1997–98 Bolton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1997–1998 season was the 119th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and their first season back in the Premier League after winning the Football League First Division the previous season. It covers the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. After 102 years playing at Burnden Park, the club had moved to the new Reebok Stadium.[1]

Bolton Wanderers
1997–98 season
ChairmanGordon Hargreaves
ManagerColin Todd
StadiumReebok Stadium
Premiership18th (relegated)
FA Cup3rd Round
League Cup4th Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Blake (12)
All: Blake (14)
Highest home attendance25,000, multiple occasions
Lowest home attendance6,444 v Leyton Orient, 30 September 1997
Average home league attendance24,352

Season summary

In their new 27,000-seat stadium, Bolton Wanderers began the season as the strongest-looking of the newly promoted side, particularly after paying a club record fee of £3.5 million for Wimbledon striker Dean Holdsworth and holding Manchester United to a 0–0 draw. But it was a season-long struggle for Colin Todd and his men, who lost their battle on the final day of the season and occupied the final relegation place – on goal difference – to complete a hat-trick of newly promoted clubs suffering relegation. Controversially Bolton had a goal against Everton disallowed in the belief that the ball had not crossed the line after crashing down off the Everton crossbar. Television replays showed the ball had indeed crossed the line. The game finished goal-less and the two sides finished level on points with Everton surviving on their superior goal difference. Bolton fans complained bitterly that the goal and resulting 1–0 win would have kept them in the Premier League at Everton's expense. Everton fans countered by pointing to Bolton's inability to hold onto a lead during the season while Everton had a good record of coming from behind to draw or even win against their fellow strugglers. With an hour to play it is impossible to say with any degree of confidence that Bolton would indeed have been able to hold on to their goal lead.

Final league table
Main article: 1997–98 FA Premier League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
16 Sheffield Wednesday 38 12 8 18 52 67 −15 44
17 Everton 38 9 13 16 41 56 −15 40
18 Bolton Wanderers (R) 38 9 13 16 41 61 −20 40 Relegation to the Football League First Division
19 Barnsley (R) 38 10 5 23 37 82 −45 35
20 Crystal Palace (R) 38 8 9 21 37 71 −34 33
Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round[lower-alpha 1]
Relegation to the Football League First Division
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Crystal Palace qualified for the 1998 Intertoto Cup as they were the only English team who applied.
    Results summary
    OverallHomeAway
    PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
    38 9 13 16 41 61  −20 40 7 8 4 25 22  +3 2 5 12 16 39  −23
    Results by round
    Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
    GroundAAAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHHAHAHAHA
    ResultWDLDLDDDLLWDLDWWLDLDLDLLDDLLWWLDWLLWWL
    Position58131216161617171817171818181314161716171819191918191919191918181819181718
    Source: 11v11.com: 1997-98 Bolton Wanderers results
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    Results

    FA Premier League
    Date Opponents H / A Result

    F – A

    		 Scorers Attendance
    9 August 1997 Southampton A 1 – 0 Blake 43' 15,206
    23 August 1997 Coventry City A 2 – 2 Blake (2) 69', 76' 16,633
    27 August 1997 Barnsley A 1 – 2 Beardsley 31' 18,661
    1 September 1997 Everton H 0 – 0 23,131
    13 September 1997 Arsenal A 1 – 4 Thompson 13' 38,138
    20 September 1997 Manchester United H 0 – 0 25,000
    23 September 1997 Tottenham Hotspur H 1 – 1 Thompson 20' (pen) 23,433
    27 September 1997 Crystal Palace A 2 – 2 Beardsley 36', Johansen 66' 17,134
    4 October 1997 Aston Villa H 0 – 1 24,186
    18 October 1997 West Ham United A 0 – 3 24,864
    26 October 1997 Chelsea H 1 – 0 Holdsworth 72' 24,080
    1 November 1997 Liverpool H 1 – 1 Blake 84' 25,000
    8 November 1997 Sheffield Wednesday A 0 – 5 25,027
    22 November 1997 Leicester City A 0 – 0 20,464
    29 November 1997 Wimbledon H 1 – 0 Blake 89' 22,703
    1 December 1997 Newcastle United H 1 – 0 Blake 22' 24,494
    6 December 1997 Blackburn Rovers A 1 – 3 Frandsen 84' 25,503
    14 December 1997 Derby County H 3 – 3 Thompson 50' (pen), Blake 73', Pollock 77' 23, 037
    20 December 1997 Leeds United A 0 – 2 31,163
    26 December 1997 Barnsley H 1 – 1 Bergsson 38' 25,000
    28 December 1997 Everton A 2 – 3 Bergsson 42', Sellars 43' 37,149
    10 January 1998 Southampton H 0 – 0 23,333
    17 January 1998 Newcastle United A 1 – 2 Blake 72' 36,767
    31 January 1998 Coventry City H 1 – 5 Sellars 21' 25,000
    7 February 1998 Manchester United A 1 – 1 B.Taylor 60' 55,156
    21 February 1998 West Ham United H 1 – 1 Blake 86' 25,000
    1 March 1998 Tottenham Hotspur A 0 – 1 29,032
    8 March 1998 Liverpool A 1 – 2 Thompson 7' 44,532
    14 March 1998 Sheffield Wednesday H 3 – 2 Frandsen 31', Blake 53', Thompson 69' (pen) 24,847
    28 March 1998 Leicester City H 2 – 0 Thompson (2) 52', 89' 25,000
    31 March 1998 Arsenal H 0 – 1 25,000
    4 April 1998 Wimbledon A 0 – 0 11,356
    11 April 1998 Blackburn Rovers H 2 – 1 Holdsworth 20', B. Taylor 67' 25,000
    13 April 1998 Derby County A 0 – 4 29,126
    18 April 1998 Leeds United H 2 – 3 Thompson 56', Fish 89' 25,000
    25 April 1998 Aston Villa A 3 – 1 Cox 18', B.Taylor 41', Blake 84' 38,392
    2 May 1998 Crystal Palace H 5 – 2 Blake 7', Fish 20', Phillips 30', Thompson 70', Holdsworth 79' 24,449
    10 May 1998 Chelsea A 0 – 2 34,845

    FA Cup
    Date Round Opponents H / A Result

    F – A

    		 Scorers Attendance
    3 January 1998 Round 3 Barnsley A 0 – 1 15,042

    Coca-Cola Cup
    Date Round Opponents H / A Result

    F – A

    		 Scorers Attendance
    16 September 1997 Round 2 First Leg Leyton Orient A 3 – 1 Todd 13', Frandsen 20', McGinlay 79' 4,128
    30 September 1997 Round 2 Second Leg Leyton Orient H 4 – 4 (aet)
    7 – 5 (agg)    		 Blake (2) 8' 35', McGinlay 65' (pen), Gunnlaugsson 66' 6,444
    14 October 1997 Round 3 Wimbledon H 2 – 0 (aet) Pollock 91', McAllister 94' (og) 9,875
    18 November 1997 Round 4 Middlesbrough A 1 – 2 (aet) Thompson 33' 22,801

    Transfers

    Transfers in
    Player From Date Fee
    Robbie Elliott Newcastle United1 July 1997£2,500,000
    Arnar Gunnlaugsson IA Akranes10 July 1997£100,000
    Peter Beardsley Newcastle United18 August 1997£450,000
    Mark Fish Lazio19 September 1997£2,000,000
    Mike Whitlow Leicester City19 September 1997£500,000
    Dean Holdsworth Wimbledon2 October 1997£3,500,000
    Jussi Jääskeläinen VPS Vaasa11 November 1997£100,000

    Transfers out
    Player To Date Fee
    Scott Green Wigan Athletic1 July 1997£300,000
    David Lee Wigan Athletic14 July 1997£250,000
    Mixu Paatelainen Wolverhampton Wanderers8 August 1997£200,000
    John McGinlay Bradford City6 November 1997£625,000
    Steve McAnespie Fulham27 November 1997£100,000
    Simon Coleman Southend20 February 1998Free
    Jamie Pollock Manchester City20 March 1998£1,000,000
    Alan Thompson Aston Villa5 June 1998£4,500,000

