1997–98 Football League

99th season of the Football League November 2020 The Football League 1997–98 Nottingham Forest Nottingham ForestMiddlesbroughCharlton Athletic Doncaster Rovers New Team in League Macclesfield Town 1996–97 1998–99 The 1997–98 Football League (known as the Nationwide Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 99th completed season of The Football League. Champions Nottingham Forest and runners-up Middlesbrough won promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking. Charlton Athletic won the play-offs to end an eight-year absence from the top flight. Reading were relegated in bottom place. They were joined on the last day of the season by Manchester City and Stoke City. The blue half of Manchester endured relegation to the third tier of the English league for the first time in its history, despite beating also doomed Stoke 5–2 away on the last day of the season, but neither fans took lightly to relegation, as mass football violence outside outshone the match. Bury, Portsmouth and Port Vale all won their games to avoid the drop. Graham Taylor's second spell as manager brought instant success as Watford won the Division Two championship. They were joined by runners-up Bristol City and playoff winners Grimsby Town. Going down to Division Three were Brentford, Plymouth Argyle, Carlisle United and Southend United. Brentford had been losing playoff finalists just 12 months earlier, Plymouth had been promoted to Division Two just two seasons earlier, Carlisle were newly promoted and Southend had endured their second successive relegation. Macclesfield Town finished runners-up in Division Three to gain their second successive promotion, a year after winning the Conference. They were joined by champions Notts County, who won the title by 17 points and became the first team since World War II to secure promotion in March, third-placed Lincoln City and playoff winners Colchester United. Doncaster Rovers suffered an English league record of 34 defeats and won just four games to lose their league status. They were replaced by Conference champions Halifax Town, who regained their league status five years after losing it. First Division 1997–98 Football League First Division First Division 1997–98 Nottingham Forest Nottingham ForestMiddlesbroughCharlton Athletic Manchester CityStoke CityReading Kevin PhillipsPierre van Hooijdonk(29 goals each)https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html English League Leading Goalscorers RSSSF 2010-10-31 552 1411 1996–97 1998–99 One season after being relegated from the Premier League, Nottingham Forest achieved an instant comeback as Division One champions, meaning that manager Dave Bassett had now taken charge of promotion-winning teams eight times in 18 seasons. They were joined on the final day of the season by Middlesbrough, who had only been relegated the previous season due to a points deduction. Charlton Athletic clinched the final promotion place in dramatic fashion, beating Sunderland on penalties after a thrilling match which ended 4-4 after extra time and restored the South London club to the top flight for the first time since 1990. Ipswich Town and Sheffield United were the beaten semi-finalists, while Birmingham City missed out on the playoffs on goals scored. Stockport County, in the league's second tier for the first time in decades, finished an impressive eighth. FA Cup semi-finalists Wolves finished ninth, missing out on the playoffs. Reading's final season at Elm Park ended in relegation in bottom place, meaning that they would begin life at their impressive new Madejski Stadium as a Division Two rather than Division One side. A dramatic final day of the season saw Stoke City host Manchester City at their new Britannia Stadium, with both teams knowing that victory was their only chance of survival. In