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1997–98 Aston Villa F.C. season

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Aston Villa
1997–98 season
ChairmanDoug Ellis
ManagerBrian Little (until 24 February)
John Gregory (from 25 February)
StadiumVilla Park
Premiership7th
FA CupFifth round
League CupThird round
UEFA CupQuarter-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Dwight Yorke (12)
All: Dwight Yorke (14)
Average home league attendance36,137

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

When Brian Little resigned as Aston Villa manager in February, Villa were 15th in the Premiership and were starting to look like outside bets for relegation.[1] Ruud Gullit, recently sacked by Chelsea, was linked with the vacancy, but the surprise choice for the job was Wycombe manager John Gregory, a former Villa coach.[2] He influenced a late run of form which saw Villa climb to seventh place, and for the second season running Villa qualified for the UEFA Cup via the UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking.[3]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
5 Leeds United 38 17 8 13 57 46 +11 59 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
6 Blackburn Rovers 38 16 10 12 57 52 +5 58
7 Aston Villa 38 17 6 15 49 48 +1 57
8 West Ham United 38 16 8 14 56 57 −1 56
9 Derby County 38 16 7 15 52 49 +3 55
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Aston Villa was rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 17 6 15 49 48  +1 57 9 3 7 26 24  +2 8 3 8 23 24  −1
Results by matchday
Match1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH
ResultLLLLWWWLDWLDLDWLWLDWDDLLWLLWWLWWWWWLWW
Position18202020191291114811131415111311121211101012151314151413131211988877
Source: 11v11.com: 1997–98 Aston Villa results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Aston Villa's score comes first[4]

Legend

Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
9 August 1997 Leicester City A 0–1 20,304
13 August 1997 Blackburn Rovers H 0–4 37,112
23 August 1997 Newcastle United A 0–1 36,783
27 August 1997 Tottenham Hotspur A 2–3 26,317 Yorke 27', Collymore 58'
30 August 1997 Leeds United H 1–0 39,027 Yorke 67'
13 September 1997 Barnsley A 3–0 18,649 Ehiogu 25', Draper 50', Taylor 72'
20 September 1997 Derby County H 2–1 35,444 Yorke 72', Joachim 75'
22 September 1997 Liverpool A 0–3 34,843
27 September 1997 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–2 32,044 Staunton 32', Taylor 49'
4 October 1997 Bolton Wanderers A 1–0 24,186 Milošević 12'
18 October 1997 Wimbledon H 1–2 32,087 Taylor 45'
26 October 1997 Arsenal A 0–0 38,061
1 November 1997 Chelsea H 0–2 39,372
8 November 1997 Crystal Palace A 1–1 21,097 Joachim 86'
22 November 1997 Everton H 2–1 36,389 Milošević 37', Ehiogu 56'
29 November 1997 West Ham United A 1–2 24,976 Yorke 47'
6 December 1997 Coventry City H 3–0 33,250 Collymore 21', Hendrie 71', Joachim 85'
15 December 1997 Manchester United A 0–1 55,151
20 December 1997 Southampton H 1–1 29,343 Taylor 64'
26 December 1997 Tottenham Hotspur H 4–1 38,644 Draper 38', 68', Collymore 81', 89'
28 December 1997 Leeds United A 1–1 36,287 Milošević 85'
10 January 1998 Leicester City H 1–1 36,429 Joachim 87'
17 January 1998 Blackburn Rovers A 0–5 24,834
1 February 1998 Newcastle United H 0–1 38,266
7 February 1998 Derby County A 1–0 30,251 Yorke 90'
18 February 1998 Manchester United H 0–2 39,372
21 February 1998 Wimbledon A 1–2 13,131 Milošević 41'
28 February 1998 Liverpool H 2–1 39,372 Collymore 10', 65'
8 March 1998 Chelsea A 1–0 33,018 Joachim 51'
11 March 1998 Barnsley H 0–1 29,519
14 March 1998 Crystal Palace H 3–1 33,781 Taylor 1', Milošević pen 14', 35'
28 March 1998 Everton A 4–1 36,471 Joachim 12', Charles 62', Yorke pen 72', 81'
4 April 1998 West Ham United H 2–0 39,372 Joachim 76', Milošević 82'
11 April 1998 Coventry City A 2–1 22,792 Yorke 5', 48'
18 April 1998 Southampton A 2–1 15,238 Hendrie 6', Yorke 60'
25 April 1998 Bolton Wanderers H 1–3 38,392 Taylor 57'
2 May 1998 Sheffield Wednesday A 3–1 34,177 Yorke 21', Hendrie 25', Joachim 50'
10 May 1998 Arsenal H 1–0 39,372 Yorke 37' (pen)

