# 1997–98 Everton F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Everton competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).

## Season summary

Everton began the season with three new signings – Slaven Bilić, John Oster and Gareth Farrelly – but the big news at Goodison Park was the return of Howard Kendall for his third spell as manager.
With financial problems growing and fans growing ever more hostile towards chairman Peter Johnson, and with Everton legend Neville Southall leaving the club, after 17 years in March 1998, Kendall was soon facing the biggest struggle of his managerial career. Everton – top division members continuously since 1954 – were battling against relegation and looked anything but a trophy-winning team that they so often had been during Kendall's earlier spells. They ended up surviving, but only avoided relegation to Division One because they had a greater goal difference than 18th-placed Bolton Wanderers. That kept Everton up, but Kendall resigned just weeks later and was replaced by the former Rangers manager Walter Smith.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 15 | Wimbledon | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 34 | 46 | −12 | 44 | |
| 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 | Relegation to the Football League First Division |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: 1997-98 FA Premier League table

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H |
| Result | L | W | L | D | L | W | L | D | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | L | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | D | D | L | D | D | L | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | L | D |
| Position | 16 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 |

## Results

Everton's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 9 August 1997 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–2 | 35,716 | Ferguson |
| 23 August 1997 | West Ham United | H | 2–1 | 34,356 | Speed, Stuart |
| 27 August 1997 | Manchester United | H | 0–2 | 40,079 | |
| 1 September 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 0–0 | 23,131 | |
| 13 September 1997 | Derby County | A | 1–3 | 27,828 | Stuart |
| 20 September 1997 | Barnsley | H | 4–2 | 32,659 | Speed (2, 1 pen), Cadamarteri, Oster |
| 24 September 1997 | Newcastle United | A | 0–1 | 36,705 | |
| 27 September 1997 | Arsenal | H | 2–2 | 35,457 | Ball, Cadamarteri |
| 4 October 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–3 | 24,486 | Cadamarteri |
| 18 October 1997 | Liverpool | H | 2–0 | 40,112 | Ruddock (own goal), Cadamarteri |
| 25 October 1997 | Coventry City | A | 0–0 | 18,760 | |
| 2 November 1997 | Southampton | H | 0–2 | 29,565 | |
| 8 November 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–3 | 25,397 | Speed, Ferguson |
| 22 November 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 1–2 | 36,389 | Speed (pen) |
| 26 November 1997 | Chelsea | A | 0–2 | 34,148 | |
| 29 November 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–2 | 36,670 | |
| 6 December 1997 | Leeds United | A | 0–0 | 34,869 | |
| 13 December 1997 | Wimbledon | H | 0–0 | 28,533 | |
| 20 December 1997 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 | 20,628 | Speed (pen) |
| 26 December 1997 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | 55,167 | |
| 28 December 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 3–2 | 37,149 | Ferguson (3) |
| 10 January 1998 | Crystal Palace | A | 3–1 | 23,311 | Barmby, Ferguson, Madar |
| 18 January 1998 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 32,355 | Speed, Ferguson, Duberry (own goal) |
| 31 January 1998 | West Ham United | A | 2–2 | 25,909 | Barmby, Madar |
| 7 February 1998 | Barnsley | A | 2–2 | 18,672 | Ferguson, Grant |
| 14 February 1998 | Derby County | H | 1–2 | 34,876 | Thomsen |
| 23 February 1998 | Liverpool | A | 1–1 | 44,501 | Ferguson |
| 28 February 1998 | Newcastle United | H | 0–0 | 37,972 | |
| 7 March 1998 | Southampton | A | 1–2 | 15,102 | Tiler |
| 14 March 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–0 | 33,423 | Madar |
| 28 March 1998 | Aston Villa | H | 1–4 | 36,471 | Madar |
| 4 April 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 35,624 | Madar |
| 11 April 1998 | Leeds United | H | 2–0 | 37,099 | Hutchison, Ferguson |
| 13 April 1998 | Wimbledon | A | 0–0 | 15,131 | |
| 18 April 1998 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 33,642 | Madar |
| 25 April 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–3 | 35,497 | Ferguson |
| 3 May 1998 | Arsenal | A | 0–4 | 38,269 | |
| 10 May 1998 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 40,109 | Farrelly |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 4 January 1998 | Newcastle United | H | 0–1 | 20,885 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st leg | 16 September 1997 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–0 | 7,145 | Farrelly |
| R2 2nd leg | 1 October 1997 | Scunthorpe United | H | 5–0 (won 6–0 on agg) | 11,562 | Stuart, Oster, Barmby (2), Cadamarteri |
| R3 | 15 October 1997 | Coventry City | A | 1–4 | 10,087 | Barmby |

