# 1997–98 Doncaster Rovers F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Doncaster Rovers competed in the Football League Third Division. Doncaster had an awful season finishing bottom of the table and being relegated to the Football Conference. They lost 34 matches, setting a new league record.

## Season summary

Doncaster suffered the worst season in their history. They were rooted to the bottom of the table for almost the entirety of the season, had to wait 21 matches for a first league victory of the season, won only four league games all season, finished 15 points adrift of 23rd-placed Brighton & Hove Albion and lost 34 league games, the most for any English club in a season – the worst of these defeats being 7–1 at Cardiff City (who finished 21st) and 8–0 at Leyton Orient. This poor form saw Doncaster rightly relegated from the Football League to the Conference for the first time in their history.
Rovers' poor form came amidst a background of gross interference and poor judgement from the board. Player-manager Kerry Dixon was sacked in August; youth-team coach Dave Cowling replaced him, but only managed the club for two games (losing both) before resigning due to interference from chairman Ken Richardson. Cowling was replaced by experienced Uruguayan Danny Bergara, who allowed Richardson to pick the team: Bergara lasted seven games, picking up only two points. Eventually Richardson's right-hand man Mark Weaver appointed himself manager.
Just weeks after Rovers were relegated, Richardson was found guilty of attempting to set fire to Belle Vue, apparently to claim insurance money to pay off the club's debt.

## Kit

Rovers wore four kits during the season, all produced by new kit manufacturer Olympic Sports. The first, worn from August to September, featured sleeves with jagged red shapes on a white background. An alternate kit, with the jagged red shapes also featured on white panels on the sides of the shorts, was also used during this period. From October to April Rovers wore a red kit with white panels on the sides of the shorts, plain red socks with a white band around the ankle and a buttoned collar; this kit was the only one worn by Doncaster this season to bear the club's crest. During May the club returned to wear the first kit, albeit with completely red shorts. The away kit evoked that worn by the Brazil national side, with a yellow shirt with green collar, sky blue shorts with white panels on the side, and white socks.
None of the kits worn by Doncaster this season carried sponsorship.

## Final league table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 20 | Swansea City | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 49 | 62 | −13 | 50 | |
| 21 | Cardiff City | 46 | 9 | 23 | 14 | 48 | 52 | −4 | 50 | |
| 22 | Hull City | 46 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 56 | 83 | −27 | 41 | |
| 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 38 | 66 | −28 | 35 | |
| 24 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 4 | 8 | 34 | 30 | 113 | −83 | 20 | Relegated to Conference |

