1997–98 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was the 99th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played the season in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League First Division.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
1997–98 season
ChairmanJonathan Hayward,
then Sir Jack Hayward (from 7 September)
ManagerMark McGhee
Football League First Division9th
FA CupSemi-finals
League Cup3rd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Robbie Keane (11)
All: Dougie Freedman (13)
Highest home attendance28,244 (vs West Brom, 31 January 1998)
Lowest home attendance17,862 (vs Fulham,
24 September 1997)
Average home league attendance23,277 (league only)

The team finished in ninth position in the league, failing to mount a serious promotion challenge after having finished third in the previous campaign. They did, however, reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in nineteen years, where they lost to eventual double winners Arsenal.

Results

Football League First Division

A total of 24 teams competed in the Football League First Division in the 1997–98 season. Each team played every other team twice: once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. Teams finishing level on points were firstly divided by the number of goals scored rather than goal difference.

The provisional fixture list was released on 16 June 1997, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns.[1]

9 August 1997 1 Norwich City 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Norwich
15:00 GMT Report Keane  34', 64' Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,230
Referee: Mike Bailey
24 August 1997 3 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers West Bromwich
13:00 BST Curle  16' (o.g.) Report Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 21,511
Referee: Terry Heilbron
30 August 1997 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–2 Bury Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Keane  5', 86'
Bull  42', 51'
Report Battersby  19'
Johnson  61'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,141
Referee: George Cain
3 September 1997 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Port Vale Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Bull  74' Report Foyle  82' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,524
Referee: Andy Butler
7 September 1997 6 Oxford United 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Oxford
13:00 BST Beauchamp  17', 71'
Ford  23'
Report Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 6,921
Referee: Clive Wilkes
13 September 1997 7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Bull  9', 35'
Froggatt  26'
Report Chapple  72' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,683
Referee: Kevin Lynch
20 September 1997 8 Sunderland 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunderland
15:00 BST Smith  17' Report Melville  34' (o.g.) Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 30,682
Referee: William Burns
27 September 1997 9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Huddersfield Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Bull  1' Report Stewart  32' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,723
Referee: Rob Harris
4 October 1997 10 Bradford City 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bradford
15:00 BST Steiner  34'
Kulcsar  40'
Report Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 15,236
Referee: Graham Laws
12 October 1997 11 Birmingham City 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
16:00 BST Marsden  8' Report Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 17,822
Referee: Mike Brandwood
18 October 1997 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Swindon Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Freedman  12'
Curle  78'
Simpson  80'
Report Hay  24' (pen.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,794
Referee: Chris Foy
22 October 1997 13 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Tranmere Rovers Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Robinson  15'
Freedman  16'
Report Jones  65' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,841
Referee: Eddie Lomas
25 October 1997 14 Stockport County 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Stockport
15:00 BST Cook  20' Report Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,804
Referee: Roy Pearson
1 November 1997 15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane  82' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,896
Referee: Mike Pierce
4 November 1997 16 Crewe Alexandra 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Crewe
19:45 GMT Report Freedman  14'
Muscat  63'
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 5,743
Referee: Andy D'Urso
8 November 1997 17 Stoke City 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 GMT Kavanagh  8', 23' (pen.)
Forsyth  60'
Report Stadium: Britannia Stadium
Attendance: 18,490
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
15 November 1997 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Ipswich Town Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane  27' Report Johnson  44' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,937
Referee: John Kirkby
29 November 1997 19 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 Queens Park Rangers Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Osborn  44'
Goodman  67', 77'
Report Sheron  61'
Peacock  85'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,645
Referee: Brian Coddington
6 December 1997 20 Manchester City 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Manchester
15:00 GMT Report Symons  42' (o.g.) Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 28,999
Referee: Clive Wilkes
9 December 1997 21 Portsmouth 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Portsmouth
19:45 GMT Durnin  14', 47'
Hillier  74'
Report Westwood  76'
Froggatt  87'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 8,042
Referee: Steve Dorr
