1997–98 Bolton Wanderers F.C. season


The 1997–1998 season was the 119th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and their first season back in the Premier League after winning the Football League First Division the previous season. It covers the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. After 102 years playing at Burnden Park, the club had moved to the new Reebok Stadium.

Season summary

In their new 27,000-seat stadium, Bolton Wanderers began the season as the strongest-looking of the newly promoted side, particularly after paying a club record fee of £3.5 million for Wimbledon striker Dean Holdsworth and holding Manchester United to a 0–0 draw. But it was a season-long struggle for Colin Todd and his men, who lost their battle on the final day of the season and occupied the final relegation place – on goal difference – to complete a hat-trick of newly promoted clubs suffering relegation. Controversially Bolton had a goal against Everton disallowed in the belief that the ball had not crossed the line after crashing down off the Everton crossbar. Television replays showed the ball had indeed crossed the line. The game finished goal-less and the two sides finished level on points with Everton surviving on their superior goal difference. Bolton fans complained bitterly that the goal and resulting 1–0 win would have kept them in the Premier League at Everton's expense. Everton fans countered by pointing to Bolton's inability to hold onto a lead during the season while Everton had a good record of coming from behind to draw or even win against their fellow strugglers. With an hour to play it is impossible to say with any degree of confidence that Bolton would indeed have been able to hold on to their goal lead.

Final league table

;Results summary
;Results by round

Results

FA Premier League

FA Cup

Coca-Cola Cup

Transfers

Transfers in

PlayerFromDateFee
Robbie Elliott Newcastle United1 July 1997£2,500,000
Arnar Gunnlaugsson IA Akranes10 July 1997£100,000
Peter Beardsley Newcastle United18 August 1997£450,000
Mark Fish Lazio19 September 1997£2,000,000
Mike Whitlow Leicester City19 September 1997£500,000
Dean Holdsworth Wimbledon2 October 1997£3,500,000
Jussi Jääskeläinen VPS Vaasa11 November 1997£100,000

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out

Appearances

Bolton used a total of 29 players during the season.
PPlayerPositionPLFACLCTotal
1 Per FrandsenMidfielder38 1 4 43
2 Nathan BlakeStriker35 1 3 39
3 Guðni BergssonDefender34 1 3 38
4 Alan ThompsonMidfielder33 1 4 38
5 Keith BranaganGoalkeeper34 0 3 37
6 Jamie PollockMidfielder25 1 4 30
7 Andy ToddDefender23 1 4 28
8 Scott SellarsMidfielder22 1 3 26
9 Mark FishDefender22 1 1 24
10 Jimmy PhillipsDefender21 0 1 22
11 Neil CoxDefender20 0 0 20
12 Peter BeardsleyStriker14 0 3 17
13 Dean HoldsworthStriker17 0 0 17
14 Mike WhitlowDefender13 1 3 16
15 Gerry TaggartDefender14 0 1 15
16 John SheridanMidfielder12 0 0 12
17 Bob TaylorStriker10 0 0 10
18 Chris FaircloughStriker10 0 0 10
19 John McGinlayStriker4 0 2 6
20 Gavin WardGoalkeeper4 1 1 6
21 Michael JohansenMidfielder4 0 1 5
22 Robbie ElliottDefender4 0 0 4
23 Arnar GunnlaugssonStriker2 1 0 3
24 Steve McAnespieDefender1 0 2 3
25 Hasney AljofreeDefender2 0 0 2
26 Greg StrongDefender0 0 1 1
27 John SalakoMidfielder0 0 0 0
28 Franz CarrMidfielder0 0 0 0
29 Gaetano GiallanzaStriker0 0 0 0

Top scorers

PPlayerPositionPLFACLCTotal
1 Nathan BlakeStriker120214
2 Alan ThompsonMidfielder90110
3= Per FrandsenMidfielder2013
3= Dean HoldsworthStriker3003
3= Bob TaylorStriker3003