    Loans in
    Player From Date From Date To
    Franz Carr Reggiana24 October 199728 January 1998
    Bob Taylor West Bromwich Albion9 January 19989 February 1998
    Gaetano Giallanza Nantes26 March 199831 May 1998
    John Salako Coventry City26 March 199831 May 1998
    Bob Taylor West Bromwich Albion26 March 199831 May 1998

    Loans out
    Player To Date From Date To
    Simon Coleman Wolverhampton Wanderers2 September 19972 October 1997
    Bryan Small Luton Town8 September 199712 December 1997
    Greg Strong Blackpool21 November 199710 February 1998
    Scott Taylor Rotherham United12 December 19977 February 1998
    Bryan Small Bradford City19 December 199717 January 1998
    Bryan Small Bury30 January 199831 May 1998
    Peter Beardsley Manchester City17 February 199811 March 1998
    Peter Beardsley Fulham26 March 199831 May 1998
    Scott Taylor Blackpool26 March 199826 April 1998

    Appearances

    Bolton used a total of 29 players during the season.

    P Player Position PL FAC LC Total
    1 Per Frandsen Midfielder 38 0(0) 01 0(0) 04 0(0) 43 0(0)
    2 Nathan Blake Striker 35 0(0) 01 0(0) 03 0(0) 39 0(0)
    3 Guðni Bergsson Defender 34 0(1) 01 0(0) 03 0(0) 38 0(1)
    4 Alan Thompson Midfielder 33 0(0) 01 0(0) 04 0(0) 38 0(0)
    5 Keith Branagan Goalkeeper 34 0(0) 00 0(0) 03 0(0) 37 0(0)
    6 Jamie Pollock Midfielder 25 0(1) 01 0(0) 04 0(0) 30 0(1)
    7 Andy Todd Defender 23 0(2) 01 0(0) 04 0(0) 28 0(2)
    8 Scott Sellars Midfielder 22 0(0) 01 0(0) 03 0(0) 26 0(0)
    9 Mark Fish Defender 22 0(0) 01 0(0) 01 0(0) 24 0(0)
    10 Jimmy Phillips Defender 21 0(1) 00 0(0) 01 0(1) 22 0(2)
    11 Neil Cox Defender 20 0(1) 00 0(1) 00 0(0) 200(2)
    12 Peter Beardsley Striker 14 0(3) 00 0(1) 03 0(0) 17 0(4)
    13 Dean Holdsworth Striker 17 0(3) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 17 0(3)
    14 Mike Whitlow Defender 13 0(0) 01 0(0) 03 0(0) 16 0(0)
    15 Gerry Taggart Defender 14 0 (1) 00 0(0) 01 0(0) 15 0(1)
    16 John Sheridan Midfielder 12 0(0) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 12 0(0)
    17 Bob Taylor Striker 10 0(2) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 10 0(2)
    18 Chris Fairclough Striker 10 0(1) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 10 0(1)
    19 John McGinlay Striker 04 0(3) 00 0(0) 02 0(1) 06 0(4)
    20 Gavin Ward Goalkeeper 04 0(2) 01 0(0) 01 0(0) 06 0(2)
    21 Michael Johansen Midfielder 04 (12) 00 0(0) 01 0(2) 05 (14)
    22 Robbie Elliott Defender 04 0(0) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 04 0(0)
    23 Arnar Gunnlaugsson Striker 02 (13) 01 0(0) 00 0(3) 03 (16)
    24 Steve McAnespie Defender 01 0(1) 00 0(0) 02 0(0) 03 0(1)
    25 Hasney Aljofree Defender 02 0(0) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 02 0(0)
    26 Greg Strong Defender 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 01 0(1) 01 0(1)
    27 John Salako Midfielder 00 0(7) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 00 0(7)
    28 Franz Carr Midfielder 00 0(5) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 00 0(5)
    29 Gaetano Giallanza Striker 00 0(3) 00 0(0) 00 0(0) 00 0(3)

    Top scorers
    P Player Position PL FAC LC Total
    1 Nathan Blake Striker 12 0 2 14
    2 Alan Thompson Midfielder 09 0 1 10
    3= Per Frandsen Midfielder 02 0 1 03
    3= Dean Holdsworth Striker 03 0 0 03
    3= Bob Taylor Striker 03 0 0 03

    References
    1. "Bolton Wanderers 1997-98". bwfcstats.com. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
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