# 1998–99 Sunderland A.F.C. season

During the 1998–99 English football season, Sunderland A.F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

In the 1998–99 season, Sunderland secured their Premier League place by winning the Division One title with a then record 105 League points having topped the First Division table since 24 October 1998. They clinched promotion on 13 April 1999 by winning 5–2 at Bury.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Sunderland (C, P) | 46 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 91 | 28 | +63 | 105 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 2 | Bradford City (P) | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 82 | 47 | +35 | 87 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 26 | 8 | 12 | 69 | 32 | +37 | 86 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 4 | Birmingham City | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 66 | 37 | +29 | 81 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 5 | Watford (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 65 | 56 | +9 | 77 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |

## Results

Sunderland's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 8 August 1998 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–0 | 41,008 | Phillips (pen) |
| 15 August 1998 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | 10,207 | Phillips |
| 22 August 1998 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 5–0 | 34,155 | Phillips, Dichio (2), Mullin, Butler |
| 25 August 1998 | Watford | H | 4–1 | 36,587 | Johnston, Summerbee, Dichio, Melville |
| 29 August 1998 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–0 | 15,813 | Mullin, Phillips |
| 8 September 1998 | Bristol City | H | 1–1 | 34,111 | Phillips |
| 12 September 1998 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 26,816 | Phillips |
| 19 September 1998 | Oxford United | H | 7–0 | 34,567 | Bridges (2), Gray, Dichio (2, 1 pen), Rae (2) |
| 26 September 1998 | Portsmouth | A | 1–1 | 17,022 | Johnston |
| 29 September 1998 | Norwich City | A | 2–2 | 17,504 | Quinn, Marshall (own goal) |
| 3 October 1998 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 | 37,828 | |
| 18 October 1998 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 3–2 | 20,791 | Melville, Bridges, Ball |
| 21 October 1998 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 | 14,746 | Ball |
| 24 October 1998 | Bury | H | 1–0 | 38,049 | Dichio |
| 1 November 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 3–0 | 21,676 | Johnston, Quinn, Bridges |
| 3 November 1998 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 4–1 | 5,361 | Dichio, Gray, Quinn, Bridges |
| 7 November 1998 | Grimsby Town | H | 3–1 | 40,077 | Smith (2), Quinn |
| 14 November 1998 | Port Vale | A | 2–0 | 8,839 | Aspin (own goal), Quinn |
| 21 November 1998 | Barnsley | H | 2–3 | 40,231 | Scott (pen), Quinn |
| 28 November 1998 | Sheffield United | A | 4–0 | 25,612 | Quinn (2), Bridges (2) |
| 5 December 1998 | Stockport County | H | 1–0 | 36,040 | Summerbee |
| 12 December 1998 | Port Vale | H | 2–0 | 37,583 | Smith, Butler |
| 15 December 1998 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–0 | 33,870 | Scott (pen), Dichio |
| 19 December 1998 | Birmingham City | A | 0–0 | 22,095 | |
| 26 December 1998 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–1 | 14,248 | |
| 28 December 1998 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | 41,433 | Dichio, Bridges |
| 9 January 1999 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–2 | 17,444 | Phillips, Quinn |
| 17 January 1999 | Ipswich Town | H | 2–1 | 39,835 | Quinn (2) |
| 30 January 1999 | Watford | A | 1–2 | 20,188 | Quinn |
| 6 February 1999 | Swindon Town | H | 2–0 | 41,304 | Quinn, Phillips |
| 13 February 1999 | Bristol City | A | 1–0 | 15,736 | Phillips (pen) |
| 20 February 1999 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 41,268 | Johnston, Quinn |
| 27 February 1999 | Oxford United | A | 0–0 | 9,044 | |
| 2 March 1999 | Portsmouth | H | 2–0 | 37,656 | Dichio, Phillips |
| 6 March 1999 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 | 39,004 | Phillips |
| 9 March 1999 | Bradford City | A | 1–0 | 15,124 | Quinn |
| 13 March 1999 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–0 | 9,528 | Phillips, Clark |
| 20 March 1999 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | 41,505 | Phillips, Johnston (2) |
| 3 April 1999 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3–0 | 41,135 | Phillips (2), Clark |
| 5 April 1999 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 22,096 | Phillips |
| 10 April 1999 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–0 | 41,074 | Quinn, Johnston |
| 13 April 1999 | Bury | A | 5–2 | 8,669 | Phillips (4, 1 pen), Quinn |
| 16 April 1999 | Barnsley | A | 3–1 | 17,390 | Summerbee, Clark, Phillips |
| 24 April 1999 | Sheffield United | H | 0–0 | 41,179 | |
| 1 May 1999 | Stockport County | A | 1–0 | 10,548 | Phillips |
| 9 May 1999 | Birmingham City | H | 2–1 | 41,634 | Phillips, Quinn |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 2 January 1999 | Lincoln City | A | 1–0 | 10,408 | McCann |
| R4 | 23 January 1999 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–1 | 30,125 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 11 August 1998 | York City | A | 2–0 | 6,277 | Dichio (2) |
| R1 2nd Leg | 18 August 1998 | York City | H | 2–1 (won 4–1 on agg) | 22,695 | Phillips, Smith |
| R2 1st Leg | 15 September 1998 | Chester City | H | 3–0 | 20,618 | Scott, Phillips, Bridges |
| R2 2nd Leg | 22 September 1998 | Chester City | A | 1–0 (won 4–0 on agg) | 2,738 | Johnston |
| R3 | 27 October 1998 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 18,676 | Bridges, Quinn |
| R4 | 11 November 1998 | Everton | A | 1–1 (won 5–4 on pens) | 28,132 | Bridges |
| QF | 1 December 1998 | Luton Town | H | 3–0 | 35,742 | Johnson (own goal), Bridges, Quinn |
| SF 1st Leg | 26 January 1999 | Leicester City | H | 1–2 | 38,332 | McCann |
| SF 2nd Leg | 17 February 1999 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 (lost 2–3 on agg) | 21,231 | Quinn |

