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1997–98 FA Premier League

1997–98 FA Premier League

The 1997–98 FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the FA Premier League. It saw Arsenal lift their first league title since 1991 and, in so doing, became only the second team to win 'The Double' for the second time.

It was Arsenal's first full season under French manager Arsène Wenger, who became the third manager to win the Premier League. Wenger followed in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish and, while both Ferguson and Dalglish were Scottish, Wenger was the first manager from outside the British Isles to win a league title in England.

FA Premier League
Season1997–98
Dates09 August 1997–10 May 1998
ChampionsArsenal
1st Premier League title
11th English title
RelegatedBarnsley
Bolton Wanderers
Crystal Palace
Champions LeagueArsenal
Manchester United
Cup Winners' CupChelsea
Newcastle United
UEFA CupAston Villa
Blackburn Rovers
Leeds United
Liverpool
UEFA Intertoto CupCrystal Palace
Matches played380
Goals scored1,019 (2.68 per match)
Top goalscorerDion Dublin
Michael Owen
Chris Sutton
(18 goals each)
Biggest home winManchester United 7–0 Barnsley
(25 October 1997)
Biggest away winBarnsley 0–6 Chelsea
(24 August 1997)
Highest scoringBlackburn Rovers 7–2 Sheffield Wednesday
(25 August 1997)
Longest winning run10 games[9]
Arsenal
Longest unbeaten run18 games[9]
Arsenal
Longest winless run15 games[9]
Crystal Palace
Longest losing run8 games[9]
Crystal Palace
Highest attendance55,306
Manchester United v Wimbledon
(28 March 1998)
Lowest attendance7,668
Wimbledon v Barnsley
(23 September 1997)
Average attendance29,212
← 1996–97
1998–99 →

Season summary

At the end of the 1997–98 FA Premier League season, a record total of nine English teams qualified for European competition.

Premiership champions Arsenal and runners-up Manchester United qualified for the Champions League, while UEFA Cup places went to Liverpool, Leeds United, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers. Qualifying for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup were Chelsea (as defending champions) and FA Cup runners-up Newcastle United. Crystal Palace, while finishing bottom, qualified for the Intertoto Cup.[10]

The gap between the Premier League and Division One of the Football League was highlighted at the end of 1997–98 when all three newly promoted teams were relegated. Crystal Palace were confined to bottom place in the final table having won just two home games all season. Barnsley's first season in the top division ended in relegation, although they did reach the FA Cup quarter finals and knock out Manchester United in the Fifth Round. Bolton Wanderers went down on goal difference, with 17th place being occupied by Everton: despite preserving top flight football there for the 45th season running, Howard Kendall quit as manager at Goodison Park after his third spell in charge.

Another mark of the gap was that the three relegated teams in the previous season took the top three places in the 1997–98 Football League. Had Sunderland not lost the play-off final to Charlton Athletic on penalty shootout, the 20 teams from 1998–99 Premier League would have been exactly the same as those in the 1996–97 Premier League.

Teams

Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams were Bolton Wanderers (returning to the top flight after a season's absence), Barnsley (playing in the top flight for the first time) and Crystal Palace (playing in the top flight again after a two year absence). They replaced Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest, who were relegated after top flight spells of one, two and three years respectively.

Stadiums and Locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
ArsenalLondon(Highbury)Arsenal Stadium38,419
Aston VillaBirminghamVilla Park42,573
BarnsleyBarnsleyOakwell23,287
Blackburn RoversBlackburnEwood Park31,367
Bolton WanderersBoltonReebok Stadium28,723
ChelseaLondon(Fulham)Stamford Bridge42,055
Coventry CityCoventryHighfield Road23,489
Crystal PalaceLondon(Selhurst)Selhurst Park26,074
Derby CountyDerbyPride Park Stadium[1]33,597
EvertonLiverpool(Walton)Goodison Park40,569
Leeds UnitedLeedsElland Road40,242
Leicester CityLeicesterFilbert Street22,000
LiverpoolLiverpool(Anfield)Anfield45,522
Manchester UnitedOld TraffordOld Trafford68,174
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle upon TyneSt James' Park52,387
Sheffield WednesdaySheffieldHillsborough Stadium39,732
SouthamptonSouthamptonThe Dell15,200
Tottenham HotspurLondon(Tottenham)White Hart Lane36,240
West Ham UnitedLondon(Upton Park)Boleyn Ground35,647
WimbledonLondon(Wimbledon)Selhurst Park[2]26,074

