1998–99 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1998–99 season was the 100th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. During that season, they played in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League First Division.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
1998–99 season
ChairmanSir Jack Hayward OBE
ManagerMark McGhee
(until 5 November)
Colin Lee
(from 28 November)
Football League First Division7th
FA Cup4th round
League Cup2nd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Robbie Keane (11)
All: Robbie Keane (16)
Highest home attendance27,589 (vs Bradford, 9 May 1999)
Lowest home attendance15,296 (vs Barnet, 18 August 1998)
Average home league attendance22,620 (league only)

The season began with Mark McGhee as manager but he left "by mutual agreement" on 5 November after a run of two victories from fourteen games; the team having begun with four consecutive league wins.[1] Upon McGhee's departure his assistant Colin Lee was placed in charge of the team and, after taking ten points from a possible twelve, he was handed the post for the remainder of the season.[2]

The team finished in seventh place, one position short of the play-offs. Results on the final day, including their own, failed to go in their favour and so they missed out on a chance of promotion to the Premier League. Nonetheless, following the final match, the Wolves board announced that Colin Lee was to be given a permanent contract as manager.[3]

Results

Pre-season

15 July 1998 Wüstenrot Salzburg 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Salzburg, Austria
Glieder 18'
Koejoe 66'
Stadium: Stadion Lehen
18 July 1998 LASK Linz 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Grieskirchen, Austria
Weissenberger 43'
Riseth 56'
Stadium: Trattnachtalstadion
Attendance: 2,000
22 July 1998 Carl Zeiss Jena 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Schleiz, Germany
19:00 CEST Bull 21' Stadium: Sportplatz am Fasanengarten
1 August 1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–3 Barcelona Wolverhampton
Bull 30'
Osborn 41'
Anderson 10', 62'
Rosas 40'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,010
Referee: Mike Reed

Football League First Division

A total of 24 teams competed in the Football League First Division in the 1998–99 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 15 June 1998, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns.[4]

