1997–98 Sunderland A.F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Sunderland A.F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Sunderland
1997–98 season
ChairmanBob Murray
ManagerPeter Reid
StadiumStadium of Light
First Division3rd
FA CupFourth round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Kevin Phillips (29)
All: Kevin Phillips (35)
Average home league attendance33,492

Season summary

In the 1997–98 season, their first campaign at their new ground, Sunderland finished third in Division One.[1] After beating Sheffield United in the Football League play-offs semi-final, they reached the final at Wembley with a place in the Premier League at stake. Over 40,000 fans travelled from the North-East to see the game against Charlton Athletic. The match was drawn 4–4 after extra time had been played; Charlton, however, won the game on a penalty shootout, after Michael Gray had his penalty saved by Charlton goalkeeper Saša Ilić.[2]

Final league table
Main article: 1997–98 Football League First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Nottingham Forest (C) 46 28 10 8 82 42 +40 94 Promotion to 1998–99 FA Premier League
2 Middlesbrough (P) 46 27 10 9 77 41 +36 91
3 Sunderland 46 26 12 8 86 50 +36 90 Qualification for First Division play-offs
4 Charlton Athletic (P) 46 26 10 10 80 49 +31 88
5 Ipswich Town 46 23 14 9 77 43 +34 83
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 1998. Source: Statto.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) number of goal scored; 3) goal difference.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted.

Results

Sunderland's score comes first[3]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
10 August 1997Sheffield UnitedA0–217,324
15 August 1997Manchester CityH3–138,827Quinn, Phillips, Clark
23 August 1997Port ValeA1–38,290Phillips
30 August 1997Norwich CityH0–129,204
2 September 1997Oxford UnitedH3–127,643Phillips, Beauchamp (own goal), Melville
5 September 1997Bradford CityA4–016,484Gray, Clark, Phillips, Johnston
14 September 1997Birmingham CityA1–017,478Gray
20 September 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH1–130,682Smith
28 September 1997MiddlesbroughH1–235,384Ball
4 October 1997ReadingA0–410,795
18 October 1997Huddersfield TownH3–124,782Smith, Bridges, Clark
21 October 1997Swindon TownH0–027,553
25 October 1997Stoke CityA2–114,587Clark (2)
1 November 1997Stockport CountyA1–19,474Clark
4 November 1997Charlton AthleticH0–025,455
8 November 1997Nottingham ForestH1–133,160Phillips
15 November 1997PortsmouthA4–110,702Quinn, Clark, Johnston, Summerbee
22 November 1997BuryA1–17,790Phillips
29 November 1997Tranmere RoversH3–026,674Clark (2), Phillips
6 December 1997Queens Park RangersA1–015,266Quinn
13 December 1997West Bromwich AlbionH2–029,231Phillips, Johnston
20 December 1997Crewe AlexandraA3–05,404Phillips, Summerbee, Quinn
26 December 1997Bradford CityH2–040,055Phillips, Johnston
28 December 1997Oxford UnitedA1–18,659Phillips
10 January 1998Sheffield UnitedH4–236,391Quinn, Rae, Phillips (2)
17 January 1998Manchester CityA1–031,715Phillips
28 January 1998Norwich CityA1–215,940Clark
31 January 1998Port ValeH4–239,258Johnston, Phillips, Quinn, Carragher (own goal)
7 February 1998Wolverhampton WanderersA1–027,502Ball
17 February 1998ReadingH4–140,579Quinn, Rae, Phillips (2)
21 February 1998MiddlesbroughA1–330,227Clark
24 February 1998Huddersfield TownA3–214,615Johnston (3, 1 pen)
28 February 1998Ipswich TownH2–235,114Williams, Phillips
4 March 1998Nottingham ForestA3–029,009Rae, Johnston, Phillips
7 March 1998Stockport CountyH4–134,870Quinn (3), Phillips
10 March 1998Birmingham CityH1–137,602Johnston
15 March 1998Charlton AthleticA1–115,355Phillips
21 March 1998PortsmouthH2–138,134Phillips, Johnston
28 March 1998BuryH2–137,425Clark, Phillips
3 April 1998Tranmere RoversA2–014,116Phillips, Summerbee
10 April 1998Queens Park RangersH2–240,014Quinn (2)
13 April 1998West Bromwich AlbionA3–320,181Quinn (2), Phillips
18 April 1998Crewe AlexandraH2–140,441Ball, Clark
25 April 1998Stoke CityH3–041,214Williams, Phillips (2)
28 April 1998Ipswich TownA0–220,902
3 May 1998Swindon TownA2–114,868Phillips (2)