Personnel and kits

A list of personnel and kits of the clubs in the 1997-98 FA Premier League.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
ArsenalFranceArsène WengerEnglandTony AdamsNikeJVC
Aston VillaEnglandJohn GregoryEnglandGareth SouthgateReebokAST
BarnsleyDanny WilsonEnglandNeil RedfearnAdmiralOra
Blackburn RoversEnglandRoy HodgsonEnglandTim SherwoodAsicsCIS
Bolton WanderersEnglandColin ToddIcelandGuðni BergssonReebokReebok
ChelseaItalyGianluca VialliEnglandDennis WiseUmbroAutoglass
Coventry CityScotlandGordon StrachanScotlandGary McAllisterLe Coq SportifSubaru
Crystal PalaceEnglandRon Noades
EnglandRay Lewington (caretakers)		EnglandAndy LinighanAdidasTDK
Derby CountyEnglandJim SmithCroatiaIgor ŠtimacPumaPuma
EvertonEnglandHoward KendallEnglandDave WatsonUmbroOne2One
Leeds UnitedScotlandGeorge GrahamSouth AfricaLucas RadebePumaPackard Bell
Leicester CityMartin O'NeillEnglandSteve WalshFox LeisureWalkers
LiverpoolEnglandRoy EvansEnglandPaul InceReebokCarlsberg
Manchester UnitedScotlandAlex FergusonRepublic of IrelandRoy KeaneUmbroSharp
Newcastle UnitedScotlandKenny DalglishEnglandRobert LeeAdidasNewcastle Brown Ale
Sheffield WednesdayEnglandRon AtkinsonEnglandPeter AthertonPumaSanderson
SouthamptonEnglandDave JonesEnglandMatt Le TissierPonySanderson
Tottenham HotspurSwitzerlandChristian GrossEnglandGary MabbuttPonyHewlett-Packard
West Ham UnitedEnglandHarry RedknappSteve LomasPony(no sponsor)
WimbledonRepublic of IrelandJoe KinnearJamaicaRobbie EarleLottoElonex

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Nottingham ForestEnglandStuart PearceEnd of caretaker spell8 May 1997Pre-seasonEnglandDave Bassett8 May 1997
EvertonEnglandDave Watson10 May 1997EnglandHoward Kendall10 May 1997
Blackburn RoversEnglandTony Parkes1 June 1997EnglandRoy Hodgson1 June 1997
SouthamptonScotlandGraeme SounessResignedEnglandDave Jones23 June 1997
Sheffield WednesdayEnglandDavid PleatSacked3 November 1997[11]20thWalesPeter Shreeves (caretaker)3 November 1997
Sheffield WednesdayWalesPeter Shreeves (caretaker)End of caretaker spell14 November 199719thEnglandRon Atkinson (caretaker)14 November 1997
Tottenham HotspurEnglandGerry FrancisResigned19 November 199716thSwitzerlandChristian Gross19 November 1997
ChelseaNetherlandsRuud GullitSacked12 February 19982ndItalyGianluca Vialli12 February 1998
Aston VillaEnglandBrian LittleResigned24 February 199815thEnglandJohn Gregory25 February 1998
Crystal PalaceEnglandSteve CoppellPromoted to director of football13 March 199820thItalyAttilio Lombardo (caretaker)[3]13 March 1998
ItalyAttilio LombardoResigned29 April 199820thEnglandRon Noades
EnglandRay Lewington (caretakers)[4]		29 April 1998