14 December 1997 22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Nottingham Forest Wolverhampton
13:00 GMT Freedman  20'
Robinson  66'
Report Johnson  84' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,635
Referee: Mike Bailey
20 December 1997 23 Reading 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reading
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,715
Referee: Steve Bennett
26 December 1997 24 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Oxford United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Goodman  19' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,238
Referee: Phil Richards
28 December 1997 25 Port Vale 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burslem
15:00 GMT Report Muscat  45'
Freedman  87'
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 10,898
Referee: Paul Taylor
10 January 1998 26 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 Norwich City Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane  22'
Goodman  24'
Freedman  43', 45', 77'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,703
Referee: David Pugh
27 January 1998 28 Bury 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bury
19:45 GMT Battersby  43' Report Keane  22'
Simpson  55', 62'
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 6,134
Referee: Kevin Lynch
31 January 1998 29 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Hunt  72' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 28,244
Referee: Scott Mathieson
7 February 1998 30 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Sunderland Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Ball  88' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,502
Referee: Rob Harris
18 February 1998 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Bradford City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Robinson  43'
Bull  89'
Report Blake  58' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,510
Referee: Andy D'Urso
21 February 1998 32 Huddersfield Town 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Huddersfield
15:00 GMT Dyson  90' Report Stadium: McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 12,663
Referee: Roy Pearson
28 February 1998 33 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Birmingham City Wolverhampton
13:00 GMT Freedman  13' Report Ndlovu  35' (pen.), 77'
Adebola  71'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,591
Referee: George Cain
4 March 1998 34 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Stoke City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Freedman  22' Report Crowe  89' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,058
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
14 March 1998 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Crewe Alexandra Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane  35' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,272
Referee: Graham Frankland
18 March 1998 36 Swindon Town 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Swindon
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,770
Referee: Anthony Leake
21 March 1998 37 Ipswich Town 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Ipswich
15:00 GMT Johnson  3'
Holland  57'
Scowcroft  74'
Report Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 21,510
Referee: Barry Knight
29 March 1998 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Portsmouth Wolverhampton
12:05 BST Goodman  44'
Osborn  90+2'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,718
Referee: Trevor Jones
1 April 1998 39 Queens Park Rangers 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,337
Referee: John Kirkby
7 April 1998 40 Charlton Athletic 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BST Mendonca  8' Report Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 13,743
Referee: Frazier Stretton
11 April 1998 41 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Manchester City Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Margetson  34' (o.g.)
Simpson  85'
Report Pollock  13'
Horlock  63'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,458
Referee: Mark Halsey
13 April 1998 42 Nottingham Forest 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nottingham
12:05 BST Johnson  32'
van Hooijdonk  39'
Campbell  90+1'
Report Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 22,863
Referee: Phil Richards
18 April 1998 43 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Reading Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Muscat  9'
Goodman  69', 90'
Report Brayson  44' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,785
Referee: Terry Heilbron
25 April 1998 44 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–4 Stockport County Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Keane  5', 59'
Atkins  45'
Report Cooper  40' (pen.), 83' (pen.)
Byrne  57', 86'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,452
Referee: Roger Furnandiz
29 April 1998 45 Middlesbrough 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Middlesbrough
19:45 BST Ricard  12' Report Atkins  10' Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,878
Referee: Mike Bailey
3 May 1998 46 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birkenhead
13:30 BST Aldridge  34' (pen.), 75' Report Goodman  51' Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 11,144
Referee: Kevin Lynch

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
6 Sheffield United 46 19 17 10 69 54 +15 74
7 Birmingham City 46 19 17 10 60 35 +25 74
8 Stockport County 46 19 8 19 71 69 0+2 65
9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 18 11 17 57 53 0+4 65
10 West Bromwich Albion 46 16 13 17 50 56 06 61

Source: Statto.com

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 18 11 17 57 53  +4 65 13 6 4 42 25  +17 5 5 13 15 28  −13

Source: Statto.com

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
ResultWDLWDLWDDLLWWLWWLDWWLWDWWWLWLLWLLDWDLWDLDLWLDL
Position1511879691113151281196899999876666666699888888888889
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