First Division play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SF 1st Leg10 May 1998Sheffield UnitedA1–223,800Ball
SF 2nd Leg13 May 1998Sheffield UnitedH2–0 (won 3-2 on agg)40,092Marker (own goal), Phillips
F25 May 1998Charlton AthleticN4–4 (lost 6-7 on pens)77,739Quinn (2), Phillips, Summerbee

FA Cup
Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R33 January 1998Rotherham UnitedA5–111,500Phillips (4, 1 pen), Quinn
R424 January 1998Tranmere RoversA0–114,055

League Cup
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 First Leg16 September 1997BuryH2–118,775Williams, Bridges
R2 Second Leg23 September 1997BuryA2–1 (won 4-2 on agg)3,928Smith, Rae
R315 October 1997MiddlesbroughA0–226,451

Players

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[4]

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  ENG Luke Weaver
— GK  ENG Mike Pollitt
— GK  FRA Lionel Pérez
— GK  NED Edwin Zoetebier
— DF  ENG Jody Craddock
— DF  ENG Elliott Dickman
— DF  ENG Michael Gray
— DF  ENG Paul Heckingbottom
— DF  ENG Darren Holloway
— DF  ENG Chris Makin
— DF  ENG Mark Maley
— DF  ENG Richard Ord
— DF  ENG Martin Scott
— DF  ENG Darren Williams
— DF  WAL Gareth Hall[notes 1]
— DF  WAL Andy Melville
— DF  SCO Allan Johnston
— DF  DEN Kim Heiselberg
— MF  ENG Steve Agnew
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Sam Aiston
— MF  ENG Kevin Ball
— MF  ENG Paul Bracewell
— MF  ENG Chris Byrne
— MF  ENG Lee Clark
— MF  ENG Chris Lumsdon
— MF  ENG John Mullin
— MF  ENG Nicky Summerbee
— MF  ENG Paul Thirlwell
— MF  SCO David Duke
— MF  SCO Alex Rae
— FW  ENG Michael Bridges
— FW  ENG Danny Dichio
— FW  ENG Kevin Phillips
— FW  ENG Michael Proctor
— FW  ENG Craig Russell
— FW  ENG Martin Smith
— FW  IRL Niall Quinn

Appearances and goals
No. Pos Nat Player TotalDivision OnePlay-offsFA CupCoca-Cola Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
GK Lionel Perez 520460302010
GK Luke Weaver 0000000000
GK Edwin Zoetebier 2000000020
Defenders
DF Jody Craddock 40031+10302030
DF Michael Gray 52244+12202030
DF Gareth Hall 201+10000000
DF Darren Holloway 370320302000
DF Chris Makin 31023+201+101030
DF Andy Melville 101101000000
DF Richard Ord 15013+100+100000
DF Martin Scott 11080000030
DF Darren Williams 43335+12301031
Midfielders
MF Steve Agnew 4030000010
MF Sam Aiston 301+20000000
MF Kevin Ball 37429+2331002+10
MF Paul Bracewell 300+10000020
MF Chris Byrne 1004+4000001+10
MF Lee Clark 52134613302010
MF Allan Johnston 471138+211302020
MF Chris Lumsdon 1010000000
MF John Mullin 601+50000000
MF Alex Rae 35424+530+20201+11
MF Nicky Summerbee 30422+33312000
Forwards
FW Michael Bridges 1126+31000021
FW Danny Dichio 1602+1101+200000
FW Kevin Phillips 483542+129322400
FW Niall Quinn 391733+214222100
FW Craig Russell 600+3000002+10
FW Martin Smith 18311+5200001+11

References
  1. Richard Rundle. "Football League 1997–98". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  2. "Charlton 4 Sunderland 4". Charlton Athletic F.C. Archived from the original on 1 December 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "All Sunderland players: 1998". www.11v11.com.

Notes
  1. Hall was born in Croydon, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally and made his international debut for Wales in March 1988.
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