During the 1997–98 English football season, Barnsley competed in the FA Premier League.
Season summary 1997–98 was the first top-flight season in Barnsley's 102-year history, and, despite some courageous performances, their stay among the elite lasted just one season. They suffered from horrendous defeats and the leakiest defensive record in the division, conceding 82 goals. Their start to the season was OK, losing two and winning two of their first four games at Crystal Palace and against Bolton Wanderers. However, they were in the bottom three virtually for the remainder of the season after the 1–4 defeat at Wimbledon, though they did enjoy some success in the FA Cup, knocking out Manchester United in the fifth round before bowing out to eventual runners-up Newcastle United in the quarter-final. Their relegation was confirmed a few weeks later, and manager Danny Wilson then moved to South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday. 35-year-old striker John Hendrie was appointed player-manager following Wilson's departure.
Final league table
Results summary
Results by round
Results Barnsley's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
FA Premier League DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 9 August 1997 West Ham UnitedH1–218,667Redfearn 12 August 1997 Crystal PalaceA1–021,547Redfearn 24 August 1997 ChelseaH0–618,170 27 August 1997 Bolton WanderersH2–118,661Tinkler, Hristov 30 August 1997 Derby CountyA0–127,232 13 September 1997 Aston VillaH0–318,649 20 September 1997 EvertonA2–432,659Redfearn, Barnard 23 September 1997 WimbledonA1–47,668Tinkler 27 September 1997 Leicester CityH0–218,660 4 October 1997 ArsenalA0–538,049 20 October 1997 Coventry CityH2–017,463Ward, Redfearn (pen) 25 October 1997 Manchester UnitedA0–755,142 1 November 1997 Blackburn RoversH1–118,665Bosančić 8 November 1997 SouthamptonA1–415,018Bosančić (pen) 22 November 1997 LiverpoolA1–041,011Ward 29 November 1997 Leeds UnitedH2–318,690Liddell, Ward 8 December 1997 Sheffield WednesdayA1–229,086Redfearn 13 December 1997 Newcastle UnitedH2–218,687Redfearn, Hendrie 20 December 1997 Tottenham HotspurA0–328,232 26 December 1997 Bolton WanderersA1–125,000Hristov 28 December 1997 Derby CountyH1–018,686Ward 10 January 1998 West Ham UnitedA0–623,714 17 January 1998 Crystal PalaceH1–017,819Ward 31 January 1998 ChelseaA0–234,442 7 February 1998 EvertonH2–218,672Fjørtoft, Barnard 21 February 1998 Coventry CityA0–120,265 28 February 1998 WimbledonH2–117,102Fjørtoft (2) 11 March 1998 Aston VillaA1–029,519Ward 14 March 1998 SouthamptonH4–318,368Ward, Jones, Fjørtoft, Redfearn (pen) 28 March 1998 LiverpoolH2–318,684Redfearn (2) 31 March 1998 Blackburn RoversA1–224,179Hristov 4 April 1998 Leeds UnitedA1–237,749Hristov 11 April 1998 Sheffield WednesdayH2–118,692Ward, Fjørtoft 13 April 1998 Newcastle UnitedA1–236,534Fjørtoft 18 April 1998 Tottenham HotspurH1–118,692Redfearn 25 April 1998 ArsenalH0–218,691 2 May 1998 Leicester CityA0–121,293 10 May 1998 Manchester UnitedH0–218,694
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR33 January 1998 Bolton WanderersH1–015,042BarnardR424 January 1998 Tottenham HotspurA1–128,722Redfearn (pen)R4R4 February 1998 Tottenham HotspurH3–118,220Ward, Redfearn, BarnardR515 February 1998 Manchester UnitedA1–154,700HendrieR5R25 February 1998 Manchester UnitedH3–218,655Hendrie, Jones (2)QF8 March 1998 Newcastle UnitedA1–336,695Liddell
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 16 September 1997 ChesterfieldA2–16,318Redfearn (pen), WardR2 2nd Leg 30 September 1997 ChesterfieldH4–1 (won 6–2 on agg)8,417Liddell, Redfearn, Sheridan, HristovR314 October 1997 SouthamptonH1–29,019Liddell
Players First-team squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Reserve squad
Transfers
In DatePosNameFromFee1 June 1997GKLars LeeseBayer Leverkusen£250,00013 June 1997FWGeorgi HristovFK Partizan£1,500,0001 July 1997MFEric TinklerCagliari£650,0002 July 1997FWAleš KrižanNK Maribor£500,0005 August 1997DFDarren BarnardBristol City£750,0004 September 1997FWAshley WardDerby County£1,300,00031 October 1997GKPaul HeritageSheffield UnitedSigned15 January 1998FWJan Åge FjørtoftSheffield United£800,000
Out DatePosNameToFee1 August 1997MFCarel van der VeldenScarboroughFree transfer1 August 1997GKGlyn ClydeMacclesfield TownFree transfer1 August 1997FWDarran ClydeGatesheadUndisclosed18 September 1997FWPaul WilkinsonMillwall£150,00031 October 1997FWDave RegisLeyton OrientFree transfer18 March 1998DFSteve DavisOxford UnitedSigned15 May 1998FWLuke BeckettChester CityFree transfer
Transfers in: £5,750,000 Transfers out: £150,000 Total spending: £5,600,000
Statistics Appearances and goals
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season
References