the end, the visitors triumphed 5-2 but both sides were relegated due to Portsmouth, Port Vale and QPR all winning and securing survival. The season saw numerous managerial changes in Division One. Despite being on a run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and being in the hunt for promotion to the Premier League, Nigel Spackman stood down in March after less than a year in charge of Sheffield United, with his assistant Steve Thompson taking charge for the crucial final weeks of the season. Steve Bruce, the Birmingham City captain, was then appointed player-manager at Bramall Lane. At the other end of the table, Terry Bullivant was sacked by Reading in March having only been appointed the previous summer, with the former Celtic manager Tommy Burns being appointed as his successor. Stoke City began the season with Chic Bates as manager, but a mid-season downturn in form saw his dismissal in January and the appointment of Chris Kamara, who won just one of his 14 games in charge and was dismissed with five games left to play and Stoke deep in the relegation battle. Alan Durban took charge for the final five games, but was unable to save the Potters from relegation. Manchester City sacked manager Frank Clark in February after just over a year in charge, and replaced him with the former Everton manager Joe Royle. QPR's dismal form saw manager Bruce Rioch replaced by West Bromwich Albion's Ray Harford in early December, with Harford's successor at The Hawthorns being Denis Smith, recruited from debt-ridden Oxford United. The new manager at the Manor Ground was Malcolm Shotton, who managed to guide the Thames Valley side to a secure mid table finish in spite of the club's rising debts, which resulted in construction of the club's new stadium being halted. Portsmouth sacked Terry Fenwick in February after three years in charge and replaced him with Alan Ball, the manager of their most recent promotion-winning side in 1987. Huddersfield Town's dismal start to the campaign saw Brian Horton sacked in September and replaced by Peter Jackson, who guided the Terriers to a secure mid table finish. Mike Walker, whose first spell in charge of Norwich City had seen a Premier League title challenge and a memorable UEFA Cup run, stood down at Carrow Road with several games still to play as Norwich headed for another disappointing mid table finish. After the season was over, the Carrow Road board of directors appointed Bruce Rioch as their sixth manager in as many years. Table Play-offs Football League Championship play-offs#1998 2/1 y Semifinals1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13 May 1998 Final at Wembley 25 May 1998 3rd Sunderland 1 2 3 6th Sheffield United 2 0 2 4th Charlton Athletic 1 1 2 5th Ipswich Town 0 0 0 3rd Sunderland 4 (6) 4th Charlton Athletic (pen.) 4 (7) https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1997-98.html England 1997–98 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 2010-02-24 Results Results Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 ENG Kevin Phillips Sunderland 29= NED Pierre Van Hooijdonk Nottingham Forest 293 ENG Kevin Campbell Nottingham Forest 23= ENG Clive Mendonca Charlton Athletic 235 ENG David Johnson Ipswich Town 206 ENG Brett Angell Stockport County 187 ENG Paul Furlong Birmingham City 15= ENG Marcus Stewart Huddersfield Town 15 Maps Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1997–1998 Greater London 51.486 0.036 right Greater London 51.509 -0.232 right Charlton Athletic Queens Park Rangers England none 400 Locations of the Football League First Division 1997–1998 teams England 52.48 -1.89 right England 53.82 -1.73 right England 53.58 -2.295 right England 51.47 0.07 right England 53.10 -2.44 right England 53.64 -1.78 right England 52.06 1.14 right England 53.47 -2.30 right England 54.57 -1.23 right