## Results

Doncaster's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Third Division

| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 1 | 9 August 1997 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 1–2 | 3,029 | Conlon |
| 2 | 16 August 1997 | Peterborough United | H | 0–5 | 1,920 | |
| 3 | 23 August 1997 | Macclesfield Town | A | 0–3 | 2,635 | |
| 4 | 30 August 1997 | Exeter City | H | 0–1 | 1,186 | |
| 5 | 2 September 1997 | Leyton Orient | H | 1–4 | 1,098 | Moncrieffe |
| 6 | 5 September 1997 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–1 | 2,874 | Moncrieffe |
| 7 | 13 September 1997 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–1 | 3,378 | McDonald |
| 8 | 20 September 1997 | Cambridge United | H | 0–0 | 1,258 | |
| 9 | 27 September 1997 | Torquay United | A | 0–2 | 1,650 | |
| 10 | 4 October 1997 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–3 | 2,351 | Cunningham |
| 11 | 11 October 1997 | Hartlepool United | H | 2–2 | 1,526 | Moncrieffe (2) |
| 12 | 18 October 1997 | Darlington | A | 1–5 | 2,451 | Moncrieffe |
| 13 | 21 October 1997 | Colchester United | A | 1–2 | 2,588 | McDonald |
| 14 | 24 October 1997 | Swansea City | H | 0–3 | 1,170 | |
| 15 | 1 November 1997 | Scarborough | A | 0–4 | 2,345 | |
| 16 | 4 November 1997 | Cardiff City | H | 1–1 | 1,004 | Moncrieffe |
| 17 | 8 November 1997 | Barnet | A | 1–1 | 2,015 | Warren |
| 18 | 18 November 1997 | Lincoln City | A | 1–2 | 2,957 | Moncrieffe |
| 19 | 22 November 1997 | Rochdale | H | 0–3 | 1,503 | |
| 20 | 29 November 1997 | Hull City | A | 0–3 | 4,721 | |
| 21 | 2 December 1997 | Chester City | H | 2–1 | 846 | Helliwell, Smith |
| 22 | 13 December 1997 | Notts County | A | 2–5 | 4,024 | Pell, Smith |
| 23 | 19 December 1997 | Rotherham United | H | 0–3 | 3,533 | |
| 24 | 28 December 1997 | Leyton Orient | A | 0–8 | 4,437 | |
| 25 | 10 January 1998 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 1–0 | 1,116 | Moncrieffe |
| 26 | 17 January 1998 | Exeter City | A | 1–5 | 4,145 | Pemberton |
| 27 | 27 January 1998 | Macclesfield Town | H | 0–3 | 1,707 | |
| 28 | 30 January 1998 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–2 | 2,036 | Mike |
| 29 | 3 February 1998 | Mansfield Town | H | 0–3 | 1,538 | |
| 30 | 7 February 1998 | Cambridge United | A | 1–2 | 2,478 | Wilson |
| 31 | 10 February 1998 | Peterborough United | A | 1–0 | 4,577 | Smith |
| 32 | 14 February 1998 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–0 | 6,339 | |
| 33 | 21 February 1998 | Torquay United | H | 0–1 | 1,424 | |
| 34 | 24 February 1998 | Darlington | H | 0–2 | 1,342 | |
| 35 | 28 February 1998 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–3 | 1,920 | Rowe |
| 36 | 3 March 1998 | Barnet | H | 0–2 | 739 | |
| 37 | 10 March 1998 | Scarborough | H | 1–2 | 1,129 | Rowe |
| 38 | 14 March 1998 | Cardiff City | A | 1–7 | 2,931 | Mike |
| 39 | 21 March 1998 | Lincoln City | H | 2–4 | 2,357 | George, Donnelly |
| 40 | 28 March 1998 | Rochdale | A | 1–4 | 1,858 | Tedaldi |
| 41 | 4 April 1998 | Hull City | H | 1–0 | 2,597 | Mike |
| 42 | 11 April 1998 | Chester City | A | 1–2 | 1,593 | Mike |
| 43 | 13 April 1998 | Notts County | H | 1–2 | 2,485 | Messer |
| 44 | 18 April 1998 | Rotherham United | A | 0–3 | 4,328 | |
| 45 | 25 April 1998 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | 3,661 | |
| 46 | 2 May 1998 | Colchester United | H | 0–1 | 3,572 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 | 15 November 1997 | Preston North End | A | 2–3 | 7,953 | Mike, Hammond |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 11 August 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–8 | 4,547 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 27 August 1997 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–2 | 9,908 | Armstrong (o.g.) |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| R1 | 9 December 1997 | Rochdale | H | 0–1 | 580 | |

## Squad

Appearances for competitive matches only
| Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Robert Betts | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 |
| John Borg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Darren Brookes | 9(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 12(3) | 0 |
| Ian Clark | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 |
| Paul Conlon | 4(10) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(10) | 1 |
| Harvey Cunningham | 32(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34(2) | 1 |
| Craig Davis | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Robert Debenham | 4(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(2) | 0 |
| Jim Dobbin | 28(3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30(3) | 0 |
| Mark Donnelly | 8(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(1) | 1 |
| Wayne Dowell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Paul Edwards | 5(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(4) | 0 |
| David Esdaille | 9(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11(3) | 0 |
| Darren Esdaille | 22(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23(1) | 0 |
| Gary Finley | 6(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(1) | 0 |
| Daniel George | 16(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16(2) | 1 |
| Ian Gore | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Andrew Hammond | 1 | 0 | 0(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Steve Hawes | 8(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8(3) | 0 |
| Mark Hawthorne | 7(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(1) | 0 |
| Ian Helliwell | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Maurice Hilton | 9(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10(1) | 0 |
| Gary Hoggeth | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Gary Ingham | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Simon Ireland | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37(1) | 0 |
| Martin McDonald | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| Gary Messer | 4(9) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(9) | 1 |
| Adie Mike | 42 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 5 |
| Prince Moncrieffe | 30(8) | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34(8) | 8 |
| Tony Parks | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Robert Pell | 6(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6(4) | 1 |
| Martin Pemberton | 24(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24(3) | 1 |
| John Ramsay | 2(8) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(10) | 0 |
| Zeke Rowe | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Matt Russell | 4(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 0 |
| Steve Sanders | 19(6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22(6) | 0 |
| David Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike Smith | 10(10) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13(10) | 3 |
| Dominico Tedaldi | 0(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 1 |
| Rob Thornley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Andy Thorpe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Darren Utley | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(2) | 0 |
| Lee Warren | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| Dean Williams | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Padi Wilson | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |