1997–98 Football League

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Macclesfield Town
→

The 1997–98 Football League (known as the

The Football League
.

Champions Nottingham Forest and runners-up Middlesbrough won promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. Charlton Athletic won the play-offs to end an eight-year absence from the top flight.

Reading were relegated in bottom place. They were joined on the last day of the season by Manchester City and Stoke City. The blue half of Manchester endured relegation to the third tier of the English league for the first time in its history, despite beating also doomed Stoke 5–2 away on the last day of the season, but neither fans took lightly to relegation, as mass football violence outside outshone the match. Bury, Portsmouth and Port Vale all won their games to avoid the drop.

Graham Taylor's second spell as manager brought instant success as Watford won the Division Two championship. They were joined by runners-up Bristol City and playoff winners Grimsby Town
.

Going down to Division Three were Brentford, Plymouth Argyle, Carlisle United and Southend United. Brentford had been losing playoff finalists just 12 months earlier, Plymouth had been promoted to Division Two just two seasons earlier, Carlisle were newly promoted and Southend had endured their second successive relegation.

Conference. They were joined by champions Notts County, who won the title by 17 points and became the first team since World War II to secure promotion in March, third-placed Lincoln City and playoff winners Colchester United
.

Doncaster Rovers suffered an English league record of 34 defeats and won just four games to lose their league status. They were replaced by Conference champions Halifax Town, who regained their league status five years after losing it.

First Division

Main article: 1997–98 Football League First Division
Kevin Phillips
Pierre van Hooijdonk
(29 goals each)[1]
→

One season after being relegated from the Premier League, Nottingham Forest achieved an instant comeback as Division One champions, meaning that manager Dave Bassett had now taken charge of promotion-winning teams eight times in 18 seasons. They were joined on the final day of the season by Middlesbrough, who had only been relegated the previous season due to a points deduction. Charlton Athletic clinched the final promotion place in dramatic fashion, beating Sunderland on penalties after a thrilling match which ended 4-4 after extra time and restored the South London club to the top flight for the first time since 1990. Ipswich Town and Sheffield United were the beaten semi-finalists, while Birmingham City missed out on the playoffs on goals scored. Stockport County, in the league's second tier for the first time in decades, finished an impressive eighth. FA Cup semi-finalists Wolves finished ninth, missing out on the playoffs.

Reading's final season at

Britannia Stadium
, with both teams knowing that victory was their only chance of survival. In the end, the visitors triumphed 5-2 but both sides were relegated due to Portsmouth, Port Vale and QPR all winning and securing survival.

The season saw numerous managerial changes in Division One. Despite being on a run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and being in the hunt for promotion to the Premier League,

UEFA Cup run, stood down at Carrow Road with several games still to play as Norwich headed for another disappointing mid table finish. After the season was over, the Carrow Road
board of directors appointed Bruce Rioch as their sixth manager in as many years.

Table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Nottingham Forest (C, P) 46 28 10 8 82 42 +40 94 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Middlesbrough (P) 46 27 10 9 77 41 +36 91
3 Sunderland 46 26 12 8 86 50 +36 90 Qualification for the First Division play-offs
4 Charlton Athletic (O, P) 46 26 10 10 80 49 +31 88
5 Ipswich Town 46 23 14 9 77 43 +34 83
6 Sheffield United 46 19 17 10 69 54 +15 74
7 Birmingham City 46 19 17 10 60 35 +25 74
8 Stockport County 46 19 8 19 71 69 +2 65
9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 18 11 17 57 53 +4 65
10 West Bromwich Albion 46 16 13 17 50 56 −6 61
11 Crewe Alexandra 46 18 5 23 58 65 −7 59
12 Oxford United 46 16 10 20 60 64 −4 58
13 Bradford City 46 14 15 17 46 59 −13 57
14 Tranmere Rovers 46 14 14 18 54 57 −3 56
15 Norwich City 46 14 13 19 52 69 −17 55
16 Huddersfield Town 46 14 11 21 50 72 −22 53
17 Bury 46 11 19 16 42 58 −16 52
18 Swindon Town 46 14 10 22 42 73 −31 52
19 Port Vale 46 13 10 23 56 66 −10 49
20 Portsmouth 46 13 10 23 51 63 −12 49
21 Queens Park Rangers 46 10 19 17 51 63 −12 49
22 Manchester City (R) 46 12 12 22 56 57 −1 48 Relegation to the Second Division
23 Stoke City (R) 46 11 13 22 44 74 −30 46
24 Reading (R) 46 11 9 26 39 78 −39 42
Source: Statto.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Play-offs