England 52.63 1.30 right England 53.01 -1.137 right England 51.72 -1.21 right England 50.80 -1.06 right England 53.06 -2.21 right England 51.54 -0.26 right England 51.41 -0.97 right England 53.37 -1.47 right England 53.41 -2.16 right England 53.00 -2.18 right England 51.56 -1.77 right England 54.91 -1.39 right England 53.37 -3.04 right England 52.52 -1.97 right England 52.59 -2.13 right Birmingham Bradford City Bury Charlton Crewe Alexandra Huddersfield Ipswich Town Manchester City Middlesbrough Norwich City Nottingham Forest Oxford Portsmouth Port Vale QPR Reading Sheffield United Stockport Stoke Sunderland Swindon Tranmere West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers Attendances # Club Average 1 Sunderland 33,492 2 Middlesbrough 29,994 3 Manchester City 28,196 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 23,281 5 Nottingham Forest 20,584 6 Birmingham City 18,708 7 Sheffield United 17,942 8 West Bromwich Albion 16,662 9 Bradford City 15,564 10 Stoke City 15,025 11 Ipswich Town 14,973 12 Norwich City 14,444 13 Charlton Athletic 13,275 14 Queens Park Rangers 13,083 15 Huddersfield Town 12,145 16 Portsmouth 11,149 17 Swindon Town 10,298 18 Reading 9,676 19 Port Vale 8,432 20 Stockport County 8,322 21 Tranmere Rovers 7,999 22 Oxford United 7,512 23 Bury 6,177 24 Crewe Alexandra 5,243 Source:Historical attendances https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1998.htm 2026-09-05 www.european-football-statistics.co.uk Second Division Having returned to the manager's seat at Watford following a disappointing 1996–97 season under Kenny Jackett, Graham Taylor guided Watford to the Division Two title to add to the three promotions he had won in his first spell at Vicarage Road between 1978 and 1982. John Ward, who had been dismissed by Bristol Rovers in 1996 after failing to deliver promotion, delivered the goods for their local rivals Bristol City, comfortably securing them promotion from Division Two as runners-up. The final promotion place was won by Grimsby Town, who in their first Wembley final victory defeated a Northampton Town side in hunt of a second successive promotion. Grimsby had already defeated favourites Fulham in the semi-finals, meaning that Mohammed Al Fayed's revolution at Craven Cottage was on hold for a season. Since buying the club for £30million the previous summer, Al Fayed had appointed Kevin Keegan as director of football and Ray Wilkins as head coach, as well as providing transfer funds which meant that Fulham were able to compete with the leading Division One clubs and even some Premier League sides in the transfer market, the biggest fee being the £2.25million they paid Blackburn Rovers for defender Chris Coleman. At the bottom end of the table, Alvin Martin endured a nightmare start to his managerial career as his Southend United side finished bottom of Division Two and suffered a second successive relegation. Carlisle United's dream of rising to the top of the English leagues under the ownership of Michael Knighton was becoming a nightmare as they suffered an instant relegation back to Division Three, despite the club's ambitious chairman taking charge of the first team for most of the season after axing Mervyn Day in the autumn. Plymouth Argyle were relegated to Division Three for the second time in four seasons. Brentford, beaten playoff finalists the previous season, went down on the final day of the season, with fallen giants Burnley being the lucky side who escaped relegation in the process. Surviving in Division Two was not enough to save the job of Burnley manager Chris Waddle, who was replaced soon afterwards by Bury manager Stan Ternent. Football League, Second Division 1997–98 Watford (2nd third tier title) Direct promotion Watford,Bristol City Promoted through play-offs Grimsby Town Relegated Brentford,Carlisle United,Plymouth