FA Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 3 January 1998 Portsmouth A 2–2 16,013 Staunton 41', Grayson 88'
R3R 14 January 1998 Portsmouth H 1–0 23,355 Milošević 21'
R4 24 January 1998 West Bromwich Albion H 4–0 39,372 Grayson 4', Yorke 61', 64', Collymore 72'
R5 14 February 1998 Coventry City H 0–1 36,979

League Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 15 October 1997 West Ham United A 0–3 20,360

UEFA Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st leg 16 September 1997 Bordeaux A 0–0 16,800
R1 2nd leg 30 September 1997 Bordeaux H 1–0 (won 1–0 on agg) 33,072 Milošević 111'
R2 1st leg 21 October 1997 Athletic Bilbao A 0–0 46,000
R2 2nd leg 4 November 1997 Athletic Bilbao H 2–1 (won 2–1 on agg) 35,915 Taylor 28', Yorke 50'
R3 1st leg 25 November 1997 Steaua Bucharest A 1–2 24,000 Yorke 54'
R3 2nd leg 9 December 1997 Steaua Bucharest H 2–0 (won 3–2 on agg) 35,102 Milošević 71', Taylor 85'
QF 1st leg 3 March 1998 Atlético Madrid A 0–1 45,000
QF 2nd leg 17 March 1998 Atlético Madrid H 2–1 (lost on away goals) 39,163 Taylor 72', Collymore 74'

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[5][6][7]

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 Australia AUS Mark Bosnich
2 DF England ENG Gary Charles
3 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Steve Staunton
4 DF England ENG Gareth Southgate (captain)
5 DF England ENG Ugo Ehiogu
7 MF England ENG Ian Taylor
8 MF England ENG Mark Draper
9 FW Serbia and Montenegro SCG Savo Milošević[a]
10 FW Trinidad and Tobago TRI Dwight Yorke
11 FW England ENG Stan Collymore
12 FW England ENG Julian Joachim
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 GK England ENG Michael Oakes
14 DF England ENG Alan Wright
15 DF Portugal POR Fernando Nélson
16 DF England ENG Simon Grayson
17 MF England ENG Lee Hendrie
20 DF England ENG Riccardo Scimeca
22 FW England ENG Darius Vassell
24 DF England ENG Gareth Barry
25 FW England ENG Darren Byfield[b]
27 FW England ENG Richard Walker

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
6 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Andy Townsend[c] (to Middlesbrough)
18 MF Serbia and Montenegro SCG Saša Ćurčić (to Crystal Palace)
24 MF England ENG Scott Murray (to Bristol City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
29 GK England ENG Paul Crichton (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)
31 GK England ENG Stuart Brock (to Kidderminster Harriers)

Reserve squad

The following players made most of their appearances this season for the reserves, and did not appear for the first-team, or only appeared for the first-team in friendlies.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF Wales WAL David Hughes
21 DF England ENG Lee Collins
23 FW England ENG Neil Davis
30 GK England ENG Adam Rachel
GK United States USA Marcus Hahnemann (on trial)
GK Australia AUS Saša Ilić[d] (on trial from St Leonard Stamcroft)
DF England ENG Guy Hadland
DF England ENG Tommy Jaszczun
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF England ENG Aaron Lescott
DF England ENG Ben Petty
DF Germany GER Leslie Hines
DF Australia AUS Danny Tiatto (on trial from Baden)
MF England ENG Darren Middleton
MF Republic of Ireland IRL Alan Kirby
MF Republic of Ireland IRL Daragh Sheridan
FW Republic of Ireland IRL Alan Lee

Youth squad

The following players spent most of the season playing for the youth team, and did not appear for the first team, but may have appeared for the reserve team.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
29 GK England ENG Matthew Ghent
GK England ENG Nikki Bull
GK Wales WAL Michael Price
DF England ENG Michael Blackwood
DF England ENG Liam Folds
DF England ENG Reuben Hazell
DF England ENG Jamie Kearns
DF England ENG Dominic Reece
DF England ENG Martin Ridley
DF Wales WAL Stuary Thornley
DF Scotland SCO Gary McSeveney
DF South Africa RSA Bradley Blackburn
DF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Jlloyd Samuel[e]
MF England ENG Mark Appleby
MF England ENG David Berks
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF England ENG David Harding
MF England ENG Alex Meredith
MF England ENG Luke Prince
MF England ENG Nathan Pulisciano
MF England ENG Jay Smith
MF England ENG Michael Standing
MF England ENG Philip Tongue
MF England ENG Gregory Walters
MF Northern Ireland NIR Gavin Melaugh
MF Sweden SWE David Curtolo
FW England ENG Stephen Evans
FW England ENG Darius Vassell
FW Scotland SCO Brian Mulholland

