1997–98 Luton Town F.C. season

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Luton Town
1997–98 season
Chairman David Kohler
Manager Lennie Lawrence
Stadium Kenilworth Road
Second Division 17th
FA Cup First round
League Cup Second round
Football League Trophy Southern Semi-final
Top goalscorerLeague:
Tony Thorpe (14)

All:
Tony Thorpe (19)
Highest home attendance9,041 (vs. Watford, Second Division, 4 October 1997)
Lowest home attendance2,816 (vs. Colchester United, League Cup, 26 August 1997)
Average home league attendance5,879
  1996–97
1998–99  

The 1997–98 season was the 112th season in the history of Luton Town F.C. It was Luton Town's 77th consecutive season in the Football League, and their 80th overall. It was their second season back in the Football League Third Division following relegation in the 1995–96 season.

Contents

This article covers the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998.

Season summary

During the 1997–98 English football season, Luton Town F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division. It was the second full season of Lennie Lawrences's spell as Luton Town manager. Hopes were high for promotion following Luton's 3rd place finish the previous season, however injuries to key players in September and October saw Luton Town fall into the relegation zone. [1] They subsequently spent the season battling at the wrong end of the division. Luton were in the relegation zone as late as April and only secured their safety following a 2–2 draw with Brentford in the second last game of the season. [2] Luton's survival was due in no small part to the arrival of Rory Allen on loan from Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Allen arrived at the end of March with Luton Town sitting 23rd in the table with only 8 games remaining. Allen scored 6 goals in that time which resulted in 5 wins and 1 draw for Luton Town [3]

Final league table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
15 Preston North End 461514175656059
16 York City 461417155258659
17 Luton Town 461415176064457
18 Millwall 4614131943541155
19 Walsall 461412204352954
Source: [4]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Luton Town's score comes first [5]

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
09 August 1997 Blackpool Away0–16,547
18 August 1997 Southend United Home1–05,140Stuart Douglas
23 August 1997 Fulham Away0–08,142
30 August 1997 Oldham Athletic Home1–15,404Tony Thorpe
02 September 1997 Millwall Home0–25,781
09 September 1997 Northampton Town Away0–17,246
13 September 1997 AFC Bournemouth Away1–14,561Dwight Marshall
20 September 1997 Wrexham Home2–55,241Steve Davis, Phil Gray
27 September 1997 Bristol City Away0–38,509
04 October 1997 Watford Home0–49,041
11 October 1997 Plymouth Argyle Home3–04,931Tony Thorpe (2), Simon Davies
18 October 1997 Wigan Athletic Away1–14,466David Oldfield
21 October 1997 Carlisle United Away1–04,341Alan White
25 October 1997 Brentford Home2–05,972Graham Alexander, Tony Thorpe
01 November 1997 Wycombe Wanderers Away2–26,219David Oldfield, Tony Thorpe
04 November 1997 Burnley Home2–35,315Graham Alexander (2)
08 November 1997 Preston North End Home1–35,767Tony Thorpe
22 November 1997 Walsall Home0–14,726
29 November 1997 York City Away2–13,636Graham Alexander, Tony Thorpe
02 December 1997 Gillingham Home2–24,408Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe
13 December 1997 Chesterfield Away0–04,358
20 December 1997 Bristol Rovers Home2–45,266Chris Allen, David Oldfield
26 December 1997 Northampton Home2–28,035David Oldfield, Tony Thorpe
28 December 1997 Millwall Away2–07,461Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe
03 January 1998 Southend United Away2–15,056Graham Alexander (2)
10 January 1998 Blackpool Home3–05,574Tony Thorpe (3)
17 January 1998 Oldham Athletic Away1–26,057Graham Alexander
24 January 1998 Fulham Home1–48,366Tony Thorpe
31 January 1998 AFC Bournemouth Home1–25,466Marvin Johnson
07 February 1998 Wrexham Away1–23,527Steve Davis
14 February 1998 Watford Away1–115,182Marvin Johnson
21 February 1998 Bristol City Home0–06,405
24 February 1998 Wigan Athletic Home1–14,403David Oldfield
28 February 1998 Plymouth Argyle Away2–04,846Andrew Fotiadis, Sean Evers
03 March 1998 Preston North End Away0–16,992
07 March 1998 Wycombe Wanderers Home0–06,114
14 March 1998 Burnley Away1–19,656Mitchell Thomas
21 March 1998 Grimsby Town Home2–25,722Sean Evers, Steve Davis
28 March 1998 Walsall Away3–23,922David Oldfield, Rory Allen, Dwight Marshall
04 April 1998 York City Home3–05,541Graham Alexander(pen), David Oldfield, Phil Gray
07 April 1998 Grimsby Town Away1–04,455Rory Allen
11 April 1998 Gillingham Away1–26,846Rory Allen
14 April 1998 Chesterfield Home3–05,884Dwight Marshall, Rory Allen, David Oldfield
18 April 1998 Bristol Rovers Away1–28,038David Oldfield
25 April 1998 Brentford Away2–26,596Dwight Marshall, Rory Allen
02 May 1998 Carlisle United Home3–26,729Sean Evers, (og), Rory Allen

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R115 November 1997 Torquay United Home0–13,446

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st leg12 August 1997 Colchester United Away1–02,840Tony Thorpe
R1 2nd leg26 August 1997 Colchester United Home1–12,816Tony Thorpe
R2 1st leg16 September 1997 West Bromwich Albion Home1–13,437Stuart Douglas
R2 2nd leg23 September 1997 West Bromwich Albion Away2–47,227Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe

Football League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SR206 January 1998 Brentford Home2–13,106Tony Thorpe, David Oldfield
SQF27 January 1998 Fulham Away2–15,103Dwight Marshall, Tony Thorpe
SSF17 February 1998 AFC Bournemouth Away0–15,367

Squad

[6] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Nathan Abbey
GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Kelvin Davis
GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ian Feuer
GK Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Andy Dibble
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Graham Alexander
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Steve Davis
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Richard Harvey
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Julian James
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Marvin Johnson
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Gavin McGowan
DF Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Darren Patterson
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Trevor Peake
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Mitchell Thomas
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Alan White
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Bryan Small
DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Gary Doherty
DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Stuart Fraser
No.Pos.NationPlayer
DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Chris Willmott
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Sean Evers
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul McLaren
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG David Oldfield
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Paul Showler
MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Gary Waddock
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Chris Allen
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Matthew Spring
MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Robert Kean
MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL Simon Davies
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Stuart Douglas
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Andrew Fotiadis
FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Liam George
FW Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Dwight Marshall
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Tony Thorpe
FW Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Phil Gray
FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Rory Allen

Player statistics

Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
MF Flag of England.svg David Oldfield 4591041305310
MF Flag of England.svg Paul McLaren 41 (2)010402048 (2)0
DF Flag of England.svg Steve Davis 395004020455
DF Flag of Scotland.svg Graham Alexander 398102020448
MF Flag of Ireland.svg Gary Waddock 34 (2)010400 (2)039 (4)0
DF Flag of England.svg Mitchell Thomas 28 (2)100202032 (2)1
FW Flag of England.svg Tony Thorpe 27 (1)14102 (1)21 (1)031 (3)16
GK Flag of England.svg Kelvin Davis 320000010330
DF Flag of England.svg Alan White 26 (2)110103031 (2)1
FW Flag of Jamaica.svg Dwight Marshall 19 (10)400212023 (10)5
DF Ulster Banner.svg Darren Patterson 2300 (1)0003026 (1)0
MF Flag of England.svg Sean Evers 14 (8)300203019 (8)3
MF Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Simon Davies 8 (11)10 (1)03 (1)03014 (13)1
DF Flag of England.svg Julian James 23 (1)010100025 (1)0
FW Flag of England.svg Stuart Douglas 5 (11)1003 (1)0008 (12)1
FW Ulster Banner.svg Phil Gray 14 (3)200100 (1)015 (4)2
MF Flag of England.svg Chris Allen 141000030171
GK Flag of the United States.svg Ian Feuer 130101020170
FW Flag of England.svg Andrew Fotiadis 5 (11)11000006 (11)1
DF Flag of England.svg Bryan Small 160000000160
DF Flag of England.svg Marvin Johnson 12 (1)200300015 (1)2
MF Flag of England.svg Matthew Spring 6 (6)01000007 (6)0
DF Flag of England.svg Richard Harvey 6 (1)0102 (1)01010 (2)0
DF Flag of Ireland.svg Gary Doherty 1 (8)00 (1)000001 (9)0
FW Flag of England.svg Rory Allen 8600000086
DF Flag of England.svg Gavin McGowan 6 (2)00000006 (2)0
FW Flag of Ireland.svg Liam George 10000 (2)00 (1)01 (3)0
GK Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Andy Dibble 1000200030
DF Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart Fraser 1000000010
GK Flag of England.svg Nathan Abbey 0000100010
MF Flag of England.svg Robert Kean 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MF Flag of England.svg Paul Showler 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
DF Flag of England.svg Trevor Peake 0 (1)00000000 (1)0
own goal 10001

References

  1. "Luton Town match report 27 September 1997 – HattersHeritage" (PDF). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  2. "Luton Town match report 25 April 1998 – HattersHeritage" (PDF). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  3. "Luton Town match report 02 May 1998 – HattersHeritage" (PDF). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  4. "England 1997–98". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  5. "Luton Town matches for the season 1997/98 – HattersHeritage" . Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  6. "All Luton Town players: 1998".