8 August 1998 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Tranmere Rovers Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Keane 19'
Curle 88' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,203 (703 away)
Referee: Paul Taylor
15 August 1998 2 Oxford United 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Oxford
15:00 BST Bull 45'
Curle soccer ball with red X 80'
Osborn 80'
Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 7,521 (3,100 away)
Referee: Matt Mathias
22 August 1998 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Swindon Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Curle 29' (pen.) Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,537 (843 away)
Referee: Graham Frankland
28 August 1998 4 Watford 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Watford
19:45 BST Report Bull 44'
Keane 46'
Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,016 (1,686 away)
Referee: Kevin Lynch
31 August 1998 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Stockport County Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Richards 6'
Gómez 37'
Report Angell 44', 53' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,217 (784 away)
Referee: George Cain
8 September 1998 6 Port Vale 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burslem
19:45 BST Beadle 14'
Naylor 58'
Report Keane 67' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 8,087 (3,164 away)
Referee: John Kirkby
12 September 1998 7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Sunderland Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Keane 68' Report Phillips 90+3' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,816 (2,983 away)
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
19 September 1998 8 Huddersfield Town 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Huddersfield
15:00 BST Dalton 19'
Thornley 90+4'
Report Keane 90+2' Stadium: McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 13,854 (1,824 away)
Referee: Chris Foy
26 September 1998 9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Bury Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Bull 66' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,155 (671 away)
Referee: Mike Jones
29 September 1998 10 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Queens Park Rangers Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Foley 75' Report Sheron 2', 9' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,201 (684 away)
Referee: David Pugh
3 October 1998 11 Crewe Alexandra 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Crewe
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 5,759 (1,632 away)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
17 October 1998 12 Portsmouth 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Portsmouth
15:00 BST McLoughlin 66' (pen.) Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 13,681 (1,411 away)
Referee: Paul Danson
20 October 1998 13 Crystal Palace 3–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BST Moore 40'
Lombardo soccer ball with red X 51'
Burton 52'
Ćurčić 84'
Report Sedgley 63', 86' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 16,417 (1,422 away)
Referee: Andy Butler
24 October 1998 14 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Grimsby Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Foley 21'
Curle 36' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,480 (628 away)
Referee: Eddie Lomas
31 October 1998 15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Barnsley Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Muscat 5' (pen.) Report Ward 52' (pen.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,714 (1,243 away)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
3 November 1998 16 Ipswich Town 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Ipswich
19:45 GMT Scowcroft 17'
Stockwell 90'
Report Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 14,680 (564 away)
Referee: Roger Furnandiz
7 November 1998 17 Bristol City 1–6 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bristol
15:00 GMT Hutchings 12' Report Whittingham 19'
Connolly 22', 57', 67', 77'
Robinson 79'
Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 15,432 (2,000 away)
Referee: Paul Taylor
10 November 1998 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Sheffield United Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Connolly 50'
Robinson 55'
Report Stuart 44' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,804 (684 away)
Referee: Roy Pearson
14 November 1998 19 Norwich City 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Norwich
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,275 (1,186 away)
Referee: Phil Richards
22 November 1998 20 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Birmingham City Wolverhampton
13:00 GMT Naylor 72'
Robinson 80', 90+1'
Report Furlong 21' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,037 (2,778 away)
Referee: Terry Heilbron
29 November 1998 21 West Bromwich Albion 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers West Bromwich
13:00 GMT Kilbane 46'
Murphy 61'
Report Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 22,682 (5,133 away)
Referee: Graham Laws
5 December 1998 22 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Bolton Wanderers Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Emblen 72' Report Taylor 58' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,537 (1,163 away)
Referee: Clive Wilkes
12 December 1998 23 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Norwich City Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane 84', 89' Report Adams 31' (pen.)
Roberts 60'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,014 (1,284 away)
Referee: John Kirkby
19 December 1998 24 Bradford City 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bradford
15:00 GMT Blake 20'
Mills 50'
Report Keane 67' Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 13,846 (2,332 away)
Referee: Steve Bennett
26 December 1998 25 Swindon Town 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Swindon
15:00 GMT Onuora 89' Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 11,627 (1,936 away)
Referee: Fraser Stretton
28 December 1998 26 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Ipswich Town Wolverhampton
13:00 GMT Muscat 88' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,636 (1,500 away)
Referee: Mark Halsey
8 January 1999 27 Tranmere Rovers 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birkenhead
19:45 GMT Santos 20' Report Keane 1'
Gómez 12'
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 6,179 (1,732 away)
Referee: Kevin Lynch
16 January 1999 28 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–0 Watford Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,408 (1,500 away)
Referee: Brian Coddington
30 January 1999 29 Stockport County 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Stockport
15:00 GMT Angell 56' Report Richards 54'
Robinson 74'
Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,654 (2,137 away)
Referee: George Cain
6 February 1999 30 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Oxford United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane 36' Report Windass 39' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,811 (645 away)
Referee: Andy Butler
13 February 1999 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Port Vale Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Simpson 2'
Keane 32'
Curle 89' (pen.)
Report Bogie 4' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,488 (1,362 away)
Referee: Phil Richards
20 February 1999 32 Sunderland 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sunderland
15:00 GMT Johnston 10'
Quinn 90+'
Report Melville 23' (o.g.) Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 41,268 (2,900 away)
Referee: Phil Richards
27 February 1999 33 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Huddersfield Town Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Robinson 10'
Gray 64' (o.g.)
Report Gray 59'
Hamilton 90+'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,778 (995 away)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
6 March 1999 34 Queens Park Rangers 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMT Report Sedgley 84' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 13,150 (2,597 away)
Referee: Michael Pierce
13 March 1999 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Bristol City Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Flo 14', 84'
Sebők 53' (o.g.)
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,237 (2,787 away)
Referee: David Crick
16 March 1999 36 Bury 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bury
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 5,204 (688 away)
Referee: Paul Robinson
20 March 1999 37 Barnsley 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Barnsley
15:00 GMT Richards 31' (o.g.)
Jones 33'
Report Emblen 41'
Connolly 78'
Richards 90'
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 16,587 (4,200 away)
Referee: Mike Dean
30 March 1999 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 Crewe Alexandra Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Robinson 14'
Flo 25'
Muscat 78' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,197 (612 away)
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
3 April 1999 39 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0 Portsmouth Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Muscat 71'
Flo 76'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,262 (811 away)
Referee: Clive Wilkes
5 April 1999 40 Sheffield United 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
15:00 BST Marcelo 62' Report Osborn 86' Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 21,761 (3,075 away)
Referee: Rob Styles
10 April 1999 41 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–0 Crystal Palace Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,643 (723 away)
Referee: Terry Heilbron
17 April 1999 42 Birmingham City 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
15:00 BST Report Corica 13' Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 28,143 (2,738 away)
Referee: Barry Knight
25 April 1999 43 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton
13:00 BST Robinson 37'
Curle soccer ball with red X 53'
Report Evans 18' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,038 (3,194 away)
Referee: Michael Pierce
30 April 1999 44 Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton
19:45 BST Gardner 36' Report Corica 52' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 20,208 (1,328 away)
Referee: Paul Taylor
4 May 1999 45 Grimsby Town 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Cleethorpes
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,009 (1,991 away)
Referee: Graham Frankland
9 May 1999 46 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–3 Bradford City Wolverhampton
13:30 BST Flo 12'
Simpson 81'
Report Beagrie 25'
Mills 40'
Blake 64'
Beagrie soccer ball with red X 78'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,589 (3,197 away)
Referee: Chris Foy

