Football League Second Division 1997/98

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Football League Second Division 1997/98
Football League logo between 1988 and 2004
master Watford FC
Climbers Watford FC
Bristol City
Grimsby Town (as play-off winner)
Relegated Brentford FC
Plymouth Argyle
Carlisle United
Southend United
Teams 24
Games 552
Gates 1,337  (ø 2.42 per game)
Top scorer Barry Hayles ( Bristol Rovers )
← Football League Second Division 1996/97
^ Football League First Division 1997/98

The Football League Second Division 1997/98 was the sixth season of the Football League Second Division as the third highest English football league and 71st third division season overall. Third division champions were the Watford FC and next rose the second-placed Bristol City and after play-off successes against FC Fulham and Northampton Town the third-placed Grimsby Town in the Football League First Division .

In the following third division season 1998/99, the three second division clubs Manchester City , Stoke City and Reading FC, ranked in the table below, took the places for the three promoted teams . From the Second Division had to relegate Brentford FC , Plymouth Argyle , Carlisle United and Southend United . Instead of these four clubs, the fourth division champions Notts County , behind them Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City and the play-off winners Colchester United took the vacant positions in the following season 1998/99 .

Closing table

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. Watford FC  46  24  16  6th 067:410 +26 88
 2. Bristol City  46  25th  10  11 069:390 +30 85
 3. Grimsby Town (A)  46  19th  15th  12 055:370 +18 72
 4th Northampton Town (N)  46  18th  17th  11 052:370 +15 71
 5. Bristol Rovers  46  20th  10  16 070:640  +6 70
 6th Fulham FC (N)  46  20th  10  16 060:430 +17 70
 7th WalesFlag of Wales (1959 – present) .svg Wrexham AFC  46  18th  16  12 055:510  +4 70
 8th. Gillingham FC  46  19th  13  14th 052:470  +5 70
 9. Bournemouth AFC  46  18th  12  16 057:520  +5 66
10. Chesterfield FC  46  16  17th  13 046:440  +2 65
11. Wigan Athletic (N)  46  17th  11  18th 064:660  −2 62
12. Blackpool FC  46  17th  11  18th 059:670  −8 62
13. Oldham Athletic (A)  46  15th  16  15th 062:540  +8 61
14th Wycombe Wanderers  46  14th  18th  14th 051:530  −2 60
15th Preston North End  46  15th  14th  17th 056:560  ± 0 59
16. York city  46  14th  17th  15th 052:580  −6 59
17th Luton Town  46  14th  15th  17th 060:640  −4 57
18th Millwall FC  46  14th  13  19th 043:540 −11 55
19th Walsall FC  46  14th  12  20th 043:520  −9 54
20th Burnley FC  46  13  13  20th 055:650 −10 52
21st Brentford FC  46  11  17th  18th 050:710 −21 50
22nd Plymouth Argyle  46  12  13  21st 055:700 −15 49
23. Carlisle United (N)  46  12  8th  26th 057:730 −16 44
24. Southend United (A)  46  11  10  25th 047:790 −32 43

Placement criteria: 1st points - 2nd goals scored - 2nd goals conceded

  • Third division champion and promoted to the Football League First Division 1998/99
  • Promoted to the Football League First Division in 1998/99
  • Play-off winner and promoted to Football League First Division in 1998/99
  • defeated participants of the play-off round to participate in the Football League First Division 1998/99
  • Relegation to the Football League Third Division in 1998/99
    • (A) Relegated from the Football League First Division 1996/97
    (N) Newcomers from the Football League Third Division 1996/97

    Play-off games for participation in the First Division

      Semi-finals (first leg / second leg / total) Final at Wembley Stadium
                         
    3  Grimsby Town 1 1 2    
    6th  Fulham FC 1 0 1  
    3  Grimsby Town 1
      4th  Northampton Town 0
    4th  Northampton Town 1 3 4th
    5  Bristol Rovers 3 0 3  

    List of goalscorers

    player society Gates
    1 JamaicaJamaica Barry Hayles Bristol Rovers 23

    Web links

    References and footnotes

    1. ↑ English League Leading Goalscorers (RSSSF)