# 1997–98 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was Sheffield Wednesday F.C.'s 131st season. They competed in the twenty-team Premiership, the top tier of English football, finishing sixteenth.

## Season summary

Having narrowly missed out on a UEFA Cup place in 1996–97, the club record £5.7 million signing of Italian striker Paolo Di Canio from Celtic gave Owls fans hopes of another challenge for Europe. But it was not to be, and by the time they lost 6–1 to Manchester United in November, relegation was looking a real possibility. Manager David Pleat was swiftly sacked, and Ron Atkinson – manager of the 1991 promotion and League Cup winning side – returned to the manager's seat on a short-term contract. He achieved safety by a margin of four points, in 16th place on 44 points by virtue of goal difference (three other sides had finished on 44 points), and was disappointed on being told that his contract would not be renewed. He was succeeded by Danny Wilson, a former Owls player who played for them in the early, more successful part of the decade.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 44 | 56 | −12 | 44 | |
| 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 |

### 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 | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | L | L | D | L | W | L | D | L | D | W | L | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | L | D | D | W | W | D | L | D | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | D | L | W | L | L |
| Position | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 |

## Results

Sheffield Wednesday's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 9 August 1997 | Newcastle United | A | 1–2 | 36,711 | Carbone |
| 13 August 1997 | Leeds United | H | 1–3 | 31,520 | Hyde |
| 23 August 1997 | Wimbledon | A | 1–1 | 11,503 | Di Canio |
| 27 August 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–7 | 19,618 | Carbone (2) |
| 30 August 1997 | Leicester City | H | 1–0 | 24,851 | Carbone (pen) |
| 13 September 1997 | Liverpool | A | 1–2 | 34,705 | Collins |
| 20 September 1997 | Coventry City | H | 0–0 | 21,087 | |
| 24 September 1997 | Derby County | H | 2–5 | 22,391 | Di Canio, Carbone (pen) |
| 27 September 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 2–2 | 32,044 | Collins, Whittingham |
| 4 October 1997 | Everton | H | 3–1 | 24,486 | Carbone (2, 1 pen), Di Canio |
| 19 October 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 2–3 | 25,097 | Collins, Di Canio |
| 25 October 1997 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–3 | 22,072 | Collins |
| 1 November 1997 | Manchester United | A | 1–6 | 55,259 | Whittingham |
| 8 November 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 5–0 | 25,027 | Di Canio, Whittingham, Booth (3) |
| 22 November 1997 | Arsenal | H | 2–0 | 34,373 | Booth, Whittingham |
| 29 November 1997 | Southampton | A | 3–2 | 15,244 | Atherton, Collins, Di Canio |
| 8 December 1997 | Barnsley | H | 2–1 | 29,086 | Stefanović, Di Canio |
| 13 December 1997 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | 24,344 | |
| 20 December 1997 | Chelsea | H | 1–4 | 28,334 | Pembridge |
| 26 December 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–0 | 33,502 | |
| 28 December 1997 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 20,800 | Booth |
| 10 January 1998 | Newcastle United | H | 2–1 | 29,446 | Di Canio, Newsome |
| 17 January 1998 | Leeds United | A | 2–1 | 33,166 | Newsome, Booth |
| 31 January 1998 | Wimbledon | H | 1–1 | 22,655 | Mark Pembridge |
| 7 February 1998 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | 18,375 | |
| 14 February 1998 | Liverpool | H | 3–3 | 35,405 | Carbone, Di Canio, Hinchcliffe |
| 21 February 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | 29,871 | Di Canio |
| 28 February 1998 | Derby County | A | 0–3 | 30,203 | |
| 7 March 1998 | Manchester United | H | 2–0 | 39,427 | Atherton, Di Canio |
| 14 March 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–3 | 24,847 | Booth, Atherton |
| 28 March 1998 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 38,087 | |
| 4 April 1998 | Southampton | H | 1–0 | 29,677 | Carbone |
| 11 April 1998 | Barnsley | A | 1–2 | 18,692 | Stefanović |
| 13 April 1998 | West Ham United | H | 1–1 | 28,036 | Magilton |
| 19 April 1998 | Chelsea | A | 0–1 | 29,075 | |
| 25 April 1998 | Everton | A | 3–1 | 35,497 | Pembridge (2), Di Canio |
| 2 May 1998 | Aston Villa | H | 1–3 | 34,177 | Sanetti |
| 10 May 1998 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–1 | 16,876 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 3 January 1998 | Watford | A | 1–1 | 18,306 | Alexandersson |
| R3R | 14 January 1998 | Watford | H | 0–0 (won 5–3 on pens) | 18,707 | |
| R4 | 26 January 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–3 | 15,940 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1997 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–2 | 6,429 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 1 October 1997 | Grimsby Town | H | 3–2 (lost 3–4 on agg) | 11,120 | Davison (own goal), Di Canio (2) |

## 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 |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Kevin Pressman |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Peter Atherton (captain) |
| 3 | DF | NIR | Ian Nolan |
| 4 | MF | WAL | Mark Pembridge |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Jon Newsome |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Des Walker |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Guy Whittingham |
| 8 | FW | ITA | Benito Carbone |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Andy Booth |
| 11 | FW | ITA | Paolo Di Canio |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Graham Hyde |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Matt Clarke |
| 14 | DF | SCO | Steve Nicol |
| 15 | FW | AUT | Christian Mayrleb |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Ritchie Humphreys |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Lee Briscoe |
| 18 | DF | YUG | Dejan Stefanović |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Scott Oakes |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Andy Hinchcliffe |
| 21 | DF | MKD | Goce Sedloski |
| 22 | DF | BRA | Emerson Thome |
| 23 | FW | GHA | Junior Agogo |
| 24 | MF | NIR | Jim Magilton |
| 25 | MF | NOR | Petter Rudi |
| 26 | MF | SWE | Niclas Alexandersson |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Earl Barrett |
| 28 | MF | IRL | Alan Quinn |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Krystof Kotylo |
| 30 | FW | ITA | Francesco Sanetti |