Main article:
Football League Championship play-offs § 1998
Semifinals
1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13 May 1998 		Final at Wembley
25 May 1998
        
3rd Sunderland 1 2 3
6th Sheffield United 2 0 2
3rd Sunderland 4 (6)
4th
pen.
) 		4 (7)
4th Charlton Athletic 1 1 2
5th Ipswich Town 0 0 0

[2]

Results

Home \ Away BIR BRA BRY CHA CRE HUD IPS MCI MID NWC NOT OXF PTV POR QPR REA SHU STP STK SUN SWI TRA WBA WOL
Birmingham City 0–0 1–3 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–0 4–1 2–0 0–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–0
Bradford City 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–3 0–0 2–1 1–3 1–1 4–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–4 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–0
Bury 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–3 1–3
Charlton Athletic 1–1 4–1 0–0 3–2 1–0 3–0 2–1 3–0 2–1 4–2 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 3–0 2–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 5–0 1–0
Crewe Alexandra 0–2 5–0 1–2 0–3 2–5 0–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–4 2–1 0–1 3–1 2–3 1–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 0–3 2–0 2–1 2–3 0–2
Huddersfield Town 0–1 1–2 2–0 0–3 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–1 1–3 0–2 5–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 2–3 0–0 3–0 1–0 1–0
Ipswich Town 0–1 2–1 2–0 3–1 3–2 5–1 1–0 1–1 5–0 0–1 5–2 5–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–2 2–3 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 3–0
Manchester City 0–1 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–2 2–0 1–2 2–3 0–2 2–3 2–2 2–2 0–0 0–0 4–1 0–1 0–1 6–0 1–1 1–0 0–1
Middlesbrough 3–1 1–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 0–0 4–1 2–1 1–1 3–0 4–0 1–2 3–1 0–1 3–1 6–0 3–0 1–0 1–1
Norwich City 3–3 2–3 2–2 0–4 0–2 5–0 2–1 0–0 1–3 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–1 5–0 0–2 1–1 0–2
Nottingham Forest 1–0 2–2 3–0 5–2 3–1 3–0 2–1 1–3 4–0 2–3 1–3 2–1 1–0 4–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–3 3–0 2–2 1–0 3–0
Oxford United 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–4 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 3–0 2–4 3–0 5–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 3–0
Port Vale 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–3 4–1 1–3 2–1 0–1 2–2 0–1 3–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–2
Portsmouth 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–3 3–0 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–4 0–1 1–0 2–3 3–2
Queens Park Rangers 1–1 1–0 0–1 2–4 3–2 2–1 0–0 2–0 5–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 0–0
Reading 2–0 0–3 1–1 2–0 3–3 0–2 0–4 3–0 0–1 0–1 3–3 2–1 0–3 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 2–0 4–0 0–1 1–3 2–1 0–0
Sheffield United 0–0 2–1 3–0 4–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–2 4–0 5–1 3–2 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–4 1–0
Stockport County 2–2 1–2 0–0 3–0 0–1 3–0 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–2 3–0 3–1 2–0 5–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 4–2 3–1 2–1 1–0
Stoke City 0–7 2–1 3–2 1–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–5 1–2 2–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–0 3–0
Sunderland 1–1 2–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–1 4–2 2–1 2–2 4–1 4–2 4–1 3–0 0–0 3–0 2–0 1–1
Swindon Town 1–1 1–0 3–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–2 1–0 0–0 4–1 4–2 0–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–2 0–0
Tranmere Rovers 0–3 3–1 0–0 2–2 0–3 1–0 1–1 0–0 0–2 2–0 0–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 2–1 6–0 3–3 3–0 3–1 0–2 3–0 0–0 2–1
West Bromwich Albion 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–2 2–3 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–3 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 3–3 0–0 2–1 1–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 2–1 4–2 3–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 5–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 3–2 3–1 0–0 3–4 1–1 0–1 3–1 2–1 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1
Kevin Phillips
 Sunderland 29
=
Pierre Van Hooijdonk
 Nottingham Forest 29
3 England Kevin Campbell Nottingham Forest 23
= England Clive Mendonca Charlton Athletic 23
5 England David Johnson Ipswich Town 20
6 England Brett Angell Stockport County 18
7 England Paul Furlong Birmingham City 15
= England Marcus Stewart Huddersfield Town 15

