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 GMTReportKeane 34', 64'Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,230 (1,676 away)
Referee: Mike Bailey
16 August 1997 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–0 Sheffield United Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,102 (1,160 away)
Referee: Paul Danson
24 August 1997 3 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers West Bromwich
13:00 BSTCurle 16' (o.g.)ReportStadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 21,511 (5,030 away)
Referee: Terry Heilbron
30 August 1997 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4–2 Bury Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTKeane 5', 86'
Bull 42', 51'
ReportBattersby 19'
Johnson 61'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,141 (803 away)
Referee: George Cain
3 September 1997 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Port Vale Wolverhampton
19:45 BSTBull 74'ReportFoyle 82'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,524 (983 away)
Referee: Andy Butler
7 September 1997 6 Oxford United 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Oxford
13:00 BSTBeauchamp 17', 71'
Ford 23'
ReportStadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 6,921 (1,900 away)
Referee: Clive Wilkes
13 September 1997 7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTBull 9', 35'
Froggatt 26'
ReportChapple 72'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,683 (1,179 away)
Referee: Kevin Lynch
20 September 1997 8 Sunderland 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunderland
15:00 BSTSmith 17'ReportMelville 34' (o.g.)Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 30,682 (3,398 away)
Referee: William Burns
27 September 1997 9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Huddersfield Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTBull 1'ReportStewart 32'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,723 (773 away)
Referee: Rob Harris
4 October 1997 10 Bradford City 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bradford
15:00 BSTSteiner 34'
Kulcsar 40'
ReportStadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 15,236 (1,800 away)
Referee: Graham Laws
12 October 1997 11 Birmingham City 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
16:00 BSTMarsden 8'ReportStadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 17,822 (1,736 away)
Referee: Mike Brandwood
18 October 1997 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Swindon Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTFreedman 12'
Curle 78'
Simpson 80'
ReportHay 24' (pen.)Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,794 (1,146 away)
Referee: Chris Foy
22 October 1997 13 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Tranmere Rovers Wolverhampton
19:45 BSTRobinson 15'
Freedman 16'
ReportJones 65'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,841 (690 away)
Referee: Eddie Lomas
25 October 1997 14 Stockport County 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Stockport
15:00 BSTCook 20'ReportStadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,804 (1,999 away)
Referee: Roy Pearson
1 November 1997 15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTKeane 82'ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,896 (2,922 away)
Referee: Mike Pierce
4 November 1997 16 Crewe Alexandra 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Crewe
19:45 GMTReportFreedman 14'
Muscat 63'
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 5,743 (950 away)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
8 November 1997 17 Stoke City 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 GMTKavanagh 8', 23' (pen.)
Forsyth 60'
ReportStadium: Britannia Stadium
Attendance: 18,490 (5,000 away)
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
15 November 1997 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Ipswich Town Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTKeane 27'ReportTanner 36'
Johnson 44'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,937 (862 away)
Referee: John Kirkby
29 November 1997 19 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 Queens Park Rangers Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTOsborn 44'
Goodman 67', 77'
ReportSheron 61'
Peacock 85'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,645 (1,338 away)
Referee: Brian Coddington
6 December 1997 20 Manchester City 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Manchester
15:00 GMTReportSymons 42' (o.g.)Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 28,999 (2,024 away)
Referee: Clive Wilkes
9 December 1997 21 Portsmouth 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Portsmouth
19:45 GMTDurnin 14', 47'
Hillier 74'
ReportCurle 42'
Westwood 76'
Froggatt 87'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 8,042 (788 away)
Referee: Steve Dorr
14 December 1997 22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Nottingham Forest Wolverhampton
13:00 GMTFreedman 20'
Robinson 66'
ReportJohnson 84'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,635 (3,018 away)
Referee: Mike Bailey
20 December 1997 23 Reading 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reading
15:00 GMTReportStadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,715 (1,459 away)
Referee: Steve Bennett
26 December 1997 24 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Oxford United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTGoodman 19'ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,238 (1,024 away)
Referee: Phil Richards
28 December 1997 25 Port Vale 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burslem
15:00 GMTReportMuscat 45'
Freedman 87'
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 10,898 (2,177 away)
Referee: Paul Taylor
10 January 1998 26 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 Norwich City Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTKeane 22'
Goodman 24'
Freedman 43', 45', 77'
ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,703 (1,163 away)
Referee: David Pugh
17 January 1998 27 Sheffield United 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
15:00 GMTMarcelo 39'ReportStadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 22,144 (1,933 away)
Referee: William Burns
27 January 1998 28 Bury 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bury
19:45 GMTBattersby 43'ReportKeane 22'
Simpson 55', 62'
Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 6,134 (1,326 away)
Referee: Kevin Lynch
31 January 1998 29 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTReportHunt 72'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 28,244 (3,200 away)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
7 February 1998 30 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Sunderland Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTReportBall 88'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,502 (3,178 away)
Referee: Rob Harris
18 February 1998 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Bradford City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMTRobinson 43'
Bull 89'
ReportBlake 58'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,510 (821 away)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
21 February 1998 32 Huddersfield Town 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Huddersfield
15:00 GMTDyson 90'ReportStadium: McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 12,663 (2,323 away)
Referee: Roy Pearson
28 February 1998 33 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Birmingham City Wolverhampton
13:00 GMTFreedman 13'ReportNdlovu 35' (pen.), 77'
Adebola 71'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,591 (3,195 away)
Referee: George Cain
4 March 1998 34 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Stoke City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMTFreedman 22'ReportCrowe 89'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,058 (918 away)
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
14 March 1998 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Crewe Alexandra Wolverhampton
15:00 GMTKeane 35'ReportSmith 67'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,272 (1,423 away)
Referee: Graham Frankland
18 March 1998 36 Swindon Town 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Swindon
19:45 GMTReportStadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,770 (1,380 away)
Referee: Anthony Leake
21 March 1998 37 Ipswich Town 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Ipswich
15:00 GMTJohnson 3'
Holland 57'
Scowcroft 74'
ReportStadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 21,510 (1,039 away)
Referee: Barry Knight
29 March 1998 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Portsmouth Wolverhampton
12:05 BSTGoodman 44'
Osborn 90+2'
ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,718 (982 away)
Referee: Trevor Jones
1 April 1998 39 Queens Park Rangers 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,337 (1,168 away)
Referee: John Kirkby
7 April 1998 40 Charlton Athletic 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BSTMendonca 8'ReportStadium: The Valley
Attendance: 13,743 (1,283 away)
Referee: Frazier Stretton
11 April 1998 41 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Manchester City Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTMargetson 34' (o.g.)
Simpson 85'
ReportPollock 13'
Horlock 63'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,458 (3,194 away)
Referee: Mark Halsey
13 April 1998 42 Nottingham Forest 3–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nottingham
12:05 BSTJohnson 32'
van Hooijdonk 39'
Campbell 90+1'
ReportStadium: City Ground
Attendance: 22,863 (1,483 away)
Referee: Phil Richards
18 April 1998 43 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Reading Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTMuscat 9'
Goodman 69', 90'
ReportBrayson 44'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,785 (1,415 away)
Referee: Terry Heilbron
25 April 1998 44 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–4 Stockport County Wolverhampton
15:00 BSTKeane 5', 59' 73'
Atkins 45'
ReportCooper 40' (pen.), 83' (pen.)
Byrne 57', 86'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,452 (702 away)
Referee: Roger Furnandiz
29 April 1998 45 Middlesbrough 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Middlesbrough
19:45 BSTRicard 12'ReportAtkins 10'Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 29,878 (1,569 away)
Referee: Mike Bailey
3 May 1998 46 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birkenhead
13:30 BSTAldridge 34' (pen.), 75'ReportGoodman 51'Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 11,144 (976 away)
Referee: Kevin Lynch