Argyle,Southend United Barry Hayles (Bristol Rovers), 23 552 1337 1996–97 1998–99 Table main WDL Second Division PR 5 WAT Watford BRC Bristol City GRI Grimsby Town NOR Northampton Town BRR Bristol Rovers FUL Fulham WRE Wrexham GIL Gillingham BOU Bournemouth CHF Chesterfield WIG Wigan Athletic BLP Blackpool OLD Oldham Athletic WYC Wycombe Wanderers PNE Preston North End YOR York City LUT Luton Town MIL Millwall WAL Walsall BUR Burnley BRE Brentford PLY Plymouth Argyle CRL Carlisle United STD Southend United 24 16 6 67 41 25 10 11 69 39 19 15 12 55 37 18 17 11 52 37 20 10 16 70 64 20 10 16 60 43 18 16 12 55 51 19 13 14 52 47 18 12 16 57 52 16 17 13 46 44 17 11 18 64 66 17 11 18 59 67 15 16 15 62 54 14 18 14 51 53 15 14 17 56 56 14 17 15 52 58 14 15 17 60 64 14 13 19 43 54 14 12 20 43 52 13 13 20 55 65 11 17 18 50 71 12 13 21 55 70 12 8 26 57 73 11 10 25 47 79 C,P P O,P R R R R green1 Promotion to the First Division P P yellow1 Qualification for the Second Division play-offs PP PP PP PP red1 Relegation to the Third Division R R R R In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD). complete https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1997-98.html England 1997–98 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 2010-02-24 Play-offs Football League One play-offs#1998 2/1 y Semifinals1st leg – 9/10 May; 2nd leg – 13 May 1998 Final at Wembley Stadium 24 May 1998 3rd Grimsby Town 1 1 2 6th Fulham 1 0 1 4th Northampton 1 3 4 5th Bristol Rovers 3 0 3 3rd Grimsby Town 1 4th Northampton 0 Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 JAM Barry Hayles Bristol Rovers 232 NGR Ade Akinbiyi Gillingham 213 CAN Carlo Corazzin Plymouth Argyle 17= ENG Kevin Donovan Grimsby Town 17= ENG Mark Stallard Wycombe Wanderers 17= ENG Ian Stevens Carlisle United 177 ENG Andy Cooke Burnley 16= ENG David Lowe Wigan Athletic 169 ENG Peter Beadle Bristol Rovers 15= ENG Paul Moody Fulham 1511 ENG Lee Ashcroft Preston North End 14= NED Jeroen Boere Southend United 14 Maps Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1997–1998 Greater London 51.486 -0.31 right Greater London 51.475 -0.222 right Greater London 51.481 -0.048 right Greater London 51.650 -0.401 right Brentford Fulham Millwall Watford England none 400 Locations of the Football League Second Division 1997–1998 teams England 53.81 -3.05 right England 50.73 -1.84 right England 51.486 -0.32 right England 51.42 -2.59 right England 51.47 -2.53 right England 53.79 -2.25 right England 54.90 -2.91 right England 53.24 -1.43 right England 51.45 -0.24 right England 51.38 0.55 right England 53.56 -0.068 right England 51.9 -0.433 right England 51.48 -0.048 right England 52.24 -0.90 right England 53.54 -2.12 right England 50.39 -4.15 right England 53.75 -2.7 right England 51.55 0.70 right England 52.58 -1.98 right England 51.65 -0.40 right England 53.55 -2.65 right England 53.03 -2.98 right England 51.63 -0.80 right England 53.96 -1.08 right Blackpool Bournemouth Brentford Bristol City Bristol Rovers Burnley Carlisle United Chesterfield Fulham Gillingham Grimsby Town Luton Town Millwall Northampton Town Oldham Plymouth Argyle Preston North End Southend Walsall Watford Wigan Athletic Wrexham Wycombe York City Results main FBR grey BLP BOU BRE BRC BRR BUR CRL CHF FUL GIL GRI LUT MIL NOR OLD PLY PNE STD WAL WAT WIG WRE WYC YOR Blackpool 1-0 1-2 2-2 1-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-2 1-0 3-0 1-1 2-2 0-0 2-1 3-0 1-0 1-1 0-2 1-2 2-4 1-0 Bournemouth 2-0 0-0 1-0 1-1 2-1 3-2 2-0 2-1 4-0 0-1 1-1 0-0 3-0 0-0 3-3 0-2 2-1 1-0 0-1 1-0 0-1 0-0 0-0 Brentford 3-1 3-2 1-4 2-3 2-1 0-1 0-0 0-2 2-0 3-1 2-2 2-1 0-0 2-1 3-1 0-0 1-1 3-0 1-2 0-2 1-1 1-1 1-2 Bristol City 2-0 1-1 2-2 2-0 3-1 1-0 1-0 0-2 0-2 4-1 3-0 4-1 0-0 1-0 2-1 2-1 1-0 2-1 1-1 3-0 1-1 3-1 2-1 Bristol Rovers 0-3 5-3 2-1 1-2 1-0 3-1 3-1 2-3 1-2 0-4 2-1 2-1 0-2 3-1 1-1 2-2 2-0 2-0 