Maps

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1997–1998
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League First Division 1997–1998 teams

Second Division

Having returned to the manager's seat at Watford following a disappointing 1996–97 season under Kenny Jackett, Graham Taylor guided Watford to the Division Two title to add to the three promotions he had won in his first spell at Vicarage Road between 1978 and 1982. John Ward, who had been dismissed by Bristol Rovers in 1996 after failing to deliver promotion, delivered the goods for their local rivals Bristol City, comfortably securing them promotion from Division Two as runners-up. The final promotion place was won by Grimsby Town, who in their first Wembley final victory defeated a Northampton Town side in hunt of a second successive promotion.

Grimsby had already defeated favourites Fulham in the semi-finals, meaning that

Mohammed Al Fayed's revolution at Craven Cottage was on hold for a season. Since buying the club for £30million the previous summer, Al Fayed had appointed Kevin Keegan as director of football and Ray Wilkins as head coach, as well as providing transfer funds which meant that Fulham were able to compete with the leading Division One clubs and even some Premier League sides in the transfer market, the biggest fee being the £2.25million they paid Blackburn Rovers for defender Chris Coleman
.

At the bottom end of the table, Alvin Martin endured a nightmare start to his managerial career as his Southend United side finished bottom of Division Two and suffered a second successive relegation. Carlisle United's dream of rising to the top of the English leagues under the ownership of Michael Knighton was becoming a nightmare as they suffered an instant relegation back to Division Three, despite the club's ambitious chairman taking charge of the first team for most of the season after axing Mervyn Day in the autumn. Plymouth Argyle were relegated to Division Three for the second time in four seasons. Brentford, beaten playoff finalists the previous season, went down on the final day of the season, with fallen giants Burnley being the lucky side who escaped relegation in the process. Surviving in Division Two was not enough to save the job of Burnley manager Chris Waddle, who was replaced soon afterwards by Bury manager Stan Ternent.

Football League, Second Division
Season1997–98
ChampionsWatford (2nd third tier title)
Direct promotionWatford,
Bristol City
Promoted through play-offsGrimsby Town
RelegatedBrentford,
Carlisle United,
Plymouth Argyle,
Southend United
Matches played552
Goals scored1,337 (2.42 per match)
Top goalscorerBarry Hayles (Bristol Rovers), 23 [1]
→

Table

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Watford 46 13 7 3 36 22 11 9 3 31 19 +26 88 Division Champions, promoted
2 Bristol City 46 16 5 2 41 17 9 5 9 28 22 +30 85 Promoted
3 Grimsby Town 46 11 7 5 30 14 8 8 7 25 23 +18 72 Promoted through play-offs
4 Northampton Town 46 14 5 4 33 17 4 12 7 19 20 +15 71 Participated in
play-offs
5 Bristol Rovers 46 13 2 8 43 33 7 8 8 27 31 +6 70
6 Fulham 46 12 7 4 31 14 8 3 12 29 29 +17 70
7 Wrexham 46 10 10 3 31 23 8 6 9 24 28 +4 70
8 Gillingham 46 13 7 3 30 18 6 6 11 22 29 +5 70
9
Bournemouth
 46 11 8 4 28 15 7 4 12 29 37 +5 66
10 Chesterfield 46 13 7 3 31 19 3 10 10 15 25 +2 65
11 Wigan Athletic 46 12 5 6 41 31 5 6 12 23 35 −2 62
12 Blackpool 46 13 6 4 35 24 4 5 14 24 43 −8 62
13 Oldham Athletic 46 13 7 3 43 23 2 9 12 19 31 +8 61
14 Wycombe Wanderers 46 10 10 3 32 20 4 8 11 19 33 −2 60
15 Preston North End 46 10 6 7 29 26 5 8 10 27 30 0 59
16 York City 46 9 7 7 26 21 5 10 8 26 37 −6 59
17 Luton Town 46 7 7 9 35 38 7 8 8 25 26 −4 57
18 Millwall 46 7 8 8 23 23 7 5 11 20 31 −11 55
19 Walsall 46 10 8 5 26 16 4 4 15 17 36 −9 54
20 Burnley 46 10 9 4 34 23 3 4 16 21 42 −10 52
21 Brentford 46 9 7 7 33 29 2 10 11 17 42 −21 50 Relegated
22 Plymouth Argyle 46 10 5 8 36 30 2 8 13 19 40 −15 49
23 Carlisle United 46 8 5 10 27 28 4 3 16 30 45 −16 44
24 Southend United 46 8 7 8 29 30 3 3 17 18 49 −32 43
Source: [2]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Play-offs