14 January 1998 R3 Darlington 0–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers Darlington
19:45 GMT Report Freedman  18'
Paatelainen  66', 90'
Ferguson  90'
Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 5,018
Referee: George Cain
24 January 1998 R4 Charlton Athletic 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMT Jones  64' Report Richards  47' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 15,540
Referee: Graham Poll
3 February 1998 R4 rep. Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Curle  29' (pen.)
Naylor  48'
Paatelainen  65'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,429
Referee: Graham Poll
14 February 1998 R5 Wimbledon 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMT Euell  14' Report Paatelainen  67' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 15,322
Referee: Uriah Rennie
25 February 1998 R5 rep. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Wimbledon Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Robinson  63'
Freedman  85'
Report Jones  48' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,112
Referee: Uriah Rennie
7 March 1998 QF Leeds United 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds
15:00 GMT Report Goodman  82' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 39,902
Referee: Paul Durkin
5 April 1998 SF Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Arsenal Birmingham
12:00 BST Report Wreh  12' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,372
Referee: Stephen Lodge

League Cup

27 August 1997 R1.2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2
(3–2 agg.)
Queens Park Rangers Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Ferguson  62' (pen.) Report Peacock  36'
Murray  66'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,398
Referee: John Kirkby
16 September 1997 R2.1 Fulham 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BST Sanjuán  34' Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 5,933
24 September 1997 R2.2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0
(2–0 agg.)
Fulham Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Goodman  89' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 17,862
Referee: Scott Mathieson
14 October 1997 R3 Reading 4–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reading
19:45 BST Williams  33' (o.g.)
Parkinson  34'
Meaker  46'
McPherson  54'
Report Bull  44', 57' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,080
Referee: Clive Wilkes

Players

Key:
  ‡ On loan from another club   * First appearance(s) for the club

Correct as of end of season. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.

PosNamePGPGPGPG Notes
League FA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
GK Justin Bray 0000000000
GK Matt Murray 0000000000
GK Hans Segers 110200013000
GK Mike Stowell 350505045000
DF Simon Coleman 3(1)000003(1)000
DF Keith Curle (c) 401710047200
DF Ryan Green 0000000000
DF Dariusz Kubicki ¤ 120004016020
DF Kevin Muscat 22(2)3500027(2)390
DF Lee Naylor 14(2)0411019(2)110
DF Dean Richards 130710020110
DF Jamie Smith 110005016000
DF Chris Westwood 3(1)1001(1)04(2)110
DF Adrian Williams 2002(2)02024(2)030
DF Stephen Wright 3000003000
MF Mark Atkins 30(4)24(1)05039(5)230
MF Steve Corica 0(1)000000(1)000
MF Tony Daley 0(2)00(1)0000(3)000
MF Isidro Díaz 1000001000
MF Neil Emblen 6(1)000006(1)010
MF Darren Ferguson 22(4)0215129(4)280
MF Steve Froggatt 31(2)2303137(2)340
MF Michael Gilkes 3000003010
MF Simon Osborn 23(1)2300026(1)231
MF Carl Robinson 27(5)3714038(5)470
MF Steve Sedgley 18(1)0602026(1)042
MF Jesús García Sanjuán 40002(1)16(1)110
MF Paul Simpson 23(5)42(2)00025(7)401
MF Robbie Slater 4(2)00(1)0004(3)000
MF Jermaine Wright 0(4)000000(4)000
FW Steve Bull 24(7)71(2)05230(9)921
FW Steve Claridge 4(1)010005(1)000
FW Glen Crowe ¤ 0(2)000000(2)000
FW Dominic Foley ¤ 1(4)0000(2)01(6)000
FW Dougie Freedman 25(4)105(1)20030(5)1280
FW Don Goodman 29(1)8612(1)137(2)1040
FW Mark Jones 0000000000
FW Robbie Keane 34(4)111(2)03(1)038(7)1120
FW Richard Leadbeater 0000000000
FW Mixu Paatelainen 10(13)04(1)44(1)118(15)560
FW Jason Roberts ¤ 0000000000