1-2 5-0 1-0 3-1 1-2 Burnley 1-2 2-2 1-1 1-0 0-0 3-1 0-0 2-1 0-0 2-1 1-1 1-2 2-1 0-0 2-1 1-0 1-0 2-1 2-0 0-2 1-2 2-2 7-2 Carlisle United 1-1 0-1 1-2 0-3 3-1 2-1 0-2 2-0 2-1 0-1 0-1 1-0 0-2 3-1 2-2 0-2 5-0 1-1 0-2 1-0 2-2 0-0 1-2 Chesterfield 1-1 1-1 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 2-1 0-2 1-1 1-0 0-0 3-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 3-2 1-0 3-1 0-1 2-3 3–1 1-0 1-1 Fulham 1-0 0-1 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 5-0 1-1 3-0 0-2 0-0 1-2 1-1 3-1 2-0 2-1 2-0 1-1 1-2 2-0 1-0 0-0 1-1 Gillingham 1-1 2-1 3-1 2-0 1-1 2-0 1-0 1-0 2-0 0-2 2-1 1-3 1-0 2-1 2-1 0-0 1-2 2-1 2-2 0-0 1-1 1-0 0-0 Grimsby Town 1-1 2-1 3-1 2-0 1-1 2-0 1-0 1-0 2-0 0-2 2-1 1-3 1-0 2-1 2-1 0-0 1-2 2-1 2-2 0-0 1-1 1-0 0-0 Luton Town 3-0 1-2 2-0 0-0 2-4 2-3 3-2 3-0 1-4 2-2 2-2 0-2 2-2 1-1 3-0 1-3 1-0 0-1 0-4 1-1 2-4 0-0 3-0 Millwall 2-1 1-2 3-0 0-2 1-1 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-0 0-1 0-2 0-0 2-1 1-1 0-1 3-1 0-1 1-1 1-1 0-1 1-0 2-3 Northampton Town 2-0 0-2 4-0 2-1 1-1 0-1 2-1 0-0 1-0 2-1 2-1 1-0 2-0 0-0 2-1 2-2 3-1 3-2 0-1 1-0 0-1 2-0 1-1 Oldham Athletic 0-1 2-1 1-1 1-2 4-4 3-3 3-1 2-0 1-0 3-1 2-0 2-1 1-1 2-2 2-0 1-0 2-0 0-0 2-2 3-1 3-0 0-1 3-1 Plymouth Argyle 3-1 3-0 0-0 2-0 1-2 2-3 2-1 1-1 1-4 0-1 2-2 0-2 3-0 1-3 0-2 2-0 2-3 2-1 0-1 3-2 2-0 4-2 0-0 Preston North End 3-3 0-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 2-3 0-3 0-0 3-1 1-3 2-0 1-0 2-1 1-0 1-1 0-1 1-0 0-0 2-0 1-1 0-1 1-1 3-2 Southend United 2-1 5-3 3-1 0-2 1-1 1-0 1-1 0-2 1-0 0-0 0-1 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-1 3-0 3-2 0-1 0-3 1-0 1-3 1-2 4-4 Walsall 2-1 2-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 3-1 3-2 1-1 1-0 0-0 2-3 2-0 0-2 0-0 0-1 1-1 3-1 0-0 1-0 3-0 0-1 2-0 Watford 4-1 2-1 3-1 1-1 3-2 1-0 2-1 2-1 2-0 0-0 0-2 1-1 0-1 1-1 2-1 1-1 3-1 1-1 1-2 2-1 1-0 2-1 1-1 Wigan Athletic 3-0 1-0 4-0 0-3 3-0 5-1 0-2 2-1 2-1 1-4 0-2 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-0 1-1 1-4 1-3 2-0 3-2 3-2 5-2 1-1 Wrexham 3-4 2-1 2-2 2-1 1-0 0-0 2-2 0-0 0-3 0-0 0-0 2-1 1-0 1-0 3-1 1-1 0-0 3-1 2-1 1-1 2-2 2-0 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 1-1 0-0 1-2 1-0 2-1 1-4 1-1 2-0 1-0 1-1 2-2 0-0 0-0 2-1 5-1 0-0 4-1 4-2 0-0 1-2 0-0 1-0 York City 1-1 0-1 3-1 0-1 0-1 3-1 4-3 0-1 0-1 2-1 0-0 1-2 2-2 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-0 1-1 2-2 1-0 2-0 16 September 2021 Third Division In his first full season as Notts County manager, Sam Allardyce took Notts County to the Division Three title with 99 points and made them the first Football League team to win promotion before the end of March, giving the Meadow Lane supporters some much needed cause for celebration after the previous six seasons had brought three relegations and a playoff defeat. Macclesfield Town finished runners-up to seal promotion in their first season as a Football League side, and were joined in the automatic promotion places by a Lincoln City side who reached the third tier for the first time in more than a decade. Colchester United clinched the final promotion place, beating Torquay United 1–0 in the Wembley promotion decider with a David Gregory goal. Doncaster Rovers were relegated from the Football League after a catastrophic season which saw them win just four league games and suffer a league record of 34 defeats. The club's future was then secured when chairman Ken Richardson, who stood accused of trying to set fire to the club's dilapidated Belle Vue stadium as part of an alleged insurance scam, stood down and was succeeded by new owner John Ryan, who set about rebuilding the club on and off the field and ensuring a swift return to the Football League. Brighton finished 23rd for the second successive season, but were never in any real danger of relegation this time due to Doncaster's dismal form throughout the season. Hull City endured one