1997–98 Walsall F.C. season

Walsall
1997–98 season
Chairman Jeff Bonser
Manager Jan Sørensen
Stadium Bescot Stadium
Second Division 19th
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Fourth round
Auto Windscreens Shield Southern Area final
Top goalscorer League: Boli (12)
All: Boli (24)
Average home league attendance 4,062

During the 1997–98 English football season, Walsall F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary

In the 1997–98 season, Ex-Ajax and Danish international Jan Sorensen took the helm after Nicholl`s departure. Whilst Walsall finished a lowly 19th in Division Two that season, the club reached the fourth round of the League Cup, as well as rampaging through the early rounds of the FA Cup. Lincoln United were dispatched in the first round, before league newcomers Macclesfield Town were beaten 7–0 away and a victory over Peterborough United in the third round was rewarded with a glamour tie away at Manchester United, which Walsall lost 5–1. However, despite the club's cup exploits, a poor finish in the league signalled the end of Sorensen's time at Walsall after just one season.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GD Pts
1 Watford 4613733622119331196741+2688
2 Bristol City 461652411795928226939+3085
3 Grimsby Town 461175301488725235537+1872
4 Northampton Town 4614543317412719205237+1571
5 Bristol Rovers 461328433378827317064+670
6 Fulham 4612743114831229296043+1770
7 Wrexham 4610103312386924285551+470
8 Gillingham 4613733018661122295247+570
9 Bournemouth 4611842815741229375752+566
10 Chesterfield 46137331193101015254644+265
11 Wigan Athletic 4612564131561223356466–262
12 Blackpool 4613643524451424435967–862
13 Oldham Athletic 4613734323291219316254+861
14 Wycombe Wanderers 46101033220481119335153–260
15 Preston North End 4610672926581027305656±059
16 York City 469772621510826375258–659
17 Luton Town 46779353878825266064–457
18 Millwall 467882323751120314354–1155
19 Walsall 4610852616441517364352–954
20 Burnley 4610943423341621425565–1052
21 Brentford 4697733292101117425071–2150
22 Plymouth Argyle 4610583630281319405570–1549
23 Carlisle United 4685102728431630455773–1644
24 Southend United 468782930331718494779–3243
Key
Division Champions, promoted
Promoted
Participated in play-offs
Promoted through play-offs
Relegated

Results

Walsall's score comes first[1]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
9 August 1997 ChesterfieldA1–35,193Platt
16 August 1997 FulhamH1–14,418Mountfield
23 August 1997 GillinghamA1–25,083Boli
30 August 1997 Southend UnitedH3–13,304Boli (3)
2 September 1997 Northampton TownH0–25,550
9 September 1997 Bristol RoversA0–26,225
13 September 1997 Preston North EndA0–09,092
20 September 1997 York CityH2–02,972Boli, Hodge
27 September 1997 Plymouth ArgyleA1–26,207Boli
4 October 1997 Carlisle UnitedH3–13,957Boli (2), Watson
11 October 1997 WrexhamH3–04,042Boli, Hodge (pen), Watson
18 October 1997 BrentfordA0–34,874
21 October 1997 Wycombe WanderersA2–43,884Viveash, Watson
25 October 1997 Bristol CityH0–04,618
1 November 1997 BurnleyA1–29,293Viveash
4 November 1997 Grimsby TownH0–02,599
8 November 1997 WatfordH0–05,077
22 November 1997 Luton TownA1–04,726Hodge
29 November 1997 BlackpoolH2–13,933Watson, Boli
3 December 1997 MillwallA1–04,647Keates
13 December 1997 BournemouthH2–13,548Boli, Hodge
19 December 1997 Oldham AthleticA0–04,677
26 December 1997 Bristol RoversH0–16,634
28 December 1997 Northampton TownA2–37,094Porter, Hodge
10 January 1998 ChesterfieldH3–24,042Reeves (own goal), Watson (2)
17 January 1998 Southend UnitedA1–03,310Watson
31 January 1998 Preston North EndH1–15,377Hodge (pen)
7 February 1998 York CityA0–12,959
14 February 1998 Carlisle UnitedA1–14,530Hodge
21 February 1998 Plymouth ArgyleH0–14,612
24 February 1998 BrentfordH0–03,166
28 February 1998 WrexhamA1–23,622Ricketts
3 March 1998 WatfordA2–18,096Tholot, Blake
7 March 1998 BurnleyH0–05,212
14 March 1998 Grimsby TownA0–34,916
21 March 1998 Wigan AthleticH1–03,169Péron
28 March 1998 Luton TownH2–33,922Viveash, Tholot
31 March 1998 GillinghamH1–03,117Evans
4 April 1998 BlackpoolA0–14,451
7 April 1998 FulhamA1–16,733Boli
11 April 1998 MillwallH2–03,307Tholot, Hodge (pen)
14 April 1998 BournemouthA0–13,404
18 April 1998 Oldham AthleticH0–03,562
21 April 1998 Wigan AthleticA0–22,725
25 April 1998 Bristol CityA1–215,059Tholot
2 May 1998 Wycombe WanderersH0–14,412

FA Cup

Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R115 November 1997 Lincoln UnitedH2–03,279Watson, Boli
R26 December 1997 Macclesfield TownA7–03,566Boli (2, 1 pen), Hodge (2, 1 pen), Viveash, Porter (2)
R313 January 1998 Peterborough UnitedA2–012,809Watson (2)
R424 January 1998 Manchester UnitedA1–554,669Boli

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg 12 August 1997 Exeter CityH2–02,321Platt, Boli
R1 2nd Leg 26 August 1997 Exeter CityA1–0 (won 3-0 on agg)2,467Boli
R2 1st Leg 17 September 1997 Nottingham ForestA1–07,841Skinner
R2 2nd Leg 24 September 1997 Nottingham ForestH2–2 (won 3-2 on agg)6,037Watson (2)
R314 October 1997 Sheffield UnitedH2–18,239Watson, Tiler (own goal)
R419 November 1997 West Ham UnitedA1–417,463Watson

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR19 December 1997 BarnetA2–1754Blake, Boli
SR26 January 1998 Brighton & Hove AlbionH5–02,562Watson, Boli (2), Keates, Allan (own goal)
SQF28 January 1998 Bristol RoversA1–0 (a.e.t.)4,165Boli
SSF17 February 1998 Peterborough UnitedA2–14,199Boli, Ricketts
Southern F 1st Leg 10 March 1998 BournemouthH0–26,017
Southern F 2nd Leg 17 March 1998 BournemouthA3–2 (lost 3-4 on agg)8,972Thomas, Boli, Tholot

Squad

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

No. Position Player
- England GK Jimmy Walker
- Wales DF Wayne Evans
- England DF Adrian Viveash
- England DF Chris Marsh
- England DF Derek Mountfield
- France MF Jean-François Péron
- England MF Dean Keates
- England MF Gary Porter
- France FW Roger Boli
- England FW John Hodge
- England FW Andy Watson
- England DF Ian Roper
- England MF Mark Blake
- France FW Didier Tholot
No. Position Player
- England FW Clive Platt
- England MF John Keister
- England DF Stuart Ryder
- France MF Jean-Jacques Eydelie
- England FW Michael Ricketts
- England MF Louie Donowa (on loan from Birmingham City)
- England MF Wayne Thomas
- England MF Justin Skinner (on loan from Bristol Rovers)
- England FW John Williams
- England DF Matt Gadsby
- England FW Darren Beckford
- Netherlands FW Gijsbert Bos (on loan from Rotherham United)
- England GK Danny Naisbitt
- England DF Darren Rogers

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.