1997–98 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Queens Park Rangers F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary In the 1997–98 season, QPR did start the campaign brightly but in November, Houston was sacked as manager with the club in 13th place and only four points adrift from the playoff places. Ray Harford was appointed as Houston's replacement and QPR went on to struggle with only three wins through to the end of the season and only managed to avoid relegation by one point at the expense of Manchester City (where Jamie Pollock scored an infamous own goal ), Stoke City and Reading.

In the Southern Junior Floodlight Cup, QPR's junior team reached the final versus Arsenal.

Kit

Le Coq Sportif became QPR's new kit manufacturers. Telecommunications giant Ericsson continued as kit sponsors.

Final league table

Results Queens Park Rangers' score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentsVenueResultF–AScorersAttendancePosition 9 August 1997Ipswich TownH0–0 17,61415 15 August 1997Tranmere RoversA1–2Peacock7,46716 23 August 1997Stockport CountyH2–1Sinclair (2)11,10810 30 August 1997Nottingham ForestA0–4 18,80412 2 September 1997ReadingA2–1Spencer Swales (own goal)10,203116 September 1997PortsmouthHpp 13 September 1997West Bromwich AlbionH2–0Sheron, Peacock14,39910 20 September 1997Crewe AlexandraA3–2Spencer, Maddix, Sinclair5,3489 24 September 1997PortsmouthH1–0Spencer12,6202 27 September 1997Port ValeA0–2 7,1973 4 October 1997Charlton AthleticH2–4Sheron (2)14,825711 October 1997Norwich CityHpp 18 October 1997Sheffield UnitedA2–2Murray, Morrow18,0068 21 October 1997BuryA1–1Spencer4,6029 26 October 1997Manchester CityH2–0Ready13', Peacock 33 '(pen)14,4518 1 November 1997Birmingham CityH1–1Barker12,7158 5 November 1997Swindon TownA1–3Peacock 14'10,13212 8 November 1997MiddlesbroughA0–3 30,06713 15 November 1997Stoke CityH1–1Barker (pen)11,92313 22 November 1997Huddersfield TownH2–1Quashie (2)16,06610 29 November 1997Wolverhampton WanderersA2–3Sheron, Peacock23,64512 3 December 1997Norwich CityH1–1Peacock10,14111 6 December 1997SunderlandH0–1 15,26612 12 December 1997Oxford UnitedA1–3Peacock6,66413 21 December 1997Bradford CityH1–0Peacock (pen)8,85312 26 December 1997PortsmouthA1–3Sheron12,31412 28 December 1997ReadingH1–1Spencer13,01512 10 January 1998Ipswich TownA0–0 12,67213 17 January 1998Tranmere RoversH0–0 12,0331324 January 1998Nottingham ForestHpp 28 January 1998Nottingham ForestH0–1 13,22014 31 January 1998Stockport CountyA0–2 7,95817 7 February 1998Crewe AlexandraH3–2Kennedy (2), Ready13,42915 14 February 1998West Bromwich AlbionA1–1Dowie19,14315 17 February 1998Charlton AthleticA1–1Peacock (pen)15,55515 21 February 1998Port ValeH0–1 14,19815 25 February 1998Sheffield UnitedH2–2Sheron, Ready9,56015 28 February 1998Norwich CityA0–0 12,73016 4 March 1998MiddlesbroughH5–0Vickers (own goal), Bruce, Gallen, Sheron (2)11,58015 7 March 1998Birmingham CityA0–1 18,29816 14 March 1998Swindon TownH1–2Quashie 8'13,48616 21 March 1998Stoke CityA1–2Barker (pen)11,05118 28 March 1998Huddersfield TownA1–1Jones13,68119 1 April 1998Wolverhampton WanderersH0–0 12,33717 10 April 1998SunderlandA2–2Sheron (2)40,01418 14 April 1998Oxford UnitedH1–1Gallen12,85919 19 April 1998Bradford CityA1–1Gallen14,87119 25 April 1998Manchester CityA2–2Sheron 8', Pollock 21' (own goal)32,04018 3 May 1998BuryH0–1 15,21021

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AAttendanceScorersR33 January 1998Middlesbrough (First Division)H2–213,379Spencer 6', Gallen 75'R3R13 January 1998Middlesbrough (First Division)A0–221,817

Coca-Cola Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AAttendanceScorersR1 First Leg12 August 1997Wolverhampton Wanderers (First Division)H0–28,355R1 Second Leg27 August 1997Wolverhampton Wanderers (First Division)A2–1 (lost 2–3 on agg)18,398Peacock 36', Murray 66'