## Squad (at end of season)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Danny Williamson |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Dave Watson (captain) |
| 6 | DF | IRL | Terry Phelan |
| 7 | FW | FRA | Mickaël Madar |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Nick Barmby |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Duncan Ferguson (Vice-captain) |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Don Hutchison |
| 11 | FW | SCO | John Spencer (on loan from QPR) |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Craig Short |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Paul Gerrard |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Tony Grant |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Peter Beagrie (on loan from Bradford City) |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Michael Branch |
| 17 | MF | IRL | Gareth Farrelly |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Joe Parkinson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 19 | MF | WAL | John Oster |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Tony Thomas |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Mitch Ward |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Gavin McCann |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Carl Tiler |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Michael Ball |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Graham Allen |
| 27 | DF | IRL | Richard Dunne |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slaven Bilić |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Danny Cadamarteri |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Phil Jevons |
| 31 | GK | NOR | Thomas Myhre |
| 32 | DF | ENG | John O'Kane |
| 33 | GK | ENG | John O'Toole |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Francis Jeffers |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | WAL | Neville Southall (to Stoke City) |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Earl Barrett (to Sheffield Wednesday) |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Andy Hinchcliffe (to Sheffield Wednesday) |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Graham Stuart (to Sheffield United) |
| 10 | MF | WAL | Gary Speed (captain) (to Newcastle United) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | DF | DEN | Claus Thomsen (to AB) |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Jon O'Connor (to Sheffield United) |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Chris Lane (to Hereford United) |
| 35 | DF | ENG | John Hills (to Blackpool) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | GK | IRL | Dean Delany |
| - | DF | ENG | Adam Eaton |
| - | DF | ENG | Adam Farley |
| - | MF | ENG | Matt McKay |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | MF | ENG | Jamie Milligan |
| - | MF | ENG | Mick O'Brien |
| - | DF | ENG | Carl Regan |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 1997 | MF | Gareth Farrelly | Aston Villa | Transfer |
| 1 August 1997 | MF | John Oster | Grimsby Town | £1,500,000 |
| 6 August 1997 | DF | Tony Thomas | Tranmere Rovers | £400,000 |
| 15 August 1997 | MF | Danny Williamson | West Ham United | Swap |
| 27 November 1997 | GK | Thomas Myhre | Viking | £800,000 |
| 28 November 1997 | MF | Mitch Ward | Sheffield United | £750,000 |
| 28 November 1997 | DF | Carl Tiler | Sheffield United | £750,000 |
| 30 December 1997 | FW | Mickaël Madar | Deportivo La Coruña | Free transfer |
| 28 January 1998 | DF | John O'Kane | Manchester United | £400,000 |
| 26 February 1998 | MF | Don Hutchison | Sheffield United | £1,000,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | MF | Matt McKay | Chester City | Signed |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee |
| 15 August 1997 | DF | David Unsworth | West Ham United | Swap |
| 28 November 1997 | MF | Graham Stuart | Sheffield United | £500,000 |
| 30 January 1998 | MF | Andy Hinchcliffe | Sheffield Wednesday | £3,000,000 |
| 6 February 1998 | MF | Gary Speed | Newcastle United | £5,500,000 |
| 13 February 1998 | DF | John Hills | Blackpool | Signed |
| 24 February 1998 | DF | Earl Barrett | Sheffield Wednesday | Free transfer |
| 26 February 1998 | DF | Jon O'Connor | Sheffield United | Transfer |
| 3 March 1998 | DF | Claus Thomsen | AB | £500,000 |
| 12 March 1998 | GK | Neville Southall | Stoke City | Free transfer |
    Transfers in: £5,600,000
    Transfers out: £9,500,000
    Total spending: £3,900,000

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 13 | GK | ENG | Paul Gerrard | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | NOR | Thomas Myhre | 23 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 5 | DF | ENG | Dave Watson | 29 | 0 | 25+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | IRL | Terry Phelan | 10 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Craig Short | 33 | 0 | 27+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Tony Thomas | 9 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Carl Tiler | 20 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Michael Ball | 28 | 1 | 21+4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Graham Allen | 5 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | IRL | Richard Dunne | 4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slaven Bilić | 27 | 0 | 22+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | ENG | John O'Kane | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | ENG | Danny Williamson | 17 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Nick Barmby | 33 | 5 | 26+4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | SCO | Don Hutchison | 11 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Tony Grant | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Peter Beagrie | 6 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | IRL | Gareth Farrelly | 28 | 2 | 18+8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | MF | WAL | John Oster | 35 | 2 | 16+15 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Mitch Ward | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Gavin McCann | 11 | 0 | 5+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | FRA | Mickaël Madar | 17 | 6 | 15+2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Duncan Ferguson | 32 | 11 | 28+1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | SCO | John Spencer | 6 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Michael Branch | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Danny Cadamarteri | 29 | 5 | 15+10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1+2 | 1 |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Francis Jeffers | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | WAL | Neville Southall | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Earl Barrett | 13 | 0 | 12+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Andy Hinchcliffe | 20 | 0 | 15+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Graham Stuart | 17 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | WAL | Gary Speed | 24 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | DEN | Claus Thomsen | 9 | 1 | 2+6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Jon O'Connor | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
* GK: #31, Thomas Myhre, 23
* RB: #12, Craig Short, 29
* CB: #28, Slaven Bilić, 25
* CB: #5, Dave Watson, 28
* LB: #25, Michael Ball, 23
* RM: #19, John Oster, 19
* CM: #7, Graham Stuart, 17
* CM: #17, Gareth Farrelly, 20
* LM: #10, Gary Speed, 24
* AM: #8, Nick Barmby, 28
* CF: #9, Duncan Ferguson, 31