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1997–98 Wimbledon F.C. season

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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

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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

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Main article: 1997–98 FA Premier League
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[a]
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
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
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

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Wimbledon's score comes first[1]

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
9 August 1997 Liverpool H 1–1 26,106 Gayle
23 August 1997 Sheffield Wednesday H 1–1 11,503 Euell
27 August 1997 Chelsea H 0–2 22,237
30 August 1997 West Ham United A 1–3 24,516 Ekoku
13 September 1997 Newcastle United A 3–1 36,526 Cort, Perry, Ekoku
20 September 1997 Crystal Palace H 0–1 16,747
23 September 1997 Barnsley H 4–1 7,668 Cort, Earle, C Hughes, Ekoku
27 September 1997 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–0 26,261
4 October 1997 Blackburn Rovers H 0–1 15,600
18 October 1997 Aston Villa A 2–1 32,087 Earle, Cort
22 October 1997 Derby County A 1–1 28,595 Rowett (own goal)
25 October 1997 Leeds United H 1–0 15,718 Ardley (pen)
1 November 1997 Coventry City H 1–2 11,201 Cort
10 November 1997 Leicester City A 1–0 18,553 Gayle
22 November 1997 Manchester United H 2–5 26,309 Ardley, M Hughes
29 November 1997 Bolton Wanderers A 0–1 22,703
7 December 1997 Southampton H 1–0 12,009 Earle
13 December 1997 Everton A 0–0 28,533
26 December 1997 Chelsea A 1–1 34,100 M Hughes
28 December 1997 West Ham United H 1–2 22,087 Solbakken
10 January 1998 Liverpool A 0–2 38,011
17 January 1998 Derby County H 0–0 13,031
31 January 1998 Sheffield Wednesday A 1–1 22,655 M Hughes
9 February 1998 Crystal Palace A 3–0 14,410 Leaburn (2), Euell
21 February 1998 Aston Villa H 2–1 13,131 Euell, Leaburn
28 February 1998 Barnsley A 1–2 17,102 Euell
11 March 1998 Arsenal H 0–1 22,291
14 March 1998 Leicester City H 2–1 13,229 Roberts, M Hughes
28 March 1998 Manchester United A 0–2 55,306
31 March 1998 Newcastle United H 0–0 15,478
4 April 1998 Bolton Wanderers H 0–0 11,356
11 April 1998 Southampton A 1–0 14,815 Leaburn
13 April 1998 Everton H 0–0 15,131
18 April 1998 Arsenal A 0–5 38,024
25 April 1998 Blackburn Rovers A 0–0 24,848
29 April 1998 Coventry City A 0–0 17,968
2 May 1998 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–6 25,820 Fear (2)
10 May 1998 Leeds United A 1–1 38,172 Ekoku

FA Cup

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Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 4 January 1998 Wrexham H 0–0 6,349
R3R 13 January 1998 Wrexham A 3–2 9,539 Hughes (2), Gayle
R4 24 January 1998 Huddersfield Town A 1–0 14,533 Ardley
R5 14 February 1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–1 15,322 Euell
R5R 25 February 1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–2 25,112 Jones

League Cup

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Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 1st Leg 16 September 1997 Millwall H 5–1 6,949 Cort (2, 1 pen), Clarke, Euell, Castledine
R2 2nd Leg 1 October 1997 Millwall A 4–1 (won 9–2 on agg) 3,591 Euell (2), Castledine, Gayle
R3 14 October 1997 Bolton Wanderers A 0–2 9,875

Players

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First-team squad

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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

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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

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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

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In

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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

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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

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Appearances and goals

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No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK Scotland SCO Neil Sullivan 44 0 38 0 5 0 1 0
13 GK England ENG Paul Heald 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Defenders
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Kenny Cunningham 39 0 33 0 3 0 3 0
3 DF England ENG Alan Kimble 30 0 24+2 0 3 0 0+1 0
5 DF England ENG Dean Blackwell 40 0 36 0 4 0 0 0
6 DF England ENG Ben Thatcher 32 0 23+3 0 3 0 3 0
12 DF England ENG Chris Perry 44 1 36 1 5 0 3 0
15 DF England ENG Alan Reeves 1 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0
17 DF Scotland SCO Brian McAllister 10 0 4+3 0 0 0 3 0
21 DF Scotland SCO Duncan Jupp 6 0 3 0 2 0 1 0
Midfielders
7 MF Wales WAL Ceri Hughes 22 1 14+4 1 2 0 2 0
8 MF Jamaica JAM Robbie Earle 26 3 21+1 3 3 0 1 0
10 MF England ENG Andy Roberts 12 1 12 1 0 0 0 0
16 MF Northern Ireland NIR Michael Hughes 33 6 29 4 4 2 0 0
18 MF England ENG Neal Ardley 39 3 32+2 2 5 1 0 0
19 MF England ENG Stewart Castledine 12 2 3+3 0 1+2 0 3 2
24 MF England ENG Peter Fear 11 2 5+3 2 2 0 1 0
27 MF England ENG Damien Francis 5 0 0+2 0 2 0 1 0
32 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Kennedy 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
9 FW Nigeria NGA Efan Ekoku 20 4 12+5 4 0+1 0 1+1 0
11 FW England ENG Marcus Gayle 38 4 22+9 2 3+1 1 2+1 1
22 FW England ENG Andy Clarke 20 1 1+12 0 0+4 0 2+1 1
23 FW England ENG Jason Euell 23 8 14+4 4 2 1 3 3
26 FW England ENG Carl Cort 29 6 16+6 4 4+1 0 1+1 2
29 FW England ENG Carl Leaburn 16 4 15+1 4 0 0 0 0
Players who left the club during the season
4 MF Wales WAL Vinnie Jones 31 1 23+2 0 3+1 1 1+1 0
10 FW England ENG Dean Holdsworth 6 0 4+1 0 0 0 0+1 0
10 MF Norway NOR Ståle Solbakken 8 1 4+2 1 1+1 0 0 0

References

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  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

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  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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