Trainees

The following players were signed to Aston Villa as trainees, and did not appear for the youth or reserve teams this 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 England ENG Philip Elias
No. Pos. Nation Player
GK England ENG Matthew George

Schoolboys

The following players were signed to Aston Villa as associated schoolboys, and did not appear for the youth or reserve teams this 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 England ENG Boaz Myhill[f]
DF England ENG Jon Bewers
DF England ENG Calum Davenport
MF England ENG Bertie Brayley
  Liam Bell
  Jonathan Britton
  David Court
  James Halliday
  Daniel Impey
  Ben Jackson
  Peter McConnell
No. Pos. Nation Player
  Owain Prosser
  Ashley Pulisciano
  Martin Reeves
  Jonathan Rhule
  Matthew Roberts
  Jordan Ryan
  Stephen Stock
  Martin Tranter
  Matthew Tucker
  Anthony Watson

Other players

The following players were signed to Aston Villa on unknown contractual terms, and did not appear for the youth or reserve teams this 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 Norway NOR Anders Rotevatn (on trial)
DF England ENG Jordan Stewart
MF England ENG Kenny Pavey (on trial from Sittingbourne)
MF England ENG Jamie Shore (on trial from Norwich City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Sweden SWE Christian Hansson (on trial from Landskrona BoIS)
FW Sweden SWE Henrik Nebrelius (on trial from Ystads IF)
MF England ENG Steve Malone

Statistics

Starting 11

No.
Pos.
Nat.
Name
MS Notes
1 GK Australia Mark Bosnich 42
15 RB Portugal Fernando Nélson 28
5 CB England Ugo Ehiogu 48
4 CB England Gareth Southgate 43
3 CB Republic of Ireland Steve Staunton 38
14 LB England Alan Wright 48
8 CM England Mark Draper 43
16 CM England Simon Grayson 36
7 CM England Ian Taylor 42
10 SS Trinidad and Tobago Dwight Yorke 40
11 CF England Stan Collymore 34

Transfers

In

Date Pos Name From Fee Notes
27 November 1997 MF David Curtolo Västerås SK £30,000
5 June 1998 MF Alan Thompson Bolton Wanderers £4,500,000
24 June 1998 MF Fabio Ferraresi Cesena Free transfer
24 June 1998 DF David Unsworth West Ham United £3,000,000

Out

Date Pos Name To Fee Notes
29 August 1997 MF Andy Townsend Middlesbrough £500,000
1 September 1997 GK Stuart Brock Kidderminster Harriers Free transfer
9 December 1997 MF Scott Murray Bristol City £150,000
26 March 1998 MF Saša Ćurčić Crystal Palace £1,000,000
1 July 1998 FW Savo Milošević Real Zaragoza £3,500,000
3 July 1998 DF Steve Staunton Liverpool Free transfer
7 July 1998 DF Fernando Nélson Porto £1,100,000
Transfers in: Decrease £7,530,000
Transfers out: Increase £6,250,000
Total spending: Decrease £1,280,000

Notes

  1. ^ Milošević was born in Bijeljina, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina).
  2. ^ Byfield was born in Sutton Coldfield, England, but also qualifies to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 2003.
  3. ^ Townsend was born in Maidstone, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his grandmother and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in February 1989.
  4. ^ Ilić was born in Melbourne, Australia, but also qualified to represent FR Yugoslavia internationally and would make his international debut for FR Yugoslavia in December 1998.
  5. ^ Samuel was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, but also qualified to represent England internationally and would represent them at U-18, U-20, and U-21 level and be called up to the senior team before switching his international allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago and making his international debut for Trinidad and Tobago in September 2009.
  6. ^ Myhill was born in Modesto, California, United States, but was raised in England from the age of 1, qualifying to represent any of the home nations. He represented England at U-17, and U-18, and U-20 level before making his international debut for Wales in March 2008.

References

  1. ^ "Little resigns from Villa". BBC Sport. 24 February 1998. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Ex-backroom boy gets Villa job". BBC Sport. 25 February 1998. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  3. ^ Aston Villa 1997/1998. WorldFootball.net. Accessed 2 March 2012.
  4. ^ Soccerbase: 1997–98 Aston Villa results
  5. ^ http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/1997-1998/faprem/avilla.htm
  6. ^ http://www.11v11.com/teams/aston-villa/tab/players/season/1998
  7. ^ http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/1997-98.html