Main article:
Football League One play-offs § 1998
Semifinals
1st leg – 9/10 May; 2nd leg – 13 May 1998 		Final at Wembley Stadium
24 May 1998
        
3rd Grimsby Town 1 1 2
6th Fulham 1 0 1
3rd Grimsby Town 1
4th Northampton 0
4th Northampton 1 3 4
5th Bristol Rovers 3 0 3

[2]

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Jamaica Barry Hayles Bristol Rovers 23
2 Canada Carlo Corazzin Plymouth Argyle 17
= England Kevin Donovan Grimsby Town 17
= England Mark Stallard Wycombe Wanderers 17
= England Ian Stevens Carlisle United 17
6 England Andy Cooke Burnley 16
= England David Lowe Wigan Athletic 16
8 England Peter Beadle Bristol Rovers 15
= England Paul Moody Fulham 15
10 England Lee Ashcroft Preston North End 14
= Netherlands Jeroen Boere Southend United 14

Maps

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1997–1998
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Second Division 1997–1998 teams

Results

Home \ Away BLP
BOU
 BRE BRC BRR BUR CRL CHF FUL GIL GRI LUT MIL NOR OLD PLY PNE STD WAL WAT WIG WRE WYC YOR
Blackpool 1–0 1–2 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–2 1–0 3–0 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–4 1–0
Bournemouth
 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–0 2–1 4–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 3–0 0–0 3–3 0–2 2–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0
Brentford 3–1 3–2 1–4 2–3 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2
2–1
 0–0 2–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 3–0 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2
Bristol City 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 0–2 4–1 3–0 4–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 3–1 2–1
Bristol Rovers 0–3 5–3 2–1 1–2 1–0 3–1 3–1 2–3 1–2 0–4 2–1 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–2 5–0 1–0 3–1 1–2
Burnley 1–2 2–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 7–2
Carlisle United 1–1 0–1 1–2 0–3 3–1 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 5–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–2
Chesterfield 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 3–2 1–0 3–1 0–1 2–3 3–1 1–0 1–1
Fulham 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 5–0 1–1 3–0 0–2 0–0
1–2
 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–1
Gillingham 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–3 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0
Grimsby Town 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–3 1–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–0
Luton Town 3–0 1–2 2–0 0–0 2–4 2–3 3–2 3–0 1–4 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 3–0 1–3 1–0 0–1
0–4
 1–1 2–4 0–0 3–0
Millwall 2–1 1–2
3–0
 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1
1–1
 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 3–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–3
Northampton Town 2–0 0–2 4–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 2–2 3–1 3–2 0–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–1
Oldham Athletic 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 4–4 3–3 3–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–2 3–1 3–0 0–1 3–1
Plymouth Argyle 3–1 3–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–3 2–1 1–1 1–4 0–1 2–2 0–2 3–0 1–3 0–2 2–0 2–3 2–1 0–1 3–2 2–0 4–2 0–0
Preston North End 3–3 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–3 0–3 0–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 3–2
Southend United 2–1 5–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–1 3–0 3–2 0–1 0–3 1–0 1–3 1–2 4–4
Walsall 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–3 2–0 0–2 0–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 1–0 3–0 0–1 2–0
Watford 4–1 2–1 3–1 1–1 3–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–0 0–0 0–2
1–1
 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–1
Wigan Athletic 3–0 1–0 4–0 0–3 3–0 5–1 0–2 2–1 2–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–4 1–3 2–0 3–2 3–2 5–2 1–1
Wrexham 3–4 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–2
Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 5–1 0–0 4–1 4–2 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0
York City 1–1 0–1 3–1 0–1 0–1 3–1 4–3 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–2 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–0
Updated to match(es) played on 16 September 2021. Source: [1]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division

In his first full season as Notts County manager, Sam Allardyce took Notts County to the Division Three title with 99 points and made them the first Football League team to win promotion before the end of March, giving the Meadow Lane supporters some much needed cause for celebration after the previous six seasons had brought three relegations and a playoff defeat. Macclesfield Town finished runners-up to seal promotion in their first season as a Football League side, and were joined in the automatic promotion places by a Lincoln City side who reached the third tier for the first time in more than a decade. Colchester United clinched the final promotion place, beating Torquay United 1–0 in the Wembley promotion decider with a David Gregory goal.