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
6Sheffield United461917106954+1574
7Birmingham City461917106035+2574
8Stockport County461981971690+265
9Wolverhampton Wanderers4618111757530+465
10West Bromwich Albion4616131750560−661

Source: Statto.com

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
461811175753 +46513644225 +1755131528 −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 GMTReportFreedman 18'
Paatelainen 66', 90'
Ferguson 90'
Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 5,018 (833 away)
Referee: George Cain
24 January 1998 R4 Charlton Athletic 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMTJones 64'ReportRichards 47'Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 15,540 (2,346 away)
Referee: Graham Poll
3 February 1998 R4 rep. Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
19:45 GMTCurle 29' (pen.)
Naylor 48'
Paatelainen 65'
ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,429 (818 away)
Referee: Graham Poll
14 February 1998 R5 Wimbledon 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMTEuell 14'ReportPaatelainen 67'Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 15,322 (2,765 away)
Referee: Uriah Rennie
25 February 1998 R5 rep. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Wimbledon Wolverhampton
19:45 GMTRobinson 63'
Freedman 85'
ReportJones 48'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,112 (961 away)
Referee: Uriah Rennie
7 March 1998 QF Leeds United 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds
15:00 GMTHasselbaink 88'ReportGoodman 82'Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 39,902 (3,300 away)
Referee: Paul Durkin
5 April 1998 SF Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Arsenal Birmingham
12:00 BSTReportWreh 12'Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,372 (20,465 Wolves)
Referee: Stephen Lodge

League Cup

27 August 1997 R1.2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2
(3–2 agg.)
Queens Park Rangers Wolverhampton
19:45 BSTFerguson 62' (pen.)ReportPeacock 36'
Murray 66'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,398 (624 away)
Referee: John Kirkby
16 September 1997 R2.1 Fulham 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BSTSanjuán 34'Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 5,933 (943 away)
24 September 1997 R2.2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0
(2–0 agg.)
Fulham Wolverhampton
19:45 BSTGoodman 89'ReportStadium: Molineux
Attendance: 17,862 (582 away)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
14 October 1997 R3 Reading 4–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Reading
19:45 BSTWilliams 33' (o.g.)
Parkinson 34'
Meaker 46'
McPherson 54'
ReportBull 44', 57'Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,080 (1,368 away)
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
LeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
GK Justin Bray0000000000
GK Matt Murray0000000000
GK Hans Segers110200013000
GK Mike Stowell350505045000
DF Simon Coleman3(1)000003(1)000
DF Keith Curle (c)401710047200
DF Ryan Green0000000000
DF Dariusz Kubicki ¤120004016020
DF Kevin Muscat22(2)3500027(2)390
DF Lee Naylor14(2)0411019(2)110
DF Dean Richards130710020110
DF Jamie Smith110005016000
DF Chris Westwood3(1)1001(1)04(2)110
DF Ady Williams2002(2)02024(2)030
DF Stephen Wright3000003000
MF Mark Atkins30(4)24(1)05039(5)230
MF Steve Corica0(1)000000(1)000
MF Tony Daley0(2)00(1)0000(3)000
MF Isidro Díaz1000001000
MF Neil Emblen6(1)000006(1)010
MF Darren Ferguson22(4)0215129(4)280
MF Steve Froggatt31(2)2303137(2)340
MF Michael Gilkes3000003010
MF Simon Osborn23(1)2300026(1)231
MF Carl Robinson27(5)3714038(5)470
MF Steve Sedgley18(1)0602026(1)042
MF Jesús García Sanjuán40002(1)16(1)110
MF Paul Simpson23(5)42(2)00025(7)401
MF Robbie Slater4(2)00(1)0004(3)000
MF Jermaine Wright0(4)000000(4)000
FW Steve Bull24(7)71(2)05230(9)921
FW Steve Claridge4(1)010005(1)000
FW Glen Crowe ¤0(2)000000(2)000
FW Dominic Foley ¤1(4)0000(2)01(6)000
FW Dougie Freedman25(4)105(1)20030(5)1280
FW Don Goodman29(1)8612(1)137(2)1040
FW Mark Jones0000000000
FW Robbie Keane34(4)111(2)03(1)038(7)1120
FW Richard Leadbeater0000000000
FW Mixu Paatelainen10(13)04(1)44(1)118(15)560
FW Jason Roberts ¤0000000000

Transfers

In

DatePlayerFromFee
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

DatePlayerToFee
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 datePlayerFromEnd 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 datePlayerToEnd 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