1997–98 Manchester City F.C. season

Manchester City
1997–98 season
Chairman Francis Lee
David Bernstein
Manager Frank Clark (until 17 February)
Joe Royle (from 18 February)
Stadium Maine Road
First Division 22nd
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup First round
Top goalscorer League:
Paul Dickov (9)
All:
Paul Dickov (9)
Highest home attendance 32,040 – (25 April vs Queens Park Rangers, First Division)
Lowest home attendance 12,563 – (12 August vs Blackpool, League Cup first round)

The 1997–98 season was Manchester City's second in the First Division following relegation from the Premier League in 1995–96. The 1996–97 season had been a turbulent one; Five different managers took charge of the team over the course of the season (three permanent appointments and two caretakers), including Steve Coppell, who resigned after just 32 days as manager.[1] Frank Clark became manager on 30 December 1997 and form improved, but the fourteenth-place finish was the lowest in club history.[2]

Despite speculation that linked him with a transfer, 1996–97 Player of the Season Georgi Kinkladze stayed at the club, and signed a three-year contract that made him the highest-paid player in Manchester City's history.[3] The highest profile signing was striker Lee Bradbury, who joined from Portsmouth for a club record £3 million.[4] Defender Tony Vaughan arrived from Ipswich Town. His transfer free was decided by tribunal and set at £1.35 million, more than double City's valuation.[5] The club also signed Dutch midfielder Gerard Wiekens from BV Veendam for £500,000.[6] Wiekens had agreed to join the club in March, but the move only took place once the previous season had finished.[7] Departing was Peter Beagrie, sold to Bradford City for £200,000.[8] In an early-season interview with the Sunday Times, Frank Clark bemoaned the difficulty of reducing the size of his squad, which contained 40 senior professionals: "This squad is too big, but a lot of the players are on good contracts which other clubs won't match. You can't blame them for staying." "We've got around 12 very good youngsters whose potential is really encouraging, but they can't get a reserve-team game. Because we've got to fill the reserves with senior pros needing match practice or players we're trying to sell, the youngsters' development is held up."[9]

Off the field, the club introduced a new badge, and changed the colour of the home shirt to a much deeper shade termed "laser blue". The new kit was made by Kappa; this ended a 63-year association with Umbro.[10]

In its preview of the forthcoming season, The Times listed bookmakers odds that put Manchester City as 6/1 joint second favourites to win the division.[11]

Team kit

Home
Away
Third

League

The league campaign started with a home match against Portsmouth. Bradbury, Vaughan and Wiekens all made their debuts. The match finished 2–2, with a debut goal for Wiekens.[12] The first away match was a trip to Sunderland, a match that was the first competitive fixture at the Stadium of Light. City lost 3–1 to a team spearheaded by their former striker Niall Quinn. Jason van Blerk made his debut in the match, having signed on a free transfer in the run-up to the fixture.[13] The first league win did not arrive until the fifth match, when Nottingham Forest were beaten at the City Ground.[14] Three games later City's second win of the season was emphatic, 6–0 at home to Swindon Town.

Lee Bradbury cracked a vertebra at the start of October, and coupled with an injury to Uwe Rösler, City were left with few options in attack.[12] The team scored just one goal in October. A succession of reserve strikers were tried; Barry Conlon, Chris Greenacre, Ray Kelly and Gerry Creaney all saw their first action of the season.[12] The situation was exacerbated in late October when Kinkladze crashed his Ferrari, sustaining a back injury that required 30 stitches and caused him to miss two matches.[15] By November City lay in the relegation zone with just 3 wins from 16 matches.[16] A home defeat to Huddersfield Town led to open rebellion amongst the club's supporters. On the tenth anniversary of a match in which the same opposition were beaten 10–1, Manchester City succumbed to a defeat that was last-placed club Huddersfield's first away win of the season.[17] Choruses of "You're not fit to wear the shirt" rang out during the match.[18] Afterward two thousand supporters held a demonstration demanding the resignation of chairman Francis Lee.[19] The season hit a new low with 3-1 away defeat to local rivals Stockport County who were having the best season in their history.