## Players
### First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | ENG | Chris Porter |
| — | GK | ENG | Luke Weaver |
| — | GK | WAL | Andy Marriott |
| — | GK | IRL | Gregg Shannon |
| — | GK | DEN | Thomas Sørensen |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Butler |
| — | DF | ENG | Jody Craddock |
| — | DF | ENG | Elliott Dickman |
| — | DF | ENG | Michael Gray |
| — | DF | ENG | Paul Heckingbottom |
| — | DF | ENG | Darren Holloway |
| — | DF | ENG | Chris Makin |
| — | DF | ENG | Mark Maley |
| — | DF | ENG | Matthew Pitts |
| — | DF | WAL | Andy Melville |
| — | DF | SCO | Allan Johnston |
| — | DF | NIR | George McCartney |
| — | MF | ENG | Sam Aiston |
| — | MF | ENG | Kevin Ball |
| — | MF | ENG | Lee Clark |
| — | MF | ENG | Jonjo Dickman |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ENG | Gerry Harrison |
| — | MF | ENG | Chris Lumsdon |
| — | MF | ENG | Gavin McCann |
| — | MF | ENG | John Mullin |
| — | MF | ENG | Martin Scott |
| — | MF | ENG | Nicky Summerbee |
| — | MF | ENG | Paul Thirlwell |
| — | MF | ENG | Neil Wainwright |
| — | MF | ENG | Darren Williams |
| — | MF | SCO | David Duke |
| — | MF | SCO | Alex Rae |
| — | MF | IRL | Thomas Butler |
| — | MF | IRL | Brendan McGill |
| — | MF | DEN | Carsten Fredgaard |
| — | FW | ENG | Michael Bridges |
| — | FW | ENG | Danny Dichio |
| — | FW | ENG | Kevin Phillips |
| — | FW | ENG | Michael Proctor |
| — | FW | ENG | Martin Smith |
| — | FW | SCO | Kevin Kyle |
| — | FW | IRL | Niall Quinn |

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Division One | Division One | FA Cup | FA Cup | Worthington Cup | Worthington Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| | GK | WAL | Andy Marriott | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | DEN | Thomas Sorensen | 56 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Luke Weaver | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| | DF | ENG | Paul Butler | 53 | 2 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Jody Craddock | 11 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Michael Gray | 44 | 2 | 36+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Darren Holloway | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Chris Makin | 47 | 0 | 37+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Mark Maley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | WAL | Andy Melville | 52 | 2 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Martin Scott | 23 | 3 | 14+2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| | DF | ENG | Darren Williams | 30 | 0 | 16+9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| | MF | ENG | Sam Aiston | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Kevin Ball | 47 | 2 | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Lee Clark | 33 | 3 | 26+1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Gerry Harrison | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Allan Johnston | 48 | 8 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6+1 | 1 |
| | MF | ENG | Chris Lumsdon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Gavin McCann | 14 | 2 | 5+6 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | MF | ENG | John Mullin | 15 | 2 | 8+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | Alex Rae | 18 | 2 | 12+3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Nicky Summerbee | 43 | 3 | 36 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Paul Thirlwell | 5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Neil Wainwright | 5 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| | FW | ENG | Michael Bridges | 36 | 12 | 13+16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5+2 | 4 |
| | FW | ENG | Danny Dichio | 43 | 12 | 16+20 | 10 | 1+1 | 0 | 4+1 | 2 |
| | FW | ENG | Kevin Phillips | 32 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| | FW | ENG | Michael Proctor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | FW | IRL | Niall Quinn | 46 | 21 | 36+3 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 4+1 | 3 |
| | FW | ENG | Martin Smith | 15 | 4 | 4+4 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 4+2 | 1 |