Football League Third Division 1998/99
| Football League Third Division 1998/99 | |
| master | Brentford FC |
| Climbers | Brentford FC Cambridge United Cardiff City Scunthorpe United (as play-off winner) |
| Relegation ↑ | Scunthorpe United Rotherham United Leyton Orient Swansea City |
| Relegated | Scarborough FC |
| Teams | 24 |
| Games | 552 |
| Gates | 1,395 (ø 2.53 per game) |
| Top scorer | Marco Gabbiadini ( Darlington FC ) |
| ← Football League Third Division 1997/98 | |
| ^ Football League Second Division 1998/99 | |
The Football League Third Division 1998/99 was the seventh season of the Football League Third Division as only the fourth highest English football league and 41st fourth division season overall.
The three best-placed clubs Brentford FC , Cambridge United and Cardiff City rose directly to the Football League Second Division. The clubs in places four to seven determined the fourth promoted team in play-off mode. Here the Scunthorpe United prevailed.
Scarborough FC rose as bottom in the Football Conference and was replaced the following season by the champions of the Football Conference, Cheltenham Town .
Closing table
| Pl. | society | Sp. | S. | U | N | Gates | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brentford FC (A) | 46 | 26th | 7th | 13 | 79:56 | +23 | 85 |
| 2. | Cambridge United | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 78:48 | +30 | 81 |
| 3. |
 Cardiff City
|
46 | 22nd | 14th | 10 | 60:39 | +21 | 80 |
| 4th | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 22nd | 8th | 16 | 69:58 | +11 | 74 |
| 5. | Rotherham United | 46 | 20th | 13 | 13 | 79:61 | +18 | 73 |
| 6th | Leyton Orient | 46 | 19th | 15th | 12 | 68:59 | +9 | 72 |
| 7th |
Swansea City
|
46 | 19th | 14th | 13 | 56:48 | +8 | 71 |
| 8th. | Mansfield Town | 46 | 19th | 10 | 17th | 60:58 | +2 | 67 |
| 9. | Peterborough United | 46 | 18th | 12 | 16 | 72:56 | +16 | 66 |
| 10. | Halifax Town (N) | 46 | 17th | 15th | 14th | 58:56 | +2 | 66 |
| 11. | Darlington FC | 46 | 18th | 11 | 17th | 69:58 | +11 | 65 |
| 12. | Exeter City | 46 | 17th | 12 | 17th | 47:50 | −3 | 63 |
| 13. | Plymouth Argyle (A) | 46 | 17th | 10 | 19th | 58:54 | +4 | 61 |
| 14th | Chester City | 46 | 13 | 18th | 15th | 57:66 | −9 | 57 |
| 15th | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 14th | 14th | 18th | 52:63 | −11 | 56 |
| 16. | Barnet FC | 46 | 14th | 13 | 19th | 54:71 | −17 | 55 |
| 17th | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 16 | 7th | 23 | 49:66 | −17 | 55 |
| 18th | Southend United (A) | 46 | 14th | 12 | 20th | 52:58 | −6 | 54 |
| 19th | Rochdale AFC | 46 | 13 | 15th | 18th | 42:55 | −13 | 54 |
| 20th | Torquay United | 46 | 12 | 17th | 17th | 47:58 | −11 | 53 |
| 21st | Hull City | 46 | 14th | 11 | 21st | 44:62 | −18 | 53 |
| 22nd | Hartlepool United | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21st | 52:65 | −13 | 51 |
| 23. | Carlisle United (A) | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19th | 43:53 | −10 | 49 |
| 24. | Scarborough FC | 46 | 14th | 6th | 26th | 50:77 | −27 | 48 |
Placement criteria: 1st points - 2nd goals scored - 3rd goals conceded
| (A) | Relegated from the Football League Second Division 1997/98 |
| (N) | Newcomers from the Football Conference |
Play-off round
| Semi-finals (first leg / second leg / total) | final | |||||||||
| 4th | Scunthorpe United | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| 7th | Swansea City | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| 4th | Scunthorpe United | 1 | ||||||||
| 5 | Leyton Orient | 0 | ||||||||
| 5 | Rotherham United | 0 | 0 | 0 ( 2 ) | ||||||
| 6th | Leyton Orient ( n. E. ) | 0 | 0 | 0 ( 4 ) | ||||||