FA Cup

Manchester City entered the FA Cup in the third round, the starting point for all clubs in the top two divisions. Drawn at home to fellow First Division club Bradford City, Manchester City won 2–0.[20] Another home tie followed in the fourth round, against Premier League club West Ham United. City trailed 1–0 at half time, but a solo goal from Georgi Kinkladze levelled the score. A penalty gave City the chance to take the lead, but Uwe Rösler's kick went high over the crossbar.[21] Two minutes later, former City player Steve Lomas scored for West Ham.[22] City lost 2–1 and exited the competition.

Date Round Opponents H / A Venue Result

F – A

 Scorers Attendance
3 January 1998 Third round Bradford City H Maine Road 2 – 0 Brown, Rösler 23,686
25 January 1998 Fourth round West Ham United H Maine Road 1 – 2 Kinkladze 26,495

League Cup

Manchester City entered the League Cup in the first round for the first time. In previous years, the club's league position had been sufficient to gain a bye into the second round. Blackpool were the opposition in the first round, for which ties were played over two legs. In the first leg, at Bloomfield Road, City lost 1–0.[23] The return leg was chosen for live television coverage.[24] Kevin Horlock scored with two minutes of normal time remaining to make the score 1–1 on aggregate and take the tie to extra time.[25] No goals were scored in extra time, so the result was decided by a penalty shootout. Horlock and Bradbury's kicks missed, and Blackpool won the shootout 4–2.[26]

Date Round Opponents H / A Venue Result

F – A

 Scorers Attendance
12 August 1997 First round first leg Blackpool A Bloomfield Road 0 – 1 8,084
26 August 1997 First round second leg Blackpool H Maine Road 1 – 0 (aet, 2 – 4 pens) Horlock 12,563

Squad

Appearances for competitive matches only, substitute appearances in brackets
Source:[27]

Pos. Name Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
League FA Cup League Cup Total
GKWales Margetson, MartynMartyn Margetson 28 00020300
GKNorthern Ireland Wright, TommyTommy Wright 18 02000200
DFEngland Beesley, PaulPaul Beesley 4 (3)000004 (3)0
DFEngland Brightwell, IanIan Brightwell 19 (2)0202023 (2)0
DFEngland Briscoe, LeeLee Briscoe 51000051
DFEngland Crooks, LeeLee Crooks 3 (2)000003 (2)0
DFEngland Edghill, RichardRichard Edghill 3601000370
DFEngland Jobson, RichardRichard Jobson 61000061
DFEngland Kernaghan, AlanAlan Kernaghan 10001020
DFEngland Morley, DaveDave Morley 1 (2)100001 (2)0
DFGeorgia (country) Shelia, MurtazMurtaz Shelia 1222000142
DFWales Symons, KitKit Symons 4221010442
DFGeorgia (country) Tskhadadze, KakhaberKakhaber Tskhadadze 1010000101
DFAustralia van Blerk, JasonJason van Blerk 10 (9)00 (1)00 (1)010 (11)0
DFEngland Vaughan, TonyTony Vaughan 1910020211
DF/MFNetherlands Wiekens, GerardGerard Wiekens 35 (2)5102038 (2)5
MFEngland Beardsley, PeterPeter Beardsley 5 (1)000005 (1)0
MFEngland Bishop, IanIan Bishop 4 (2)000004 (2)0
MFEngland Brannan, GedGed Brannan 27 (5)3102032 (5)3
MFEngland Brown, MichaelMichael Brown 18 (8)0001018 (8)0
MFEngland Heaney, NeilNeil Heaney 30000030
MFNorthern Ireland Horlock, KevinKevin Horlock 2550021276
MFGeorgia (country) Kinkladze, GeorgiGeorgi Kinkladze 29 (1)4212033 (1)5
MFRepublic of Ireland McGoldrick, EddieEddie McGoldrick 6 (1)0000 (1)06 (2)0
MFScotland Pollock, JamieJamie Pollock 81000081
MFRepublic of Ireland Scully, TonyTony Scully 1 (8)000001 (8)0
MFEngland Summerbee, NickyNicky Summerbee 4 (5)000206 (5)0
MFNorthern Ireland Whitley, JeffJeff Whitley 14 (3)1100015 (3)1
MFNorthern Ireland Whitley, JimJim Whitley 17 (2)01 (1)00018 (3)0
FWEngland Bradbury, LeeLee Bradbury 23 (4)7002025 (4)7
FWScotland Creaney, GerryGerry Creaney 10000010
FWRepublic of Ireland Conlon, BarryBarry Conlon 1 (6)000001 (6)0
FWScotland Dickov, PaulPaul Dickov 21 (9)9200 (1)023 (10)9
FWBermuda Goater, ShaunShaun Goater 73000073
FWEngland Greenacre, ChrisChris Greenacre 2 (1)00 (1)0002 (2)0
FWRepublic of Ireland Kelly, RayRay Kelly 10000010
FWGermany Rösler, UweUwe Rösler 23 (6)6212027 (6)7
FWEngland Russell, CraigCraig Russell 17 (7)1200019 (7)1

