| 1997–98 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Jeff Bonser | |
| Manager | Jan Sørensen | |
| Stadium | Bescot Stadium | |
| Second Division | 19th | |
| FA Cup | Fourth round | |
| League Cup | Fourth round | |
| Auto Windscreens Shield | Southern Area final | |
| Top goalscorer | League:Boli (12) All: Boli (24) | |
| Average home league attendance | 4,062 | |
The1997–98 season was the99th completed season in the history ofWalsall Football Club, the clubs 78th season in theFootball League and third consecutive season in theFootball League Second Division. In addition to the league, Walsall also participated in theFA Cup,League Cup andFootball League Trophy.[1][2]
The Saddlers finished in the top half of the Second Division in the previous two seasons underChris Nicholl's management, however, he quit in May 1997 citing family reasons. After Nicholl's departure, Walsall turned to formerDenmark internationalJan Sørensen who became Walsall's first, and to date only, ever manager from continental Europe.[2]
Sørensen attracted some exciting foreign talent to Walsall, bringing in formerLigue 1 top goalscorerRoger Boli and his compatriotJean-François Péron, who quickly became fans' favourites.[2]
Whilst Walsall finished a lowly 19th in the Second Division, the club reached the fourth round of the League Cup, fourth round of the FA Cup and the Southern Area Final of the Football League Trophy, being just ten minutes away from a first ever appearance atWembley Stadium.[2][3]
However, despite the club's cup exploits, a poor finish in the league signalled the end of Sørensen's time at Walsall after just one season.[2]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Luton Town | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 60 | 64 | −4 | 57 | |
| 18 | Millwall | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 43 | 54 | −11 | 55 | |
| 19 | Walsall | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 54 | |
| 20 | Burnley | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 55 | 65 | −10 | 52 | |
| 21 | Brentford(R) | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 50 | 71 | −21 | 50 | Relegation to theThird Division |
Walsall's score comes first[5]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 1–3 | 5,193 | Platt |
| 16 August 1997 | Fulham | H | 1–1 | 4,418 | Mountfield |
| 23 August 1997 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 5,083 | Boli |
| 30 August 1997 | Southend United | H | 3–1 | 3,304 | Boli (3) |
| 2 September 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 0–2 | 5,550 | |
| 9 September 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 6,225 | |
| 13 September 1997 | Preston North End | A | 0–0 | 9,092 | |
| 20 September 1997 | York City | H | 2–0 | 2,972 | Boli,Hodge |
| 27 September 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–2 | 6,207 | Boli |
| 4 October 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 3–1 | 3,957 | Boli (2),Watson |
| 11 October 1997 | Wrexham | H | 3–0 | 4,042 | Boli,Hodge (pen),Watson |
| 18 October 1997 | Brentford | A | 0–3 | 4,874 | |
| 21 October 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 2–4 | 3,884 | Viveash,Watson |
| 25 October 1997 | Bristol City | H | 0–0 | 4,618 | |
| 1 November 1997 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 9,293 | Viveash |
| 4 November 1997 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–0 | 2,599 | |
| 8 November 1997 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 5,077 | |
| 22 November 1997 | Luton Town | A | 1–0 | 4,726 | Hodge |
| 29 November 1997 | Blackpool | H | 2–1 | 3,933 | Watson,Boli |
| 3 December 1997 | Millwall | A | 1–0 | 4,647 | Keates |
| 13 December 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 3,548 | Boli,Hodge |
| 19 December 1997 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–0 | 4,677 | |
| 26 December 1997 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–1 | 6,634 | |
| 28 December 1997 | Northampton Town | A | 2–3 | 7,094 | Porter,Hodge |
| 10 January 1998 | Chesterfield | H | 3–2 | 4,042 | Reeves (own goal),Watson (2) |
| 17 January 1998 | Southend United | A | 1–0 | 3,310 | Watson |
| 31 January 1998 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | 5,377 | Hodge (pen) |
| 7 February 1998 | York City | A | 0–1 | 2,959 | |
| 14 February 1998 | Carlisle United | A | 1–1 | 4,530 | Hodge |
| 21 February 1998 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–1 | 4,612 | |
| 24 February 1998 | Brentford | H | 0–0 | 3,166 | |
| 28 February 1998 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 3,622 | Ricketts |
| 3 March 1998 | Watford | A | 2–1 | 8,096 | Tholot,Blake |
| 7 March 1998 | Burnley | H | 0–0 | 5,212 | |
| 14 March 1998 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–3 | 4,916 | |
| 21 March 1998 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–0 | 3,169 | Péron |
| 28 March 1998 | Luton Town | H | 2–3 | 3,922 | Viveash,Tholot |
| 31 March 1998 | Gillingham | H | 1–0 | 3,117 | Evans |
| 4 April 1998 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 4,451 | |
| 7 April 1998 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 6,733 | Boli |
| 11 April 1998 | Millwall | H | 2–0 | 3,307 | Tholot,Hodge (pen) |
| 14 April 1998 | Bournemouth | A | 0–1 | 3,404 | |
| 18 April 1998 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–0 | 3,562 | |
| 21 April 1998 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–2 | 2,725 | |
| 25 April 1998 | Bristol City | A | 1–2 | 15,059 | Tholot |
| 2 May 1998 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 4,412 |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 15 November 1997 | Lincoln United | H | 2–0 | 3,279 | Watson,Boli |
| R2 | 6 December 1997 | Macclesfield Town | A | 7–0 | 3,566 | Boli (2, 1 pen),Hodge (2, 1 pen),Viveash,Porter (2) |
| R3 | 13 January 1998 | Peterborough United | A | 2–0 | 12,809 | Watson (2) |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Manchester United | A | 1–5 | 54,669 | Boli |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 1st Leg | 12 August 1997 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 2,321 | Platt,Boli |
| R1 2nd Leg | 26 August 1997 | Exeter City | A | 1–0 (won 3–0 on agg) | 2,467 | Boli |
| R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1997 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–0 | 7,841 | Skinner |
| R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–2 (won 3–2 on agg) | 6,037 | Watson (2) |
| R3 | 14 October 1997 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | 8,239 | Watson,Tiler (own goal) |
| R4 | 19 November 1997 | West Ham United | A | 1–4 | 17,463 | Watson |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR1 | 9 December 1997 | Barnet | A | 2–1 | 754 | Blake,Boli |
| SR2 | 6 January 1998 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 5–0 | 2,562 | Watson,Boli (2),Keates,Allan (own goal) |
| SQF | 28 January 1998 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | 4,165 | Boli |
| SSF | 17 February 1998 | Peterborough United | A | 2–1 | 4,199 | Boli,Ricketts |
| Southern F 1st Leg | 10 March 1998 | Bournemouth | H | 0–2 | 6,017 | |
| Southern F 2nd Leg | 17 March 1998 | Bournemouth | A | 3–2 (lost 3–4 on agg) | 8,972 | Thomas,Boli,Tholot |
[6]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.