Wimbledon
1997–98 season
ChairmanSam Hammam
ManagerJoe Kinnear
StadiumSelhurst Park
Premiership15th
FA CupFifth round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Cort/Ekoku/Euell/
M Hughes/Leaburn (4)

All: Euell (8)
Average home league attendance16,156

During the 1997–98 English football season, Wimbledon F.C. competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons). They finished 15th in the final table to secure a 13th successive top flight campaign, although their final position was disappointing given their performance earlier in the season.

Season summary

Despite the early season sale of Dean Holdsworth to Bolton Wanderers, Wimbledon showed the "Crazy Gang" spirit once more as they were still standing fourth at the beginning of December. Manager Joe Kinnear was hopeful that this could finally be the season when Wimbledon achieved a UEFA Cup place, but the team's form steadily deteriorated during the second half of the season. Their 15th-place finish was their worst since reaching the top flight in 1986, though they had never looked to be in any real danger of relegation.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
13 Newcastle United 38 11 11 16 35 44 9 44 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
14 Tottenham Hotspur 38 11 11 16 44 56 12 44
15 Wimbledon 38 10 14 14 34 46 12 44
16 Sheffield Wednesday 38 12 8 18 52 67 15 44
17 Everton 38 9 13 16 41 56 15 40
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. As Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their Cup Winners' Cup place as FA Cup winners defaulted to Newcastle United, the runners-up.
Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 10 14 14 34 46  −12 44 5 6 8 18 25  −7 5 8 6 16 21  −5
Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHHHAAHHAHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHHAHHAHAAAHA
ResultDDLLWLWDLWDWLWLLWDDLLDDWWLLWLDDWDLDDLD
Position11141720151813151512119109101110111212141416151315151414141413131314141615
Source: Soccerbase: 1997–98 Wimbledon results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Wimbledon's score comes first[1]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
9 August 1997LiverpoolH1–126,106Gayle
23 August 1997Sheffield WednesdayH1–111,503Euell
27 August 1997ChelseaH0–222,237
30 August 1997West Ham UnitedA1–324,516Ekoku
13 September 1997Newcastle UnitedA3–136,526Cort, Perry, Ekoku
20 September 1997Crystal PalaceH0–116,747
23 September 1997BarnsleyH4–17,668Cort, Earle, C Hughes, Ekoku
27 September 1997Tottenham HotspurA0–026,261
4 October 1997Blackburn RoversH0–115,600
18 October 1997Aston VillaA2–132,087Earle, Cort
22 October 1997Derby CountyA1–128,595Rowett (own goal)
25 October 1997Leeds UnitedH1–015,718Ardley (pen)
1 November 1997Coventry CityH1–211,201Cort
10 November 1997Leicester CityA1–018,553Gayle
22 November 1997Manchester UnitedH2–526,309Ardley, M Hughes
29 November 1997Bolton WanderersA0–122,703
7 December 1997SouthamptonH1–012,009Earle
13 December 1997EvertonA0–028,533
26 December 1997ChelseaA1–134,100M Hughes
28 December 1997West Ham UnitedH1–222,087Solbakken
10 January 1998LiverpoolA0–238,011
17 January 1998Derby CountyH0–013,031
31 January 1998Sheffield WednesdayA1–122,655M Hughes
9 February 1998Crystal PalaceA3–014,410Leaburn (2), Euell
21 February 1998Aston VillaH2–113,131Euell, Leaburn
28 February 1998BarnsleyA1–217,102Euell
11 March 1998ArsenalH0–122,291
14 March 1998Leicester CityH2–113,229Roberts, M Hughes
28 March 1998Manchester UnitedA0–255,306
31 March 1998Newcastle UnitedH0–015,478
4 April 1998Bolton WanderersH0–011,356
11 April 1998SouthamptonA1–014,815Leaburn
13 April 1998EvertonH0–015,131
18 April 1998ArsenalA0–538,024
25 April 1998Blackburn RoversA0–024,848
29 April 1998Coventry CityA0–017,968
2 May 1998Tottenham HotspurH2–625,820Fear (2)
10 May 1998Leeds UnitedA1–138,172Ekoku

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1998WrexhamH0–06,349
R3R13 January 1998WrexhamA3–29,539Hughes (2), Gayle
R424 January 1998Huddersfield TownA1–014,533Ardley
R514 February 1998Wolverhampton WanderersH1–115,322Euell
R5R25 February 1998Wolverhampton WanderersA1–225,112Jones

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st Leg16 September 1997MillwallH5–16,949Cort (2, 1 pen), Clarke, Euell, Castledine
R2 2nd Leg1 October 1997MillwallA4–1 (won 9–2 on agg)3,591Euell (2), Castledine, Gayle
R314 October 1997Bolton WanderersA0–29,875