Transfers

In

Player Transferred from Fee Date Ref
Wiekens, GerardGerard Wiekens Veendam £500,000 29 April 1997 [7]
Weaver, NickyNicky Weaver Mansfield Town £200,000 March 1997 [28]
Vaughan, TonyTony Vaughan Ipswich Town £1.35m July 1997 [5]
Bradbury, LeeLee Bradbury Portsmouth £3m July 1997 [29]
van Blerk, JasonJason van Blerk Millwall Free August 1997 [13]
Scully, TonyTony Scully Crystal Palace £300,000 August 1997 [30]
Jobson, RichardRichard Jobson Leeds United Free March 1998 [31]
Pollock, JamieJamie Pollock Bolton Wanderers £800,000 March 1998 [32]
Goater, ShaunShaun Goater Bristol City £400,000 March 1998 [33]
Bishop, IanIan Bishop Bristol City Free March 1998 [33]

Out

Player Transferred to Fee Date Ref
Beagrie, PeterPeter Beagrie Bradford City £200,000 July 1997 [8]
Clough, NigelNigel Clough Sheffield Wednesday Loan September 1997 [34]
Creaney, GerryGerry Creaney Burnley Loan September 1997 [35]
Kernaghan, AlanAlan Kernaghan St. Johnstone Loan September 1997 [36]
Kernaghan, AlanAlan Kernaghan St. Johnstone Free December 1997 [37]
Creaney, GerryGerry Creaney Chesterfield Loan January 1998 [38]
Conlon, BarryBarry Conlon Plymouth Argyle Loan February 1998 [39]
van Blerk, JasonJason van Blerk West Bromwich Albion £50,000 March 1998 [31]
Beesley, PaulPaul Beesley West Bromwich Albion Loan March 1998 [31]
Morley, DaveDave Morley Ayr United Loan March 1998 [31]
Scully, TonyTony Scully Queens Park Rangers £155,000 March 1998 [40]
Ingram, RaeRae Ingram Macclesfield Town Loan March 1998 [32]
Phillips, MartinMartin Phillips Exeter City Loan March 1998 [32]
Foster, JohnJohn Foster Carlisle United Free March 1998 [33]
Heaney, NeilNeil Heaney Charlton Athletic Loan March 1998 [33]
Kelly, RayRay Kelly Wrexham Loan March 1998 [33]
McGoldrick, EddieEddie McGoldrick Stockport County Loan March 1998 [33]
Thomas, ScottScott Thomas Brighton Loan March 1998 [33]

