# 1997–98 Blackpool F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was Blackpool F.C.'s 90th season (87th consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Two, then the third tier of English league football, finishing twelfth.
Gary Megson left the club during the close season, in favour of managing Stockport County. His replacement was Nigel Worthington, who began in a player-manager capacity in his first managerial role.
Phil Clarkson was the club's top scorer, with sixteen goals (thirteen in the league, two in the FA Cup and one in the League Trophy).

## Competitions
### Second Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 10 | Chesterfield | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 65 |
| 11 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 64 | 66 | −2 | 62 |
| 12 | Blackpool | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 59 | 67 | −8 | 62 |
| 13 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 54 | +8 | 61 |
| 14 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 51 | 53 | −2 | 60 |

#### Matches

Second Division match results :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 9 August 1997 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | Lydiate 11' | 6,547 |
| 16 August 1997 | Bristol City | A | 0–2 | | 9,043 |
| 23 August 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 2–4 | Quinn 23', Brabin 90' | 4,733 |
| 30 August 1997 | Bournemouth | A | 0–2 | | 4,196 |
| 2 September 1997 | Wrexham | A | 4–3 | Ellis 62', 69', 76', Bonner 82' | 3,763 |
| 7 September 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 2–1 | Ellis 19', Carlisle 90' | 7,259 |
| 13 September 1997 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–3 | | 5,517 |
| 20 September 1997 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–2 | Quinn 42', Philpott 53' | 7,174 |
| 27 September 1997 | Southend United | H | 3–0 | Bonner 12', Ellis 80', Clarkson 88' | 4,542 |
| 4 October 1997 | Millwall | A | 1–2 | Ellis 86' | 7,042 |
| 11 October 1997 | Fulham | A | 0–1 | | 7,760 |
| 18 October 1997 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–2 | Quinn 44', Ellis 77' | 5,234 |
| 21 October 1997 | Chesterfield | H | 2–1 | Clarkson 42', Quinn 47' (pen.) | 3,682 |
| 25 October 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 3–0 | Bonner 30' Clarkson 48', Preece 53' | 6,183 |
| 1 November 1997 | Watford | A | 1–4 | Preece 74' | 9,723 |
| 4 November 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | Clarkson 37' | 3,685 |
| 8 November 1997 | Burnley | H | 2–1 | Clarkson 41', Preece 74' | 7,429 |
| 18 November 1997 | Gillingham | A | 1–1 | Ellis 90' | 5,045 |
| 22 November 1997 | York City | H | 1–0 | Strong 68' | 4,508 |
| 29 November 1997 | Walsall | A | 1–2 | Clarkson 35' | 3,933 |
| 2 December 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–0 | | 3,281 |
| 13 December 1997 | Brentford | A | 1–3 | Preece 4' | 3,725 |
| 20 December 1997 | Preston North End | H | 2–1 | Preece 21, Philpott 37' | 8,342 |
| 26 December 1997 | Carlisle United | A | 1–1 | Ormerod 53' | 8,010 |
| 28 December 1997 | Wrexham | H | 1–2 | Ormerod 17' | 5,424 |
| 10 January 1998 | Luton Town | A | 0–3 | | 5,574 |
| 17 January 1998 | Bournemouth | H | 1–0 | Clarkson 19' | 4,550 |
| 24 January 1998 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 1–2 | Preece 20' | 5,073 |
| 31 January 1998 | Wigan Athletic | H | 0–2 | | 5,288 |
| 3 February 1998 | Bristol City | H | 2–2 | Preece 54', Bent 88' | 3,724 |
| 7 February 1998 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–0 | Bent 56' | 6,576 |
| 14 February 1998 | Millwall | H | 3–0 | Bryan 7', Malkin 18', Preece 39' | 4,455 |
| 21 February 1998 | Southend United | A | 1–2 | Brabin 49' | 3,340 |
| 24 February 1998 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–1 | | 4,924 |
| 28 February 1998 | Fulham | H | 2–1 | Preece 77', Clarkson 85' | 5,183 |
| 7 March 1998 | Watford | H | 1–1 | Clarkson 88' | 5,237 |
| 14 March 1998 | Northampton Town | A | 0–2 | | 6,586 |
| 21 March 1998 | Gillingham | H | 2–1 | Malkin 73', Clarkson 83' | 4,165 |
| 28 March 1998 | York City | A | 1–1 | Preece 5' | 3,650 |
| 4 April 1998 | Walsall | H | 1–0 | Preece 48' | 4,451 |
| 7 April 1998 | Burnley | A | 2–1 | Clarkson 45', Bent 51' | 13,413 |
| 11 April 1998 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–3 | Heathcote 28' (o.g.) | 5,655 |
| 13 April 1998 | Brentford | H | 1–2 | Taylor 81' | 3,926 |
| 18 April 1998 | Preston North End | A | 3–3 | Clarkson 3', 65', Hills 45' | 13,500 |
| 25 April 1998 | Bristol Rovers | H | 1–0 | Brabin 68' | 7,057 |
| 2 May 1998 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | Carlisle 86' | 4,462 |

### FA Cup

FA Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round | 15 November 1997 | Blyth Spartans | H | 4–3 | Preece 4', Linighan 59', Clarkson 71', 89' | 4,814 |
| Second round | 6 December 1997 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–2 | Ellis 83' | 6,590 |

### Football League Cup

Football League Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| First round, first leg | 12 August 1997 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | Preece 73' | 8,084 |
| First round, second leg | 26 August 1997 | Manchester City | A | 0–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | | 12,563 |
| Second round, first leg | 16 September 1997 | Coventry City | H | 1–0 | Linighan 76' | 5,884 |
| Second round, second leg | 1 October 1997 | Coventry City | A | 1–3 | Linighan 36' | 9,565 |

### Football League Trophy

Football League Trophy match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Second round | 6 January 1998 | York City | H | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (10–9 p) | Clarkson 87' | 1,105 |
| Northern quarter-final | 27 January 1998 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–0 | Preece 15' | 1,687 |
| Northern semi-final | 17 February 1998 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–1 | | 8,027 |