1997–98 Watford F.C. season

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

Watford
1997–98 season
ChairmanElton John
ManagerGraham Taylor
StadiumVicarage Road
Second Division1st (champions)
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Auto Windscreens ShieldFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Kennedy (11)
All: Kennedy (13)
Average home league attendance11,532

Season summary

In the 1997–98 season, Kenny Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager and Graham Taylor returned for a second spell as Watford manager. The transition proved a success; Watford secured the Division Two title, beating Bristol City into second place after a season-long struggle.

Final league table
Main article: 1997–98 Football League § Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Watford 46 24 16 6 67 41 +26 88 Division Champions, promoted
2 Bristol City 46 25 10 11 69 39 +30 85 Promoted
3 Grimsby Town 46 19 15 12 55 37 +18 72 Promoted through play-offs
4 Northampton 46 18 17 11 52 37 +15 71 Participated in play-offs
5 Bristol Rovers 46 20 10 16 70 64 +6 70
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Watford's score comes first[1]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Second Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
9 August 1997BurnleyH1–011,155Lee
16 August 1997Carlisle UnitedA2–07,395Kennedy, Johnson
23 August 1997BrentfordH3–110,125Millen, Melvang, Johnson
30 August 1997Preston North EndA0–211,042
2 September 1997Plymouth ArgyleA1–05,141Noel-Williams
7 September 1997Wycombe WanderersH2–112,100Hyde, Lee
13 September 1997ChesterfieldH2–111,204Rosenthal, Lee
20 September 1997GillinghamA2–27,780Rosenthal (pen), Johnson
27 September 1997York CityH1–113,812Lee
4 October 1997Luton TownA4–09,041Johnson, Thomas, Kennedy (2)
14 October 1997Bristol RoversA2–18,110Kennedy, Rosenthal (pen)
18 October 1997MillwallH0–112,530
21 October 1997FulhamH2–011,486Rosenthal, Robinson
25 October 1997Grimsby TownA1–05,699Rosenthal
1 November 1997BlackpoolH4–19,723Lee (2), Johnson, Rosenthal
4 November 1997Southend UnitedA3–04,001Kennedy (3)
8 November 1997WalsallA0–05,077
18 November 1997Oldham AthleticH2–18,397Thomas, Mooney
22 November 1997Northampton TownA1–07,373Kennedy
29 November 1997Wigan AthleticH2–19,455Thomas, Mooney
2 December 1997WrexhamA1–13,702Rosenthal
13 December 1997Bristol CityH1–116,072Noel-Williams
20 December 1997BournemouthA1–06,081Kennedy
26 December 1997Wycombe WanderersA0–08,090
28 December 1997Plymouth ArgyleH1–111,594Mooney
10 January 1998BurnleyA0–29,551
17 January 1998Preston North EndH3–110,182Kennedy (2), Hyde
24 January 1998BrentfordA2–16,969Mooney, Johnson
31 January 1998ChesterfieldA1–05,975Noel-Williams
8 February 1998GillinghamH0–210,498
14 February 1998Luton TownH1–115,182Robinson
21 February 1998York CityA1–14,890Palmer
25 February 1998MillwallA1–17,126Mooney
28 February 1998Bristol RoversH3–212,186Noel-Williams, Rosenthal, Mooney
3 March 1998WalsallH1–28,096Noel-Williams
7 March 1998BlackpoolA1–15,237Bazeley
14 March 1998Southend UnitedH1–110,750Hyde
17 March 1998Carlisle UnitedH2–17,274Palmer, Bazeley
21 March 1998Oldham AthleticA2–25,744Bazeley, Gibbs
28 March 1998Northampton TownH1–114,268Johnson
4 April 1998Wigan AthleticA2–34,262Foley, Hyde
11 April 1998WrexhamH1–012,340Lee
13 April 1998Bristol CityA1–119,141Lee
25 April 1998Grimsby TownH0–014,002
28 April 1998BournemouthH2–112,834Lee, Noel-Williams
2 May 1998FulhamA2–117,114Noel-Williams, Lee

FA Cup
Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R115 November 1997BarnetA2–14,040Rosenthal (2)
R26 December 1997Torquay UnitedA1–13,416Noel-Williams
R2R16 December 1997Torquay UnitedH2–1 (a.e.t.)5,848Noel-Williams (2)
R33 January 1998Sheffield WednesdayH1–118,306Kennedy
R3R14 January 1998Sheffield WednesdayA0–0 (lost 3-5 on pens)18,707

League Cup
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg13 August 1997Swindon TownA2–06,271Noel-Williams, Rosenthal
R1 2nd Leg26 August 1997Swindon TownH1–1 (won 3-1 on agg)7,712Hyde
R2 1st Leg16 September 1997Sheffield UnitedH1–17,154Kennedy
R2 2nd Leg23 September 1997Sheffield UnitedA0–4 (lost 1-5 on agg)7,511

Football League Trophy
Main article: 1997–98 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR19 December 1997FulhamA0–13,364

Players

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[2]

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

No. Position Player
GK Alec Chamberlain
GK Chris Day
GK Andrew Iga
DF Darren Bazeley
DF Clint Easton
DF Nigel Gibbs
DF Dominic Ludden
DF Colin Miles
DF Keith Millen
DF Steve Palmer
DF Paul Robinson
DF Mark Rooney
DF Darren Ward
DF Rob Page
DF Lars Melvang
MF Micah Hyde[notes 1]
No. Position Player
MF Stuart Slater
MF Tommy Smith
MF Steve Talboys
MF Peter Kennedy
MF Jóhann Guðmundsson
MF Alon Hazan
MF Richard Johnson
FW Wayne Andrews
FW Jason Lee
FW Nathan Lowndes
FW Tommy Mooney
FW Gifton Noel-Williams
FW Dai Thomas
FW Dominic Foley (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
FW Ronny Rosenthal

Reserve squad

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

No. Position Player
DF David Perpetuini
No. Position Player
FW Danny Grieves

References
  1. "Watford 1997-1998 Results - statto.com". statto.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  2. "All Watford players: 1998". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.

Notes
  1. Hyde was born in Newham, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 2001.
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