League table

PosTeam
[
    ]
    		PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
    1Arsenal(C)3823966833+3578Qualification for the Champions League group stage
    2Manchester United3823877326+4777Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
    3Liverpool38181196842+2665Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
    4Chelsea38203157143+2863Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[6]
    5Leeds United38178135746+1159Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[7]
    6Blackburn Rovers381610125752+558
    7Aston Villa38176154948+157
    8West Ham United38168145657−156
    9Derby County38167155249+355
    10Leicester City381314115141+1053
    11Coventry City381216104644+252
    12Southampton38146185055−548
    13Newcastle United381111163544−944Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[8]
    14Tottenham Hotspur381111164456−1244
    15Wimbledon381014143446−1244
    16Sheffield Wednesday38128185267−1544
    17Everton38913164156−1540
    18Bolton Wanderers(R)38913164161−2040Relegation to the Football League First Division
    19Barnsley(R)38105233782−4535
    20Crystal Palace(R)3889213771−3433
    Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round[5]
    Relegation to the Football League First Division

    Results

    Home \ AwayARSASTBARBLBBOLCHECOVCRYDEREVELEELEILIVMUNNEWSHWSOUTOTWHUWDN
    Arsenal0–05–01–34–12–02–01–01–04–02–12–10–13–23–11–03–00–04–05–0
    Aston Villa1–00–10–41–30–23–03–12–12–11–01–12–10–20–12–21–14–12–01–2
    Barnsley0–20–31–12–10–62–01–01–02–22–30–22–30–22–22–14–31–11–22–1
    Blackburn Rovers1–45–02–13–11–00–02–21–03–23–45–31–11–31–07–21–00–33–00–0
    Bolton Wanderers0–10–11–12–11–01–55–23–30–02–32–01–10–01–03–20–01–11–11–0
    Chelsea2–30–12–00–12–03–16–24–02–00–01–04–10–11–01–04–22–02–11–1
    Coventry City2–21–21–02–02–23–21–11–00–00–00–21–13–22–21–01–04–01–10–0
    Crystal Palace0–01–10–11–22–20–30–33–11–30–20–30–30–31–21–01–11–33–30–3
    Derby County3–00–11–03–14–00–13–10–03–10–50–41–02–21–03–04–02–12–01–1
    Everton2–21–44–21–03–23–11–11–21–22–01–12–00–20–01–30–20–22–10–0
    Leeds United1–11–12–14–02–03–13–30–24–30–00–10–21–04–11–20–11–03–11–1
    Leicester City3–31–01–01–10–02–01–11–11–20–11–00–00–00–01–13–33–02–10–1
    Liverpool4–03–00–10–02–14–21–02–14–01–13–11–21–31–02–12–34–05–02–0
    Manchester United0–11–07–04–01–12–23–02–02–02–03–00–11–11–16–11–02–02–12–0
    Newcastle United0–11–02–11–12–13–10–01–20–01–01–13–31–20–12–12–11–00–11–3
    Sheffield Wednesday2–01–32–10–05–01–40–01–32–53–11–31–03–32–02–11–01–01–11–1
    Southampton1–31–24–13–00–11–01–21–00–22–10–22–11–11–02–12–33–23–00–1
    Tottenham Hotspur1–13–23–00–01–01–61–10–11–01–10–11–13–30–22–03–21–11–00–0
    West Ham United0–02–16–02–13–02–11–04–10–02–23–04–32–11–10–11–02–42–13–1
    Wimbledon0–12–14–10–10–00–21–20–10–00–01–02–11–12–50–01–11–02–61–2

    Top goal scorers

    RankScorerClubGoals
    1EnglandDion DublinCoventry City18
    EnglandMichael OwenLiverpool18
    EnglandChris SuttonBlackburn Rovers18
    4NetherlandsDennis BergkampArsenal16
    ScotlandKevin GallacherBlackburn Rovers16
    NetherlandsJimmy Floyd HasselbainkLeeds United16
    7EnglandAndy ColeManchester United15
    WalesJohn HartsonWest Ham United15
    9EnglandDarren HuckerbyCoventry City14
    10Costa RicaPaulo WanchopeDerby County13

