During the 1997–98 English football season, Charlton Athletic F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. The club also competed in the FA Cup, and the League Cup.

Season summary The 1997–98 season was Charlton's best campaign for years. They reached the Division One play-off final and battled against Sunderland in a thrilling game which ended with a 4–4 draw after extra time. Charlton won 7–6 on penalties, with the match described as "arguably the most dramatic game of football in Wembley's history".Wembley's Greatest Events (1923–2010) Wembley Stadium With five minutes of normal time remaining, Charlton were losing 3–2 before Richard Rufus scored his first ever senior goal from a corner, forcing the game into extra-time. After the resulting 4–4 draw, the Addicks went on to win the game 7–6 on penalties, thus gaining promotion into the Premier League.

Kit Charlton's kit was manufactured by Quaser and sponsored by Viglen.

Final league table

Results Charlton Athletic's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 9 August 1997 MiddlesbroughA1–229,414S Jones 16 August 1997 Oxford UnitedH3–210,230S Jones, Mendonca, Lisbie 23 August 1997 BuryA0–04,657 30 August 1997 Manchester CityH2–114,009van Blerk (own goal), K Jones 13 September 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–322,683Chapple 17 September 1997 Norwich CityA4–010,157Mendonca (3), Chapple 21 September 1997 Bradford CityH4–111,583Mendonca (2), Mortimer, Brown 27 September 1997 Stockport CountyH1–312,083Mortimer 4 October 1997 Queens Park RangersA4–214,825Robinson (2), S Jones, Chapple 14 October 1997 Huddersfield TownA3–09,596Mendonca, Brown, Robinson 19 October 1997 Stoke CityH1–112,345Kinsella 22 October 1997 Birmingham CityH1–110,072Mendonca 25 October 1997 Tranmere RoversA2–25,911Kinsella, Leaburn 1 November 1997 Ipswich TownH3–012,627Mendonca, Chapple, Leaburn 4 November 1997 SunderlandA0–025,455 8 November 1997 West Bromwich AlbionA0–116,124 15 November 1997 Crewe AlexandraH3–214,091K Jones, Allen, Holmes 22 November 1997 Nottingham ForestA2–518,532Allen, Woan (own goal) 28 November 1997 Swindon TownH3–013,769K Jones, Mendonca (2, 1 pen) 6 December 1997 ReadingA0–28,076 9 December 1997 Sheffield UnitedH2–19,868Mendonca (2, 1 pen) 13 December 1997 Port ValeH1–011,077Newton 20 December 1997 PortsmouthA2–08,581Robinson, Leaburn 26 December 1997 Norwich CityH2–114,472Kinsella, Robinson 28 December 1997 Sheffield UnitedA1–418,677Bright 10 January 1998 MiddlesbroughH3–015,742Newton (2), Bright 17 January 1998 Oxford UnitedA2–17,234Mendonca, Robinson 28 January 1998 Manchester CityA2–224,058S Jones (2) 31 January 1998 BuryH0–015,312 7 February 1998 Bradford CityA0–114,851 17 February 1998 Queens Park RangersH1–115,555Robinson 21 February 1998 Stockport CountyA0–37,705 25 February 1998 Stoke CityA2–110,027Robinson, Barness 28 February 1998 Huddersfield TownH1–012,908Bright 3 March 1998 West Bromwich AlbionH5–010,893Bright, Newton, Mendonca (2, 1 pen), Kinsella 7 March 1998 Ipswich TownA1–319,831Mendonca 15 March 1998 SunderlandH1–115,355Bright 21 March 1998 Crewe AlexandraA3–05,252Mills, Newton, Kinsella 28 March 1998 Nottingham ForestH4–215,815Bright, Mortimer, Mendonca (pen), Kinsella 4 April 1998 Swindon TownA1–07,845S Jones 7 April 1998 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–013,743Mendonca 10 April 1998 ReadingH3–014,220Mendonca, Mortimer, Bright 13 April 1998 Port ValeA1–09,973Mendonca (pen) 18 April 1998 PortsmouthH1–014,082S Jones 25 April 1998 Tranmere RoversH2–015,393Mendonca (2 pens) 3 May 1998 Birmingham CityA0–025,877

First Division play-offs

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersSF 1st Leg 10 May 1998 Ipswich TownA1–021,681Clapham (own goal)SF 2nd Leg 13 May 1998 Ipswich TownH1–0 (won 2–0 on agg)15,585NewtonF25 May 1998 SunderlandN4–4 (won 7–6 on pens)77,739Mendonca (3), Rufus

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR33 January 1998 Nottingham ForestH4–113,827Robinson, Brown, Leaburn, MendoncaR424 January 1998 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–115,540K JonesR4R3 February 1998 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–320,429

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 First Leg 13 August 1997 Ipswich TownH0–16,598R1 Second Leg 26 August 1997 Ipswich TownA1–3 (lost 1–4 on agg)10,989Mendonca

First-team squad Squad at end of season

References

Notes