The 1897–98 season was Newton Heath's sixth season in the Football League and their fourth in the Second Division. They finished fourth in the league, which was not enough to earn them a chance for promotion back to the First Division. In the FA Cup, the Heathens were knocked out by Liverpool in the Second Round, after beating Walsall in the First Round.
The club also entered teams in the Lancashire and Manchester Senior Cups in 1897–98. They reached the semi-finals of the Manchester Senior Cup before being beaten 2–1 by Manchester City in a replay, but they went two better in the Lancashire Senior Cup, beating Blackburn Rovers 2–1 in the final.
Second Division Date OpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance4 September 1897Lincoln CityH5–0Boyd (3), Cassidy, Bryant5,00011 September 1897Burton SwiftsA4–0Boyd (3), Cassidy2,00018 September 1897Luton TownH1–2Cassidy8,00025 September 1897BlackpoolA1–0Smith2,0002 October 1897Leicester FosseH2–0Boyd (2)6,0009 October 1897Newcastle UnitedA0–212,00016 October 1897Manchester CityH1–1Gillespie20,00023 October 1897Small HeathA1–2Bryant6,00030 October 1897WalsallH6–0Cassidy (2), Donaldson (2), Bryant, Gillespie6,0006 November 1897Lincoln CityA0–12,00013 November 1897Newcastle UnitedH0–17,00020 November 1897Leicester FosseA1–1Wedge6,00027 November 1897Grimsby TownH2–1Bryant, own goal5,00011 December 1897WalsallA1–1Boyd2,00025 December 1897Manchester CityA1–0Cassidy16,00027 December 1897Gainsborough TrinityA1–2Carman3,0001 January 1898Burton SwiftsH4–0Boyd, Bryant, Carman, McNaught6,0008 January 1898Woolwich ArsenalA1–5Erentz8,00012 January 1898BurnleyH0–07,00015 January 1898BlackpoolH4–0Boyd (2), Cartwright, Cassidy4,00026 February 1898Woolwich ArsenalH5–1Bryant, Cassidy (2), Collinson, Ord (o.g.)6,0007 March 1898BurnleyA3–6Collinson, Bryant (2)3,00019 March 1898DarwenA3–2Boyd (2), McNaught2,00021 March 1898Luton TownA2–2Boyd, Cassidy2,00029 March 1898LoughboroughH5–1Boyd (3), Cassidy (2)2,0002 April 1898Grimsby TownA3–1Cassidy (2), Boyd2,0008 April 1898Gainsborough TrinityH1–0Cassidy5,0009 April 1898Small HeathH3–1Boyd, Gillespie, Morgan4,00016 April 1898LoughboroughA0–01,20023 April 1898DarwenH3–2Collinson (2), Bryant4,000
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance29 January 1898First RoundWalsallH1–0Pears (o.g.)6,00012 February 1898Second RoundLiverpoolH0–012,00016 February 1898Second RoundReplayLiverpoolA1–2Jimmy Collinson6,000
References