References

  1. ↑ Buckley, Andy; Burgess, Richard (2000). Blue Moon Rising: The Fall and Rise of Manchester City. Bury: Milo. ISBN 0-9530847-4-4. p. 132.
  2. ↑ Baskcomb, Julian (ed.) (1997). Manchester City F.C. Official Handbook 1997-98. Leicester: Polar. p. 41.
  3. ↑ "Fergie's £15m for Fab Gab". Sunday Mirror. 18 May 1997.
  4. ↑ Manchester City F.C. Official Handbook 1997-98, p. 19.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Football". Independent. 17 July 1997.
  6. ↑ Manchester City F.C. Official Handbook 1997-98, p. 33.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Adam Szreter (14 March 1997). "Merson to be out of action for six weeks". Independent.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Football Round-up". Independent. 3 July 1997.
  9. ↑ Louise Taylor (17 August 1997). "Clark attempting to rekindle City's lights". Sunday Times.
  10. ↑ James, Gary (2012). Manchester The City Years. Halifax: James Ward. pp. 454–5. ISBN 978-0-9558127-7-4.
  11. ↑ "Club-by-Club guide to the Nationwide League - First Division". The Times. 7 August 1997.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Buckley & Burgess, Blue Moon Rising, p. 145.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Stockport chase Robins". Independent. 12 August 1997.
  14. ↑ John Lawson (4 September 1997). "Brannan double eases Clark woe". The Guardian. p. 22.
  15. ↑ Clayton, David (2005). Kinkladze: The Perfect 10?. Manchester: Parrs Wood Press. p. 113. ISBN 1-903158-60-5.
  16. ↑ "English Division One 1997-1998 : Table 09.11.1997". Statto organisation. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  17. ↑ Derek Potter (8 November 1997). "Edwards volley sinks City". The Guardian. p. A12.
  18. ↑ David Maddock (8 November 1997). "Huddersfield add to City's gloom". The Times.
  19. ↑ Derick Allsop (8 November 1997). "City suffer another humiliation". Independent.
  20. ↑ "Clark's on the up n' up". Sunday Mirror. 4 January 1998.
  21. ↑ Ian Ross (26 January 1998). "Rosler boots a win into the air". The Guardian. p. A3.
  22. ↑ Ian Ross (26 January 1998). "Lomas returns to City with interest". The Times.
  23. ↑ "Unconvincing City slip up at Blackpool". Independent. 13 August 1997.
  24. ↑ "Manchester City 's Coca-Cola Cup first round second leg with Blackpool brought forward". Independent. 14 August 1997.
  25. ↑ Mark Pierson (27 August 1997). "Mellon on the spot to see Blackpool through". Independent.
  26. ↑ Ian Whittell (27 August 1997). "Kinkladze's injury adds to woe for City". The Times.
  27. ↑ James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, pp. 462–3.
  28. ↑ "Football Round-Up". Independent. 20 April 1997.
  29. ↑ Alan Nixon (31 July 1997). "Kendall poised to offer £7m for Cole". Independent.
  30. ↑ Rupert Metcalf (16 August 1997). "Saints dispense with Van Gobbel". Independent.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "On the move". Independent on Sunday. 15 March 1998.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 "On the move". Independent on Sunday. 22 March 1998.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 33.6 "Yesterday's deadline-day deals". Independent. 27 March 1998.
  34. ↑ "Spurs ponder action on Iversen". Independent. 12 September 1997.
  35. ↑ "Shearer set for New Year return". Guardian. 20 September 1997. p. 12.
  36. ↑ "On the move". Independent. 21 September 1997.
  37. ↑ Gordon Simpson (27 December 1997). "Back in line". Daily Record.
  38. ↑ "Pressure mounts for Waddle and his men". Lancashire County Publications. 5 January 1998.
  39. ↑ "Sidelines: Gers trade with Hearts flowers". Independent. 28 February 1998.
  40. ↑ Richard Burgess (16 March 1998). "Blues boss targets double swoop". Manchester Evening News.