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[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
1 GK Scotland SCO Neil Sullivan[notes 1]
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Kenny Cunningham
3 DF England ENG Alan Kimble
5 DF England ENG Dean Blackwell
6 DF England ENG Ben Thatcher[notes 2]
7 MF Wales WAL Ceri Hughes
8 MF Jamaica JAM Robbie Earle (captain)[notes 3]
9 FW Nigeria NGA Efan Ekoku[notes 4]
10 MF England ENG Andy Roberts
11 FW Jamaica JAM Marcus Gayle[notes 5]
12 DF England ENG Chris Perry
13 GK England ENG Paul Heald
14 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Jon Goodman[notes 6]
15 DF England ENG Alan Reeves
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF Northern Ireland NIR Michael Hughes
17 DF Scotland SCO Brian McAllister
18 MF England ENG Neal Ardley
19 MF England ENG Stewart Castledine
20 FW England ENG Mick Harford
21 DF Scotland SCO Duncan Jupp[notes 7]
22 FW England ENG Andy Clarke
23 FW England ENG Jason Euell[notes 8]
24 MF England ENG Peter Fear
26 FW England ENG Carl Cort[notes 9]
27 MF England ENG Damien Francis[notes 10]
29 FW England ENG Carl Leaburn
30 DF England ENG Peter Hawkins
32 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Kennedy

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 MF Wales WAL Vinnie Jones[notes 11] (to Queens Park Rangers)
10 FW England ENG Dean Holdsworth (to Bolton Wanderers)
No. Pos. Nation Player
10 MF Norway NOR Ståle Solbakken (to Aalborg)

Reserve squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
25 DF England ENG Andy Pearce
28 FW England ENG Richard O'Connor[notes 12]
No. Pos. Nation Player
31 DF England ENG Danny Hodges
33 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Brendan Murphy

Transfers

In

Date Pos Name From Fee
2 July 1997 MF Ceri Hughes Luton Town £400,000
25 September 1997 MF Michael Hughes West Ham United £1,600,000
13 October 1997 MF Ståle Solbakken Lillestrøm £250,000
8 January 1998 FW Carl Leaburn Charlton Athletic £300,000
9 March 1998 MF Andy Roberts Crystal Palace £2,000,000
26 March 1998 MF Mark Kennedy Liverpool £1,750,000

Out

Date Pos Name To Fee
2 June 1997 MF Øyvind Leonhardsen Liverpool £3,500,000
1 August 1997 DF Scott Fitzgerald Millwall £50,000
2 October 1997 FW Dean Holdsworth Bolton Wanderers £3,500,000
26 March 1998 MF Vinnie Jones Queens Park Rangers £750,000
Transfers in: Decrease £6,300,000
Transfers out: Increase £7,800,000
Total spending: Increase £1,500,000

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1 GK Scotland SCO Neil Sullivan 4403805010
13 GK England ENG Paul Heald 20000020
Defenders
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Kenny Cunningham 3903303030
3 DF England ENG Alan Kimble 30024+20300+10
5 DF England ENG Dean Blackwell 4003604000
6 DF England ENG Ben Thatcher 32023+303030
12 DF England ENG Chris Perry 4413615030
15 DF England ENG Alan Reeves 1000000+10
17 DF Scotland SCO Brian McAllister 1004+300030
21 DF Scotland SCO Duncan Jupp 60302010
Midfielders
7 MF Wales WAL Ceri Hughes 22114+412020
8 MF Jamaica JAM Robbie Earle 26321+133010
10 MF England ENG Andy Roberts 1211210000
16 MF Northern Ireland NIR Michael Hughes 3362944200
18 MF England ENG Neal Ardley 39332+225100
19 MF England ENG Stewart Castledine 1223+301+2032
24 MF England ENG Peter Fear 1125+322010
27 MF England ENG Damien Francis 500+202010
32 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Kennedy 40400000
Forwards
9 FW Nigeria NGA Efan Ekoku 20412+540+101+10
11 FW England ENG Marcus Gayle 38422+923+112+11
22 FW England ENG Andy Clarke 2011+1200+402+11
23 FW England ENG Jason Euell 23814+442133
26 FW England ENG Carl Cort 29616+644+101+12
29 FW England ENG Carl Leaburn 16415+140000
Players who left the club during the season
4 MF Wales WAL Vinnie Jones 31123+203+111+10
10 FW England ENG Dean Holdsworth 604+10000+10
10 MF Norway NOR Ståle Solbakken 814+211+1000

References

  1. "Wimbledon results for the 1997-1998 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  2. "FootballSquads - Wimbledon - 1997/98".

Notes

  1. Sullivan was born in Sutton, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and made his international debut for Scotland in 1997.
  2. Thatcher was born in Swindon, England and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally through his grandmother and made his international debut for Wales in March 2004.
  3. Earle was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, and was called up for England without playing, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1997.
  4. Ekoku was born in Cheetham, England, but also qualified to represent Nigeria internationally and made his international debut for Nigeria in 1994.
  5. Gayle was born in Hammersmith, London, and represented them at U-18 level, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally through his father and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1998.
  6. Goodman was born in Waltham Forest, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1997.
  7. Jupp was born in Haslemere, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at U-21 level.
  8. Euell was born in Lambeth, England, and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Jamaica in November 2004.
  9. Cort was born in Southwark, England, but also qualified to represent Guyana internationally and would make his international debut for Guyana in 2011.
  10. Francis was born in Wandsworth, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 2003.
  11. Jones was born in Watford, England, but also qualified to represent Wales through his maternal grandfather and made his international debut for Wales in December 1994.
  12. O'Connor was born in Wandsworth, England, but also qualified to represent Anguilla internationally and would make his international debut for Anguilla in 2000.
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