### Left club during 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 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | David Hirst (to Southampton) |
| 15 | DF | FRA | Patrick Blondeau (to Bordeaux) |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Wayne Collins (to Fulham) |
| 21 | MF | AUS | Adem Poric (to Notts County) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | FW | ENG | O'Neill Donaldson (to Stoke City) |
| 26 | GK | ZIM | Bruce Grobbelaar (to Oldham Athletic) |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Nigel Clough (on loan from Manchester City) |

### Reserve squad

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 | Stuart Jones |
| — | DF | IRL | Derek Geary |
| — | DF | ENG | Steve Haslam |
| — | DF | ENG | Kevin Nicholson |
| — | DF | ENG | Michael Simpkins |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | ENG | Simon Weaver |
| — | MF | ENG | Peter Holmes |
| — | MF | WAL | Ryan Jones |
| — | MF | IRL | Mark McKeever |
| — | MF | ENG | Mark Platts |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee |
| 24 June 1997 | DF | Patrick Blondeau | AS Monaco | £1,800,000 |
| 6 August 1997 | FW | Paolo Di Canio | Celtic | £3,000,000 |
| 9 September 1997 | MF | Jim Magilton | Southampton | £1,600,000 |
| 22 September 1997 | GK | Bruce Grobbelaar | Oxford United | Nominal |
| 2 October 1997 | MF | Petter Rudi | Molde | £800,000 |
| 17 November 1997 | DF | Derek Geary | Rivermount Boys | Signed |
| 5 December 1997 | MF | Niclas Alexandersson | IFK Göteborg | £750,000 |
| 6 December 1997 | MF | Alan Quinn | Cherry Orchard | Nominal |
| 30 January 1998 | DF | Andy Hinchcliffe | Everton | £3,000,000 |
| 19 February 1998 | DF | Goce Sedloski | Hajduk Split | £750,000 |
| 24 February 1998 | DF | Earl Barrett | Everton | Free transfer |
| 26 March 1998 | GK | Stuart Jones | Weston-super-Mare | £20,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | DF | Emerson Thome | Benfica | Signed |
| 30 April 1998 | FW | Francesco Sanetti | Genoa | Free transfer |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 August 1997 | DF | Dave Hercock | Kettering Town | Undisclosed |
| 5 August 1997 | MF | Orlando Trustfull | Vitesse Arnhem | £800,000 |
| 6 August 1997 | MF | Regi Blinker | Celtic | £1,500,000 |
| 17 October 1997 | FW | David Hirst | Southampton | £2,000,000 |
| 1 November 1997 | DF | Steve Lenagh | Chesterfield | Monthly |
| 1 January 1998 | MF | James Simpkins | Chesterfield | Non-contract |
| 14 January 1998 | DF | Patrick Blondeau | Bordeaux | £1,200,000 |
| 22 January 1998 | MF | Wayne Collins | Fulham | £400,000 |
| 13 March 1998 | FW | O'Neill Donaldson | Stoke City | Free transfer |
| 27 March 1998 | MF | Adem Poric | Notts County | Free transfer |
    Transfers in: £11,720,000
    Transfers out: £5,900,000
    Total spending: £5,820,000

## 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 ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Kevin Pressman | 41 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Matt Clarke | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | ENG | Peter Atherton | 31 | 3 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | NIR | Ian Nolan | 32 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Jon Newsome | 29 | 2 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Des Walker | 43 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | SCO | Steve Nicol | 7 | 0 | 4+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Lee Briscoe | 9 | 0 | 3+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | YUG | Dejan Stefanović | 21 | 2 | 19+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Andy Hinchcliffe | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | MKD | Goce Sedloski | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | BRA | Emerson Thome | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Earl Barrett | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | WAL | Mark Pembridge | 39 | 4 | 31+3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | ENG | Graham Hyde | 23 | 1 | 14+8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Ritchie Humphreys | 11 | 0 | 2+5 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Scott Oakes | 6 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | NIR | Jim Magilton | 22 | 1 | 13+6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | NOR | Petter Rudi | 25 | 0 | 19+3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | SWE | Niclas Alexandersson | 8 | 1 | 5+1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | IRL | Alan Quinn | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 7 | FW | ENG | Guy Whittingham | 31 | 4 | 17+11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | ITA | Benito Carbone | 36 | 9 | 28+5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Andy Booth | 25 | 7 | 21+2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ITA | Paolo Di Canio | 40 | 14 | 34+1 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | FW | AUT | Christian Mayrleb | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | GHA | Junior Agogo | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ITA | Francesco Sanetti | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the season ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ENG | David Hirst | 6 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | FRA | Patrick Blondeau | 6 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Wayne Collins | 21 | 5 | 8+11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | AUS | Adem Poric | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | O'Neill Donaldson | 5 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Nigel Clough | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
* GK: #1, Kevin Pressman, 41
* RB: #2, Peter Atherton, 31
* CB: #5, Jon Newsome, 29
* CB: #6, Des Walker, 43
* LB: #3, Ian Nolan, 32
* CM: #25, Petter Rudi, 22
* CM: #24, Jim Magilton, 16 (#7, Guy Whittingham, and #18, Dejan Stefanović, both have 20 starts)
* CM: #4, Mark Pembridge, 36
* AM: #8, Benito Carbone, 31
* CF: #10, Andy Booth, 23
* CF: #11, Paolo Di Canio, 39