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
5 Watford 46 21 14 11 65 56 0+9 77
6 Bolton Wanderers 46 20 16 10 78 59 +19 76
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 19 16 11 64 43 +21 73
8 Sheffield United 46 18 13 15 71 66 0+5 67

Source: Statto.com

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 19 16 11 64 43  +21 73 11 10 2 37 19  +18 8 6 9 27 24  +3

Source: Statto.com

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
ResultWWWWDLDLWLDLLWDLWWDWLDDLLWWDWDWLDWWDWWWDDWDDDL
Position1141244747810141210118775810111212121011997879666665566777
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

2 January 1999 R3 Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton
15:00 GMT Sellars 57' Report Keane 8', 65' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 18,269 (2,377 away)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
24 January 1999 R4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Arsenal Wolverhampton
15:30 GMT Flo 37' Report Overmars 10'
Bergkamp 69'
Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,511 (3,196 away)
Referee: Steve Dunn

League Cup

11 August 1998 R1.1 Barnet 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BST McGleish 68'
Currie 90'
Report Osborn 77' Stadium: Underhill
Attendance: 3,181 (996 away)
Referee: Fraser Stretton
18 August 1998 R1.2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0
(6–2 agg.)
Barnet Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Bull 14', 35', 79'
Keane 45', 74'
Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 15,296 (236 away)
Referee: Steve Baines
15 September 1998 R2.1 Bournemouth 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bournemouth
19:45 BST Stein 17' Ferguson 83' Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 7,096 (938 away)
Referee: Rob Styles
22 September 1998 R2.2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2
(2–3 agg.)
Bournemouth Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Keane 57' Report Stein 21', 60' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 15,431 (557 away)
Referee: Anthony Leake

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 A yellow card A red card Notes
League FA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
GKEngland Justin Bray 0000000000
GKEngland Matt Murray 0000000000
GKDenmark Jørgen Nielsen 0000000000
GKEngland Mike Stowell 460204052000
DFEngland Keith Curle (c) 444203049481
DFWales Ryan Green 1000001000
DFAustralia Kevin Muscat 17(6)4204023(6)4120
DFEngland Lee Naylor 24(6)1004028(6)100
DFEngland Dean Richards 40(1)3104045(1)350
DFNorthern Ireland Gordon Simms 0000000000
DFWales Ady Williams 0000101000
MFEngland Mark Atkins 150200(1)017(1)001
MFAustralia Steve Corica 18(5)2101(1)020(6)210
MFEngland Neil Emblen 30(3)2202(1)034(4)230
MFScotland Darren Ferguson ¤ 2(2)0000(2)12(4)110
MFEngland Steve Froggatt 80002(1)010(1)020
MFBarbados Michael Gilkes 25(4)0200(1)027(5)030
MFSpain Fernando Gómez 18(1)2102021(1)200
MFEngland Darren Middleton 0000000000
MFGermany Robert Niestroj 2(2)010003(2)010
MFEngland Simon Osborn 35(2)2104140(2)390
MFWales Carl Robinson 19(5)8201022(5)840
MFEngland Steve Sedgley 41(3)30(1)03044(4)380
MFEngland Paul Simpson ¤ 8(3)20(1)0109(4)200
MFRepublic of Ireland Andy Turner 0000000000
FWEngland Steve Bull 11(4)3002313(4)610
FWEngland Steve Claridge 0000000000
FWRepublic of Ireland David Connolly 18(14)60(1)02020(15)610
FWRepublic of Ireland Glen Crowe ¤† 0000000000
FWNorway Håvard Flo 18(1)5110019(1)610
FWRepublic of Ireland Dominic Foley ¤ 2(3)200002(3)200
FWEngland Mark Jones 0(2)0000(2)00(4)010
FWRepublic of Ireland Robbie Keane 30(3)11224336(3)1610
FWRepublic of Ireland Colin Larkin 0000000000
FWFinland Mixu Paatelainen 0000000000
FWEngland Adam Proudlock 0000000000
FWEngland Guy Whittingham 9(1)100009(1)100

