613733018661122295247+570
9Bournemouth4611842815741229375752+566
10Chesterfield46137331193101015254644+265
11Wigan Athletic4612564131561223356466–262
12Blackpool4613643524451424435967–862
13Oldham Athletic4613734323291219316254+861
14Wycombe Wanderers46101033220481119335153–260
15Preston North End4610672926581027305656±059
16York City469772621510826375258–659
17Luton Town46779353878825266064–457
18Millwall467882323751120314354–1155
19Walsall4610852616441517364352–954
20Burnley4610943423341621425565–1052
21Brentford4697733292101117425071–2150
22Plymouth Argyle4610583630281319405570–1549
23Carlisle United4685102728431630455773–1644
24Southend United468782930331718494779–3243
  • Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
  • NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Participated in play-offs
Promoted through play-offs
Relegated

Results

Fulham's score comes first[1]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
9 August 1997WrexhamH1–08,789Conroy
16 August 1997WalsallA1–14,418Keister (own goal)
23 August 1997Luton TownH0–08,142
30 August 1997Wycombe WanderersA0–26,278
2 September 1997Bristol CityA2–010,293Newhouse, Carpenter
9 September 1997Plymouth ArgyleH2–08,961Moody (2)
13 September 1997Grimsby TownH0–26,874
20 September 1997Southend UnitedA0–15,026
27 September 1997Wigan AthleticA1–24,951Hayward
4 October 1997Oldham AthleticH3–18,805Moody (2), Sinnott (own goal)
11 October 1997BlackpoolH1–07,760Conroy
18 October 1997BournemouthA1–27,484Vincent (own goal)
21 October 1997WatfordA0–211,486
25 October 1997Northampton TownH1–19,848Peschisolido
1 November 1997ChesterfieldH1–17,998Blake
4 November 1997MillwallA1–110,291Peschisolido
8 November 1997Bristol RoversA3–26,166Carpenter, Scott (2)
18 November 1997York CityH1–15,521Peschisolido
21 November 1997GillinghamH3–08,274Peschisolido (2), Watson
29 November 1997Preston North EndA1–39,723Scott
2 December 1997BrentfordH1–110,767Peschisolido
13 December 1997Carlisle UnitedA0–24,574
19 December 1997BurnleyH1–05,096Cullip
26 December 1997Plymouth ArgyleA4–19,469Moody (2), Hayward, Trollope
28 December 1997Bristol CityH1–013,273Moody
10 January 1998WrexhamA3–05,338Moody, Peschisolido, Trollope
17 January 1998Wycombe WanderersH0–010,468
24 January 1998Luton TownA4–18,366Moody (3, 1 pen), Hayward
31 January 1998Grimsby TownA1–16,785Lightbourne
7 February 1998Southend UnitedH2–09,122Peschisolido, Lightbourne
14 February 1998Oldham AthleticA0–16,063
21 February 1998Wigan AthleticH2–07,791Hayward, Peschisolido
24 February 1998BournemouthH0–17,708
28 February 1998BlackpoolA1–25,183Coleman
3 March 1998Bristol RoversH1–06,843Thorpe
7 March 1998ChesterfieldA2–05,129Morgan, Blake
14 March 1998MillwallH1–212,318Thorpe
21 March 1998York CityA1–04,871Peschisolido
28 March 1998GillinghamA0–210,507
4 April 1998Preston North EndH2–18,814Brazier, Collins
7 April 1998WalsallH1–16,733Trollope
11 April 1998BrentfordA2–010,510Moody (2)
13 April 1998Carlisle UnitedH5–09,243Peschisolido (3), Moody (pen), Thorpe
18 April 1998BurnleyA1–29,745Moody
25 April 1998Northampton TownA0–17,443
2 May 1998WatfordH1–217,114Beardsley

Second Division play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SF 1st Leg9 May 1998Grimsby TownH1–113,954Beardsley (pen)
SF 2nd Leg13 May 1998Grimsby TownA0–1 (lost 1-2 on agg)8,689

FA Cup
Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1997MargateA2–15,100Carpenter, Scott
R26 December 1997Southend UnitedH1–08,537Blake (pen)
R35 January 1998Tottenham HotspurA1–327,909Smith

League Cup
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg12 August 1997Wycombe WanderersA2–14,360Newhouse, Conroy
R1 2nd Leg26 August 1997Wycombe WanderersH4–4 (won 6-5 on agg)5,055Newhouse (2), Carpenter, Conroy
R2 1st Leg16 September 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH0–15,933
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1997Wolverhampton WanderersA0–1 (lost 0-2 on agg)17,862

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR19 December 1997WatfordH1–03,364Moody
SR213 January 1998Wycombe WanderersH3–14,319Thomas (2), Freeman
SQF27 January 1998Luton TownH1–25,103Lightbourne