    Awards

    Monthly awards

    MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the Month
    AugustEnglandRoy Hodgson (Blackburn Rovers)NetherlandsDennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
    SeptemberMartin O'Neill (Leicester City)NetherlandsDennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)
    OctoberScotlandAlex Ferguson (Manchester United)Costa RicaPaulo Wanchope (Derby County)
    NovemberScotlandGeorge Graham (Leeds United)EnglandAndy Cole (Manchester United) &EnglandKevin Davies (Southampton)
    DecemberEnglandRoy Hodgson (Blackburn Rovers)EnglandSteve McManaman (Liverpool)
    JanuaryEnglandHoward Kendall (Everton)EnglandDion Dublin (Coventry City)
    FebruaryScotlandGordon Strachan (Coventry City)EnglandChris Sutton (Blackburn Rovers)
    MarchFranceArsène Wenger (Arsenal)AustriaAlex Manninger (Arsenal)
    AprilFranceArsène Wenger (Arsenal)FranceEmmanuel Petit (Arsenal)

    Player and managerial awards

    • PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year was Dennis Bergkamp of Arsenal.[12][13]

    • PFA Young Player of the Year was Michael Owen of Liverpool.[14]

    • Premier League Manager of the Year was Arsène Wenger of Arsenal.[15]

    • Premier League Player of the Year was Michael Owen of Liverpool.[15]

    See also

    • 1997-98 in English football

    References and notes

    References

    [1]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgDerby County relocated to the Pride Park Stadium as their new home stadium after spending 102 years at Baseball Ground.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [2]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgDue to Wimbledon lacking a home stadium, they played their home games at Selhurst Park, which is the home stadium of Crystal Palace.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [3]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgSwedish striker Thomas Brolin served as Italian-to-English interpreter for Lombardo
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [4]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgNoades and Lewington acted as co-managers
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [5]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgCrystal Palace qualified for the 1998 Intertoto Cup as they were the only English team applied.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [6]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgChelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as defending champions. As they were also the League Cup winners, the UEFA Cup berth vacated was awarded to Aston Villa.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [7]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgAston Villa was rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [8]
    Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgAs Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their Cup Winners' Cup place as FA Cup winners defaulted to Newcastle United, the runners-up.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [9]
    Citation Linkwww.statto.com"English Premier League 1997–98". statto.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [10]
    Citation Linkwww.rsssf.comLeague tables and results for English football leagues, 1997–98 season. Retrieved 21 September 2006.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [11]
    Citation Linknews.bbc.co.uk"Sheffield Wednesday search for new boss". BBC Sport. 4 November 1997. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [12]
    Citation Linkwww.englandfootballonline.com"England Player Honours – Professional Footballers' Association Players' Players of the Year". Retrieved 21 September 2006.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [13]
    Citation Linkwww.englandfootballonline.com"England Player Honours – Football Writers' Association Footballers of the Year". Retrieved 21 September 2006.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [14]
    Citation Linkwww.englandfootballonline.com"England Player Honours – Professional Footballers' Association Young Players of the Year". Retrieved 21 September 2006.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [15]
    Citation Linkweb.archive.org"Seasonal Awards 1997/98" Archived 9 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 September 2006.
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [16]
    Citation Linkwww.rsssf.com1997–98 Premier League Season at RSSSF
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [17]
    Citation Linkwww.soccerbot.com1997/98 FA Premier League Review
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [18]
    Citation Linkwww.premierleague.comPremier League
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [19]
    Citation Linkweb.archive.org"English Premier League 1997–98"
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM
    [20]
    Citation Linkwww.statto.comthe original
    Sep 24, 2019, 11:04 PM