Transfers

In

Date Player From Fee
5 August 1998Spain Fernando GómezSpain ValenciaFree[5]
13 November 1998Germany Robert NiestrojGermany Fortuna Düsseldorf£500,000[6]
13 January 1999Norway Håvard FloGermany Werder Bremen£700,000[7]
25 March 1999England Darren MiddletonAston VillaFree[8]
25 March 1999Republic of Ireland Andy TurnerCrystal PalaceFree[9]

Out

Date Player To Fee
June 1998England Tony DaleyReleasedFree[10]
June 1998England Don GoodmanReleasedFree[11]
June 1998Poland Dariusz KubickiReleasedFree[10]
June 1998England Richard LeadbeaterReleasedFree[10]
June 1998Netherlands Hans SegersReleasedFree[12]
June 1998Australia Robbie SlaterReleasedFree[10]
June 1998England Chris WestwoodReleasedFree[10]
6 August 1998Scotland Dougie FreedmanNottingham Forest£950,000[13]
6 August 1998Grenada Jason RobertsBristol Rovers£250,000[14]
10 August 1998England Steve ClaridgePortsmouth£200,000[15]
11 September 1998Finland Mixu PaatelainenScotland Hibernian£75,000[16]
1 October 1998England Steve FroggattCoventry City£1.9 million[17]
27 January 1999Republic of Ireland Glen CrowePlymouth ArgyleFree[18]

Loans in

Start date Player From End date
20 August 1998Republic of Ireland David ConnollyNetherlands FeyenoordEnd of season[19]
2 November 1998England Guy WhittinghamSheffield Wednesday28 December 1998
25 March 1999Denmark Jørgen NielsenLiverpoolEnd of season[8]

Loans out

Start date Player To End date
1 August 1998Republic of Ireland Glen CroweExeter City26 September 1998
18 September 1998England Paul SimpsonWalsall5 October 1998[20]
8 December 1998Republic of Ireland Dominic FoleyNotts County31 December 1998[21]
11 December 1998England Paul SimpsonWalsall11 January 1999[22]
26 January 1999Scotland Darren FergusonNetherlands Sparta Rotterdam26 April 1999[18]
4 February 1999Republic of Ireland Dominic FoleyGreece Ethnikos Piraeus24 March 1999

Kit

The season brought a new home kit as the design returned to a plain gold shirt with black collar. The away kit, a white away shirt with a dark green collar and dark green shorts, was retained from the previous season. Both were manufactured by Puma and sponsored by Goodyear.

References

  1. "Wolves axe McGhee". The Mirror. 6 November 1998.
  2. "Wolves 'gamble' on boss Lee". Sunday Mirror. 29 November 1998.
  3. "Stunned Wolves leave it to Lee". The Birmingham Post. 10 May 1999.
  4. "Champions to tackle Forest fire". The Independent. 16 June 1998. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  5. "McGhee taking another Spanish step forward". Birmingham Post. 5 August 1998.
  6. "Reinforcements for Lee's cause". Birmingham Post. 14 November 1998.
  7. "Flo in at Wolves". The Mirror. 13 January 1999.
  8. "Loan raider Lee notches one-in-three strike rate". Birmingham Post. 26 March 1999.
  9. "Wolves get Turner prize but still want extra rewards". Birmingham Post. 25 March 1999.
  10. "Daley cuts his Wolves losses for fresh fields". Birmingham Post. 6 May 1998.
  11. "Goodman gets a free but has regrets at leaving Molineux". Birmingham Post. 16 April 1998.
  12. "Healthy dose of pessimism can pep up McGhee". Birmingham Post. 5 August 1998.
  13. "Forest Freed transfer deal". The Mirror. 7 August 1998.
  14. "Wolves allow Roberts to go". Birmingham Evening Mail. 6 August 1998.
  15. "Fernando waiting on debut call at Wolves". Birmingham Post. 11 August 1998.
  16. "Hibs pay £75,000 for Paatelainen as McLeish says there's no panic". Daily Record. 12 September 1998.
  17. "Strachan's plans leave Froggatt on firm ground". Birmingham Post. 2 October 1998.
  18. "Wolves banking on mutual benefits if Ferguson departs". Birmingham Post. 27 January 1999.
  19. "Connolly to strike chord as McGhee gets his way". Birmingham Post. 21 August 1998.
  20. "Walsall light up the Sky". Birmingham Evening Mail. 19 September 1998.
  21. "Foley goes to County". The Mirror. 9 December 1998.
  22. "Returning Simpson could ease Graydon's nagging headache". Birmingham Post. 12 December 1998.
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