of the worst seasons in their history, finishing third from bottom and with team-strengthening prospects for new player-manager Mark Hateley being restricted by rising debts. It was a similarly low ebb for Cardiff City, whose 21st-place finish was the second worst of their history, while Swansea City's 20th-place finish was their lowest since 1975. Doncaster's place in the Football League was taken by Conference champions Halifax Town, who regained the league status which they had lost five years earlier. Football League, Third Division 1997–98 Notts County (2nd fourth tier title) Direct promotion Notts County,Lincoln City,Macclesfield Town Promoted through play-offs Colchester United Relegated to Conference Doncaster Rovers New team in League Macclesfield Town Gary Jones (Notts County), 28 552 1431 1996–97 1998–99 Table main WDL Third Division PR 5 NTC Notts County MAC Macclesfield Town LIN Lincoln City COL Colchester United TOR Torquay United SCA Scarborough BAR Barnet SCU Scunthorpe United ROT Rotherham United PET Peterborough United LEY Leyton Orient MAN Mansfield Town SHR Shrewsbury Town CHE Chester City EXE Exeter City CAM Cambridge United HAR Hartlepool United ROC Rochdale DAR Darlington SWA Swansea City CAR Cardiff City HUL Hull City B&HA Brighton & Hove Albion DON Doncaster Rovers 29 12 5 82 43 23 13 10 63 44 20 15 11 60 51 21 11 14 72 60 21 11 14 68 59 19 15 12 67 58 19 13 14 61 51 19 12 15 56 52 16 19 11 67 61 18 13 15 63 51 19 12 15 62 47 -3 16 17 13 64 55 16 13 17 61 62 17 10 19 60 61 15 15 16 68 63 14 18 14 63 57 12 23 11 61 53 17 7 22 56 55 14 12 20 56 72 13 11 22 49 62 9 23 14 48 52 11 8 27 56 83 6 17 23 38 66 4 8 34 30 113 Leyton Orient had 3 points deducted. C,P P P O,P R green1 Promotion to the Second Division P P P yellow1 Qualification for the Third Division play-offs PP PP PP PP red1 Relegation to Football Conference R In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD). complete Play-offs Football League Two play-offs#1998 2/1 y Semifinals1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13 May 1998 Final at Wembley Stadium22 May 1998 4th Colchester United 0 3 3 7th Barnet 1 1 2 5th Torquay United 3 4 7 6th Scarborough 1 1 2 4th Colchester United 1 5th Torquay United 0 Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1 ENG Gary Jones Notts County 282 ENG Steve Whitehall Mansfield Town 243 WAL Darran Rowbotham Exeter City 214 NIR Jimmy Quinn Peterborough United 205 WAL Carl Griffiths Leyton Orient 18 Maps Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League Third Division London teams 1997–1998 Greater London 51.65 -0.19 right Greater London 51.570 -0.058 right Barnet Leyton Orient England none 400 Locations of the Football League Third Division teams 1997–1998 England 51.65 -0.19 right England 50.83 -0.15 right England 52.21 0.12 right England 51.47 -3.20 right England 53.19 -2.89 right England 51.89 0.90 right England 54.53 -1.55 right England 53.52 -1.133 right England 50.72 -3.53 right England 54.69 -1.21 right England 53.74 -0.33 right England 51.57 -0.01 right England 53.23 -0.54 right England 53.24 -2.13 right England 53.14 -1.20 right England 52.94 -1.137 right England 52.58 -0.25 right England 53.61 -2.16 right England 53.43 -1.36 right England 54.27 -0.42 right England 53.58 -0.65 right England 52.71 -2.75 right England 51.62 -3.95 right England 50.48 -3.52 right Barnet Brighton & Hove Cambridge Utd Cardiff City Chester Colchester Darlington Doncaster Exeter City Hartlepool Hull Leyton Orient Lincoln City Macclesfield Mansfield Town Notts County Peterborough Rochdale Rotherham Scarborough Scunthorpe United Shrewsbury Swansea City Torquay See also 1997–98 in English football References The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website, with home and away statistics separated. Play-off results are from the same website. 1997–98 2–4