1997–98 Walsall F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was the 99th completed season in the history of Walsall Football Club, the clubs 78th season in the Football League and third consecutive season in the Football League Second Division. In addition to the league, Walsall also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.[1][2]

Walsall
1997–98 season
ChairmanJeff Bonser
ManagerJan Sørensen
StadiumBescot Stadium
Second Division19th
FA CupFourth round
League CupFourth round
Auto Windscreens ShieldSouthern Area final
Top goalscorerLeague: Boli (12)
All: Boli (24)
Average home league attendance4,062

Season summary

The Saddlers finished in the top half of the Second Division in the previous two seasons under Chris Nicholl's management, however, he quit in May 1997 citing family reasons. After Nicholl's departure, Walsall turned to former Denmark international Jan Sørensen who became Walsall's first, and to date only, ever manager from continental Europe.[2]

Sørensen attracted some exciting foreign talent to Walsall, bringing in former Ligue 1 top goalscorer Roger Boli and his compatriot Jean-François Péron, who quickly became fans' favourites.[2]

Whilst Walsall finished a lowly 19th in the Second Division, the club reached the fourth round of the League Cup, fourth round of the FA Cup and the Southern Area Final of the Football League Trophy, being just ten minutes away from a first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium.[2][3]

However, despite the club's cup exploits, a poor finish in the league signalled the end of Sørensen's time at Walsall after just one season.[2]

Final league table
Main article: 1997–98 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
17 Luton Town 46 14 15 17 60 64 −4 57
18 Millwall 46 14 13 19 43 54 −11 55
19 Walsall 46 14 12 20 43 52 −9 54
20 Burnley 46 13 13 20 55 65 −10 52
21 Brentford 46 11 17 18 50 71 −21 50 Relegated
Source: [4]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Walsall's score comes first[5]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

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

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

League Cup
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg12 August 1997Exeter CityH2–02,321Platt, Boli
R1 2nd Leg26 August 1997Exeter CityA1–0 (won 3–0 on agg)2,467Boli
R2 1st Leg17 September 1997Nottingham ForestA1–07,841Skinner
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1997Nottingham ForestH2–2 (won 3–2 on agg)6,037Watson (2)
R314 October 1997Sheffield UnitedH2–18,239Watson, Tiler (own goal)
R419 November 1997West Ham UnitedA1–417,463Watson

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR19 December 1997BarnetA2–1754Blake, Boli
SR26 January 1998Brighton & Hove AlbionH5–02,562Watson, Boli (2), Keates, Allan (own goal)
SQF28 January 1998Bristol RoversA1–0 (a.e.t.)4,165Boli
SSF17 February 1998Peterborough UnitedA2–14,199Boli, Ricketts
Southern F 1st Leg10 March 1998BournemouthH0–26,017
Southern F 2nd Leg17 March 1998BournemouthA3–2 (lost 3–4 on agg)8,972Thomas, Boli, Tholot

Squad

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

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

References
  1. "Walsall Results 1997/98". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Matthews, Tony (1999). The Complete Record of Walsall Football Club. Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1859831564.
  3. "Five memorable Dean Court games". BBC. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  4. "England 1997–98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  5. "Walsall results for the 1997-1998 season - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. "All Walsall players: 1998".
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