Friendlies DateOpponentsVenueResultF–AScorersAttendance11-Jul-97St Albans City v Queens Park RangersA16-Jul-97Exeter City v Queens Park RangersA18-Jul-97Plymouth Argyle v Queens Park RangersA22-Jul-97Gillingham v Queens Park RangersA25-Jul-97Wycombe Wanderers v Queens Park RangersA29-Jul-97Bournemouth v Queens Park RangersA2-Aug-97Steve Potts TestimonialWest Ham United v Queens Park RangersA0-222-Mar-98Simon Barker testimonialQueens Park Rangers v JamaicaH

Squad PositionNationalityNameLeague AppearancesLeague GoalsCup AppearancesCoca-Cola Cup GoalsF.A.Cup GoalsTotal AppearancesTotal GoalsGKLee Harper36339GKTony Roberts10111DFDanny Maddix2312271DFKarl Ready3832413DFNeil Ruddock77DFRufus Brevett20427DFMatt Brazier8412DFAntti Heinola10DFMatthew Rose13218DFSteve Morrow3113341DFSteve Yates21232DFDavid Bardsley1212DFGeorge Kulcsar1112DFIan Baraclough88MFMark Kennedy8282MFPaul Murray31141362MFKeith Rowland77MFSimon Barker2032253MFMark Perry6210MFGavin Peacock389414310MFTrevor Sinclair2434303MFMark Graham1MFPaul Bruce1161MFVinnie Jones7171FWTony Scully77FWKevin Gallen1931314FWNigel Quashie3032353FWMichael Mahoney-Johnson1FWIain Dowie9111FWJohn Spencer22531266FWSteve Slade3126FWMike Sheron361124211

Transfers Out NamefromDateFeeDateClubFeeMark HateleyGlasgow Rangers3 November 1995£1,500,000July 1997Rangers£300,000Alan McDonaldQueens Park Rangers JuniorsAugust 1981July 1997Swindon TownFreeDanny DichioQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMay 1993July 1997SampdoriaFreeAndy ImpeyYeadingJune 1990£20,000 September 1997West Ham United£1,200,000Juergen SommerLuton Town29 August 1995£600,0001998Columbus Crew£200,000 Trevor SinclairBlackpool13 Aug 1993 £600,000January 1998West Ham UnitedIain Dowie, Keith Rowland and £2,300,000Rufus BrevettDoncaster Rovers14 Feb 1991 £150,000January 1998Fulham£375,000Lee CharlesChertsey Town4 August 1995£67,500February 1998Cambridge UnitedLoanMichael Mahoney-JohnsonQueens Park Rangers JuniorsApril 1995February 1998Brighton & Hove AlbionLoanTony WilliamsBlackburn5 Feb 1998 Loan Mar 98BlackburnLoan Matt BrazierQueens Park Rangers JuniorsJuly 1994March 1998Fulham£100,000 Jeff WoolseyArsenalJune1997 Free Mar 98BrightonFree Mark KennedyLiverpool27 Jan 1998 Loan Mar 98LiverpoolLoan John SpencerChelsea21 Nov 1996 £2,500,000March 1998Everton£1,500,000Neil RuddockLiverpool26 Mar 1998 Loan May 98LiverpoolLoan Paul HartQueens Park Rangers JuniorsMay1997 June 98BarnetFree David BardsleyOxford U14 Sep 1989 £475,000 June 98BlackpoolFree Simon BarkerBlackburn 20 July 1988 £400,000 June 98Port ValeFree Lee CharlesChertsey Town4 Aug 1995 £67,500 June 98HayesFree Frazer MurrayQueens Park Rangers JuniorsJune1997 June 98Free

Transfers In NamefromDateFeeMike SheronStoke CityJuly 1997£2,350,000George KulcsarBradford City16 Dec 1997 £250,000Leon JeanneQueens Park Rangers Juniors17 Nov 1997 Iain DowieWest Ham United28 Jan 1998 With Keith Rowland and £2,300,000 For Trevor SinclairKeith RowlandWest Ham United28 Jan 1998 With Iain Dowie and £2,300,000 For Trevor SinclairMark Kennedy Liverpool27 Jan 1998 LoanAntti HeinolaHeracles12 Jan 1998 £100,000Tony WilliamsBlackburn5 Feb 1998 Loan Tony ScullyManchester City16 Mar 1998 £155,000Ian BaracloughNotts County16 Mar 1998 £75,000Vinnie JonesWimbledon26 Mar 1998 £500,000 Neil RuddockLiverpool26 Mar 1998 Loan Terry McFlynnQueens Park Rangers Juniors11 May 1998 Michael CurrieQueens Park Rangers JuniorsJune1998

References