Players

First-team squad

[2] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  NIR Maik Taylor[notes 1]
— GK  RSA Andre Arendse
— GK  WAL Mark Walton
— DF  ENG Jimmy Aggrey
— DF  ENG Mark Blake
— DF  ENG Rufus Brevett
— DF  ENG Danny Cullip
— DF  WAL Chris Coleman
— DF  ENG Robbie Herrera
— DF  ENG Matt Lawrence
— DF  IRL Shaun Maher
— DF  SCO Steve McAnespie
— DF  ENG Simon Morgan
— DF  GER Alan Neilson[notes 2]
— DF  ENG Rob Scott
— DF  ENG Simon Stewart
— DF  ENG Martin Thomas
— DF  ENG Paul Watson
— MF  ENG Paul Bracewell
— MF  ENG Matt Brazier
— MF  ENG Paul Brooker
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Richard Carpenter
— MF  ENG Glenn Cockerill
— MF  ENG Wayne Collins
— MF  ENG Nick Cusack
— MF  ENG Sean Davis
— MF  ENG Steve Hayward
— MF  NIR Rod McAree
— MF  ENG Ian Selley
— MF  ENG Neil Smith
— MF  WAL Paul Trollope[notes 3]
— FW  ENG Andy Arnott
— FW  ENG Peter Beardsley (on loan from Bolton Wanderers)
— FW  ENG Luke Cornwall
— FW  SCO Mike Conroy
— FW  ENG Darren Freeman
— FW  BER Kyle Lightbourne (on loan from Coventry City)
— FW  ENG Leon McKenzie (on loan from Crystal Palace)
— FW  ENG Paul Moody
— FW  ENG Aidan Newhouse
— FW  CAN Paul Peschisolido
— FW  ENG Tony Thorpe

Transfers

In
Date Pos. Name From Fee
1 August 1997 DF Jimmy Aggrey Chelsea Free transfer
1 August 1997 FW Andy Arnott Leyton Orient £23,000
1 August 1997 MF Neil Smith Gillingham Transfer
1 August 1997 GK Andre Arendse Cape Town Spurs £200,000[3]
1 August 1997 FW Paul Moody Oxford United £200,000
1 August 1997 DF Ian McGuckin Hartlepool United £75,000
1 August 1997 MF Steve Hayward Carlisle United £175,000
10 October 1997 MF Paul Bracewell Sunderland £75,000
17 October 1997 MF Ian Selley Arsenal £500,000
24 October 1997 FW Paul Peschisolido West Bromwich Albion £1,100,000
14 November 1997 GK Maik Taylor Southampton £700,000
26 November 1997 DF Alan Neilson Southampton £250,000
27 November 1997 MF Steve McAnespie Bolton Wanderers £100,000
27 November 1997 MF Paul Trollope Derby County £600,000
1 December 1997 DF Chris Coleman Blackburn Rovers £2,000,000
1 December 1997 MF Shaun Maher Bohemians £35,000
22 January 1998 MF Wayne Collins Sheffield Wednesday £400,000
30 January 1998 DF Rufus Brevett Queens Park Rangers £375,000
26 February 1998 FW Tony Thorpe Luton Town £800,000
20 March 1998 MF Matt Brazier Queens Park Rangers £65,000

Out
Date Pos. Name To Fee
1 August 1997 DF Terry Angus Slough Town Free transfer
1 August 1997 DF John Hamsher Rushden & Diamonds Free transfer
1 August 1997 MF Michael Mison Rushden & Diamonds Free transfer
31 October 1997 FW Aidan Newhouse Swansea City £30,000
31 October 1997 MF Nick Cusack Swansea City £50,000
7 November 1997 MF Glenn Cockerill Brentford Free transfer
19 December 1997 DF Paul Watson Brentford £50,000
6 February 1998 GK Mark Walton Gillingham £40,000
18 February 1998 DF Danny Cullip Brentford £75,000
26 March 1998 FW Mike Conroy Blackpool £50,000
Transfers in: £7,473,000
Transfers out: £295,000
Total spending: £7,178,000

References
  1. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/fulham/1997-1998/results
  2. "All Fulham players: 1998". 11v11.com. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  3. http://www.fulhamweb.co.uk/player/98/andre-arendse.aspx

Notes
  1. Taylor was born in Hildesheim, West Germany, but qualified to represent any of the home nations internationally as he holds a British passport, and represented Northern Ireland at U-21 level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in March 1999.
  2. Neilson was born in Wegberg, West Germany, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally and made his international debut for Wales in February 1992.
  3. Trollope was born in Swindon, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally and made his international debut for Wales in May 1997.
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