1997–98 Preston North End F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Preston North End F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary The summer saw the arrival of three young players from Manchester United, Jonathan Macken, Colin Murdock and Michael Appleton. Preston won three of their first five matches and comfortably beat Rotherham United in the League Cup, although they were on the wrong side of a 6-0 scoreline against Blackburn Rovers the following round.

After a difficult autumn, which saw Preston go on a run of four successive defeats and then later three defeats from four matches, Gary Peters resigned as manager in January. Assistant manager David Moyes took over as caretaker player-manager and didn't see a league win until the end of February. Preston finished their season by losing just two of their final 13 matches, and consequently David Moyes was offered the full time job as manager of Preston North End.

This was something of a transition season for Preston, other than the change in manager, Sean Gregan, Mark Rankine, Gary Parkinson and Tepi Moilanen became regular starters, while Simon Davey, Dean Barrick, David Reeves and David Moyes all played their last game for the club.

Final league table

Results Preston North End's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 09 August 1997 Gillingham A 0-0 6,562 16 August 1997 Millwall H 2-1 11,486 Macken, Ashcroft 23 August 1997 Chesterfield A 2-3 6,288 Rankine, Barrick 30 August 1997 Watford H 2-0 11,042 Nogan (2) 02 September 1997 Grimsby Town H 2-0 9,489 Reeves, Ashcroft 09 September 1997 Oldham Athletic A 0-1 8,732 13 September 1997 Walsall H 0-0 9,092 20 September 1997 Burnley A 1-1 13,809 Nogan 27 September 1997 Wycombe Wanderers A 0-0 4,838 04 October 1997 Brentford H 2-1 8,804 Ashcroft, Murdock 11 October 1997 AFC Bournemouth H 0-1 8,531 17 October 1997 Carlisle United A 2-0 6,541 Parkinson, Ashcroft 21 October 1997 Bristol City A 1-2 9,039 Dyche (og) 25 October 1997 Wrexham H 0-1 9,098 01 November 1997 Plymouth Argyle H 0-1 8,405 04 November 1997 York City A 0-1 3,370 08 November 1997 Luton Town A 3-1 5,767 Lormor, Eyres, Ashcroft 18 November 1997 Bristol Rovers H 1-2 7,798 Jackson 22 November 1997 Wigan Athletic A 4-1 5,649 Cartwright (2), Ashcroft, Kidd 29 November 1997 Fulham H 3-1 9,723 Ashcroft (3) 02 December 1997 Southend United A 2-3 2,307 Lormor (2) 13 December 1997 Northampton Town H 1-0 7,448 Macken 20 December 1997 Blackpool A 1-2 8,342 Holt 26 December 1997 Oldham Athletic H 1-1 13,441 Holt 28 December 1997 Grimsby Town A 1-3 6,725 Gregan 10 January 1998 Gillingham H 1-3 7,776 Gregan 17 January 1998 Watford A 1-3 10,182 Parkinson 24 January 1998 Chesterfield H 0-0 8,233 31 January 1998 Walsall A 1-1 5,377 Nogan 07 February 1998 Burnley H 2-3 12,263 Nogan, Jackson 14 February 1998 Brentford A 0-0 4,952 21 February 1998 Wycombe Wanderers H 1-1 7,665 Macken 24 February 1998 Carlisle United H 0-3 8,985 28 February 1998 AFC Bournemouth A 2-0 5,009 Davey, Appleton 03 March 1998 Luton Town H 1-0 6,992 Kidd 07 March 1998 Plymouth Argyle A 0-2 4,201 14 March 1998 York City H 3-2 7,664 Eyres, Appleton, Parkinson 21 March 1998 Bristol Rovers A 2-2 5,278 Davey, Ashcroft 25 March 1998 Millwall A 1-0 5,888 Ashcroft 28 March 1998 Wigan Athletic H 1-1 10,171 Ashcroft 04 April 1998 Fulham A 1-2 8,814 Macken 11 April 1998 Southend United H 1-0 8,096 Parkinson 13 April 1998 Northampton Town A 2-2 5,664 Ashcroft, Macken 18 April 1998 Blackpool H 3-3 13,500 Eyres, Parkinson, Macken 25 April 1998 Wrexham A 0-0 7,302 02 May 1998 Bristol City H 2-1 12,067 Ashcroft, Eyres

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR115 November 1997 Doncaster RoversH3–27,953Gregan (2), EyresR206 December 1997 Notts CountyH2–27,583Parkinson, AshcroftR2 Replay12 December 1997 Notts CountyA2–1 (a.e.t)3,052Moyes, EyresR33 January 1998 Stockport CountyH1–212,180Ashcroft

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg12 August 1997 Rotherham United A 3-1 2,901 Macken, ReevesR1 2nd Leg26 August 1997 Rotherham United H 2-0 9,441 Reeves, MackenR2 1st Leg17 September 1997 Blackburn Rovers A 0-6 22,564 R2 2nd Leg30 September 1997 Blackburn Rovers H 1-0 11,472 Barrick

Football League Trophy

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers R1N 09 December 1997 Darlington H 3-2 2,703 Appleton, Eyres (2) R2N 13 January 1998 Macclesfield Town A 1-0 1,618 Cartwright RQFN 27 January 1998 Mansfield Town H 1-0 3,609 Nogan RSFN 17 February 1998 Burnley A 0-1 10,079

Statistics Appearances and goals

|colspan=14|Player(s) who featured whilst on loan but returned to parent club during the season:

|colspan=14|Player(s) who left during the season:

|colspan=14|Out on loan:

Awards and Nominations

Club Awards Award Player Notes Player of the Year Teuvo Moilanen

References