During the 1997–98 English football season, Sunderland A.F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.
Season summary In the 1997–98 season, their first campaign at their new ground, Sunderland finished third in Division One. After beating Sheffield United in the Football League play-offs semi-final, they reached the final at Wembley with a place in the Premier League at stake. Over 40,000 fans travelled from the North-East to see the game against Charlton Athletic. The match was drawn 4–4 after extra time had been played; Charlton, however, won the game on a penalty shootout, after Michael Gray had his penalty saved by Charlton goalkeeper Saša Ilić.
Final league table
Results Sunderland's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 10 August 1997 Sheffield UnitedA0–217,324 15 August 1997 Manchester CityH3–138,827Quinn, Phillips, Clark 23 August 1997 Port ValeA1–38,290Phillips 30 August 1997 Norwich CityH0–129,204 2 September 1997 Oxford UnitedH3–127,643Phillips, Beauchamp (own goal), Melville 5 September 1997 Bradford CityA4–016,484Gray, Clark, Phillips, Johnston 14 September 1997 Birmingham CityA1–017,478Gray 20 September 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–130,682Smith 28 September 1997 MiddlesbroughH1–235,384Ball 4 October 1997 ReadingA0–410,795 18 October 1997 Huddersfield TownH3–124,782Smith, Bridges, Clark 21 October 1997 Swindon TownH0–027,553 25 October 1997 Stoke CityA2–114,587Clark (2) 1 November 1997 Stockport CountyA1–19,474Clark 4 November 1997 Charlton AthleticH0–025,455 8 November 1997 Nottingham ForestH1–133,160Phillips 15 November 1997 PortsmouthA4–110,702Quinn, Clark, Johnston, Summerbee 22 November 1997 BuryA1–17,790Phillips 29 November 1997 Tranmere RoversH3–026,674Clark (2), Phillips 6 December 1997 Queens Park RangersA1–015,266Quinn 13 December 1997 West Bromwich AlbionH2–029,231Phillips, Johnston 20 December 1997 Crewe AlexandraA3–05,404Phillips, Summerbee, Quinn 26 December 1997 Bradford CityH2–040,055Phillips, Johnston 28 December 1997 Oxford UnitedA1–18,659Phillips 10 January 1998 Sheffield UnitedH4–236,391Quinn, Rae, Phillips (2) 17 January 1998 Manchester CityA1–031,715Phillips 28 January 1998 Norwich CityA1–215,940Clark 31 January 1998 Port ValeH4–239,258Johnston, Phillips, Quinn, Carragher (own goal) 7 February 1998 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–027,502Ball 17 February 1998 ReadingH4–140,579Quinn, Rae, Phillips (2) 21 February 1998 MiddlesbroughA1–330,227Clark 24 February 1998 Huddersfield TownA3–214,615Johnston (3, 1 pen) 28 February 1998 Ipswich TownH2–235,114Williams, Phillips 4 March 1998 Nottingham ForestA3–029,009Rae, Johnston, Phillips 7 March 1998 Stockport CountyH4–134,870Quinn (3), Phillips 10 March 1998 Birmingham CityH1–137,602Johnston 15 March 1998 Charlton AthleticA1–115,355Phillips 21 March 1998 PortsmouthH2–138,134Phillips, Johnston 28 March 1998 BuryH2–137,425Clark, Phillips 3 April 1998 Tranmere RoversA2–014,116Phillips, Summerbee 10 April 1998 Queens Park RangersH2–240,014Quinn (2) 13 April 1998 West Bromwich AlbionA3–320,181Quinn (2), Phillips 18 April 1998 Crewe AlexandraH2–140,441Ball, Clark 25 April 1998 Stoke CityH3–041,214Williams, Phillips (2) 28 April 1998 Ipswich TownA0–220,902 3 May 1998 Swindon TownA2–114,868Phillips (2)
First Division play-offs
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersSF 1st Leg10 May 1998 Sheffield UnitedA1–223,800BallSF 2nd Leg13 May 1998 Sheffield UnitedH2–0 (won 3–2 on agg)40,092Marker (own goal), PhillipsF25 May 1998 Charlton AthleticN4–4 (lost 6–7 on pens)77,739Quinn (2), Phillips, Summerbee
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR33 January 1998 Rotherham UnitedA5–111,500Phillips (4, 1 pen), QuinnR424 January 1998 Tranmere RoversA0–114,055
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 First Leg 16 September 1997 BuryH2–118,775Williams, BridgesR2 Second Leg 23 September 1997 BuryA2–1 (won 4–2 on agg)3,928Smith, RaeR315 October 1997 MiddlesbroughA0–226,451
Players First-team squad Squad at end of season
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
References
Notes