Doncaster Rovers were relegated from the Football League after a catastrophic season which saw them win just four league games and suffer a league record of 34 defeats. The club's future was then secured when chairman Ken Richardson, who stood accused of trying to set fire to the club's dilapidated Belle Vue stadium as part of an alleged insurance scam, stood down and was succeeded by new owner John Ryan, who set about rebuilding the club on and off the field and ensuring a swift return to the Football League. Brighton finished 23rd for the second successive season, but were never in any real danger of relegation this time due to Doncaster's dismal form throughout the season. Hull City endured one of the worst seasons in their history, finishing third from bottom and with team-strengthening prospects for new player-manager Mark Hateley being restricted by rising debts. It was a similarly low ebb for Cardiff City, whose 21st-place finish was the second worst of their history, while Swansea City's 20th-place finish was their lowest since 1975.

Doncaster's place in the Football League was taken by Conference champions

Halifax Town
, who regained the league status which they had lost five years earlier.

Gary Jones (Notts County), 28 [1]
→

Table

Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Notts County 46 14 7 2 41 20 15 5 3 41 23 +39 99 Division Champions, promoted
2 Macclesfield Town[a] 46 19 4 0 40 11 4 9 10 23 33 +19 82 Promoted
3 Lincoln City 46 11 7 5 32 24 9 8 6 28 27 +9 75
4 Colchester United 46 14 5 4 41 24 7 6 10 31 36 +12 74 Promoted through play-offs
5 Torquay United 46 14 4 5 39 22 7 7 9 29 37 +9 74 Participated in
play-offs
6 Scarborough 46 14 6 3 44 23 5 9 9 23 35 +9 72
7 Barnet 46 10 8 5 35 22 9 5 9 26 29 +10 70
8 Scunthorpe United 46 11 7 5 30 24 8 5 10 26 28 +4 69
9 Rotherham United 46 10 9 4 41 30 6 10 7 26 31 +6 67
10
Peterborough United
 46 13 6 4 37 16 5 7 11 26 35 +12 67
11 Leyton Orient 46 14 5 4 40 20 5 7 11 22 27 +15 66[b]
12 Mansfield Town 46 11 9 3 42 26 5 8 10 22 29 +9 65
13 Shrewsbury Town 46 12 3 8 35 28 4 10 9 26 34 −1 61
14 Chester City 46 12 7 4 34 15 5 3 15 26 46 −1 61
15 Exeter City 46 10 8 5 39 25 5 7 11 29 38 +5 60
16 Cambridge United 46 11 8 4 39 27 3 10 10 24 30 +6 60
17 Hartlepool United 46 10 12 1 40 22 2 11 10 21 31 +8 59
18 Rochdale 46 15 3 5 43 15 2 4 17 13 40 +1 58
19 Darlington 46 13 6 4 43 28 1 6 16 13 44 −16 54
20 Swansea City 46 8 8 7 24 16 5 3 15 25 46 −13 50
21 Cardiff City 46 5 13 5 27 22 4 10 9 21 30 −4 50
22 Hull City 46 10 6 7 36 32 1 2 20 20 51 −27 41
23 Brighton & Hove Albion 46 3 10 10 21 34 3 7 13 17 32 −28 35
24 Doncaster Rovers 46 3 3 17 14 48 1 5 17 16 65 −83 20 Relegated to
Conference
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Notes:
  1. ^ New club in the league
  2. ^ Leyton Orient had 3 points deducted.

Play-offs

Main article:
Football League Two play-offs § 1998
Semifinals
1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13 May 1998 		Final at Wembley Stadium
22 May 1998
        
4th Colchester United 0 3 3
7th Barnet 1 1 2
4th Colchester United 1
5th Torquay United 0
5th Torquay United 3 4 7
6th Scarborough 1 1 2

[2]

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1
Gary Jones
 Notts County 28
2 England Steve Whitehall Mansfield Town 24
3 Wales Darran Rowbotham Exeter City 21
4
Jimmy Quinn
 Peterborough United 20
5 Wales Carl Griffiths Leyton Orient 18

Maps

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1997–1998
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1997–1998

See also

References

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website,[2] with home and away statistics separated. Play-off results are from the same website.

  1. ^ a b c "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e "England 1997–98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
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