Transfers

In

Date Player From Fee
11 July 1997 Steve SedgleyIpswich Town£350,000[2]
6 August 1997 Dariusz KubickiSunderlandFree[3]
6 August 1997 Mixu PaatelainenBolton Wanderers£250,000[3]
1 September 1997 Isidro DíazUnattachedFree
5 September 1997 Hans SegersUnattachedFree[4]
12 September 1997 Jason RobertsHayes£250,000[5]
21 October 1997 Dougie FreedmanCrystal Palace£800,000[6]
21 October 1997 Kevin MuscatCrystal Palace£200,000[6]
11 November 1997 Paul SimpsonDerby County£75,000[7]
25 March 1998 Neil EmblenCrystal PalaceUndisclosed[8]
25 March 1998 Robbie SlaterSouthampton£50,000[8]
26 March 1998 Steve ClaridgeLeicester City£350,000[9]

Out

Date Player To Fee
June 1997 Robbie DennisonReleasedFree[10]
June 1997 Brian LawReleasedFree[10]
June 1997 Dennis PearceReleasedFree[10]
June 1997 Serge RomanoReleasedFree[10]
June 1997 Geoff ThomasReleasedFree[10]
June 1997 Andy ThompsonReleasedFree[10]
June 1997 Eric YoungReleasedFree[10]
7 July 1997 Iwan RobertsNorwich City£850,000[11]
11 July 1997 Mark VenusIpswich Town£150,000[2]
13 August 1997 Neil EmblenCrystal Palace£1.8 million[12]
30 September 1997 Isidro DíazReleasedFree
21 October 1997 Jamie SmithCrystal Palace£1 million[6]
19 February 1998 Jermaine WrightCrewe Alexandra£25,000[13]

Loans in

Start date Player From End date
2 September 1997 Simon ColemanBolton Wanderers2 October 1997[14]
15 September 1997 Jesús García Sanjuán Real Zaragoza15 December 1997[15]
10 October 1997 Paul SimpsonDerby County10 November 1997[16]
17 October 1997 Dougie FreedmanCrystal Palace20 October 1997[17]
19 March 1998 Stephen Wright RangersEnd of season[18]

Loans out

Start date Player To End date
24 October 1997 Glen CroweCardiff City9 December 1997
December 1997 Jason RobertsTorquay United5 March 1998
24 February 1998 Dominic FoleyWatfordEnd of season[19]
4 March 1998 Dariusz KubickiTranmere RoversEnd of season[20]
25 March 1998 Jason RobertsBristol CityEnd of season[8]

Kit

The season retained the home kit of the previous year: a "wolf head" design created using their traditional gold and black colours. A new away kit comprising a white away shirt with a dark green collar and dark green shorts was introduced. Both were manufactured by Puma and sponsored by Goodyear.

References

  1. "Complete FA Carling Premiership and Nationwide League fixtures 1997–98". The Independent. 17 June 1997.
  2. "Sedge swoop". The Mirror. 12 July 1997.
  3. "Bargain hunter McGhee". The Mirror. 7 August 1997.
  4. "Magilton makes the switch to Wednesday". The Independent. 6 September 1997.
  5. "Celtic capture £1.5m Rieper". The Independent. 13 September 1997.
  6. "Sporting Digest". The Independent. 22 October 1997. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  7. "Kirk out for month". The News Letter. 6 November 1997. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014.
  8. "McGhee is halfway to clinching four-timer". Birmingham Post. 26 March 1998.
  9. "Claridge signs for Wolves". Birmingham Evening Mail. 26 March 1998. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014.
  10. "Cooper's blunder". The Independent. 18 May 1997. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  11. "Football". The Independent. 8 July 1997. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  12. "Coppell chases Pearce". The Mirror. 14 August 1997.
  13. "Ablett gets thumbs up for clash with Blades". Birmingham Post. 20 February 1998.
  14. https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2015/10/30/wolves-loanees-over-the-years/
  15. "Barnet secure sponsorship deal with Loaded magazine". The Independent. 16 September 1997.
  16. "No punishment for O'Neill". The Independent. 11 October 1997.
  17. "McGhee surviving on borrowed time and players". The Independent. 18 October 1997.
  18. "McGhee to cast net in last throw of the dice". Birmingham Post. 20 March 1998.
  19. "Candid Curle leaves Wolves no room for manoeuvre". Birmingham Post. 25 February 1998.
  20. "Equation is simple one as Wolves lick wounds". Birmingham Post. 4 March 1998.
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