1997–98 Cardiff City F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was Cardiff City F.C.'s 71st season in the Football League. They competed in the 24-team Division Three, then the fourth tier of English football, finishing twenty-first.

Cardiff City

1997–98 season
Owner	Samesh Kumar
Manager	Kenny Hibbitt/Frank Burrows
Football League Third Division	21st
FA Cup	4th round
League Cup	1st round
FAW Premier Cup	Runners-up
Auto Windscreens Shield	1st round
Top goalscorer	League: Andy Saville (11) All: Andy Saville (14)
Highest home attendance	6,623 (v Exeter City, 26 December 1997)
Lowest home attendance	2,340 (v Scunthorpe, 11 November 1997)
Average home league attendance	3,574
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

The season also saw the launch of the FAW Premier Cup with Cardiff reaching the final before losing 2–1 to Wrexham.

Players

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. Nation Player -- GK  ENG Tony Elliott -- GK  ENG Jon Hallworth -- GK  AUS Peter Zois -- DF  ENG Chris Beech -- DF  ENG Jeff Eckhardt -- DF  ENG Mark Harris -- DF  WAL Lee Jarman -- DF  WAL Kevin Lloyd -- DF  SCO Scott Paterson -- DF  WAL Lee Phillips -- DF  ENG Jimmy Rollo -- DF  WAL Scott Young -- MF  WAL Nathan Cadette -- MF  ENG Tony Carss -- MF  ENG Jason Fowler

No. Pos. Nation Player -- MF  ENG Danny Hill -- MF  ENG Craig Middleton -- MF  EIR Wayne O'Sullivan -- MF  ENG Dave Penney -- MF  WAL Christian Roberts -- MF  ENG Gareth Stoker -- FW  EIR Glen Crowe -- FW  WAL Carl Dale -- FW  WAL Robert Earnshaw -- FW  ENG Chris Greenacre -- FW  ENG Marvin Harriott -- FW  ENG Kevin Nugent -- FW  ENG Scott Partridge -- FW  ENG Andy Saville -- FW  ENG Steve White

First team squad. ^[1]

League table

Main article: 1997–98 Football League § Third Division

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
19	Darlington	46	14	12	20	56	72	−16	54
20	Swansea City	46	13	11	22	49	62	−13	50
21	Cardiff City	46	9	23	14	48	52	−4	50
22	Hull City	46	11	8	27	56	83	−27	41
23	Brighton & Hove Albion	46	6	17	23	38	66	−28	35

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	W	W	D	D	D	W	L	L	D	D	D	D	D	L	D	D	D	W	W	D	D	L	D	L	W	L	L	D	D	L	D	W	D	D	D	L	D	W	W	D	L	L	L	L	L	D
Position	~	7	11	9	10	8	10	12	13	14	17	17	16	17	18	19	18	15	14	14	15	16	16	18	15	17	17	17	17	19	20	16	17	16	18	19	19	19	17	17	19	20	21	21	21	21

Source: ^[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Fixtures and results

Third Division

Leyton Orient v Cardiff City

9 August 1997 (1997-08-09) 1	Leyton Orient	0–1	Cardiff City	London
			64' Carl Dale	Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 5,541

Mansfield Town v Cardiff City

23 August 1997 (1997-08-23) 2	Mansfield Town	1–2	Cardiff City	Mansfield
	John Doolan 88' (pen.)		7' Scott Partridge 69' Chris Greenacre	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 2,743

Cardiff City v Notts County

30 August 1997 (1997-08-30) 3	Cardiff City	1–1	Notts County	Cardiff
15:00	Scott Young 36'		10' Steve Finnan	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 6,191

Cardiff City v Shrewsbury Town

2 September 1997 (1997-09-02) 4	Cardiff City	2–2	Shrewsbury Town	Cardiff
19:30	Scott Partridge 56' Wayne O'Sullivan 79'		39' Austin Berkley 52' Lee Steele	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,271

Exeter City v Cardiff City

9 September 1997 (1997-09-09) 5	Exeter City	1–1	Cardiff City	Exeter
	Steve Flack 90'		73' Jason Fowler	Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 4,843

Cardiff City v Rochdale

13 September 1997 (1997-09-13) 6	Cardiff City	2–1	Rochdale	Cardiff
15:00	Steve White 40' Jeff Eckhardt 87'		10' (pen.) Mark Carter	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,306 Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)

Cardiff City v Chester City

16 September 1997 (1997-09-16) 7	Cardiff City	0–2	Chester City	Cardiff
19:30			11' Julian Alsford 32' (pen.) Ross Davidson	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,949

Lincoln City v Cardiff City

20 September 1997 (1997-09-20) 8	Lincoln City	1–0	Cardiff City	Lincoln
	Lee Thorpe 5'			Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 3,130

Cambridge United v Cardiff City

27 September 1997 (1997-09-27) 9	Cambridge United	2–2	Cardiff City	Cambridge
	Jamie Barnwell-Edinboro 50', 79'		31' Chris Greenacre 90' Jeff Eckhardt	Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 2,728

Cardiff City v Barnet

4 October 1997 (1997-10-04) 10	Cardiff City	1–1	Barnet	Cardiff
15:00	Jeff Eckhardt 22'		49' Ken Charlery	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,938

Rotherham United v Cardiff City

18 October 1997 (1997-10-18) 11	Rotherham United	1–1	Cardiff City	Rotherham
	Steve Thompson 3' (pen.)		21' (pen.) Dave Penney	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 3,197

Darlington v Cardiff City

21 October 1997 (1997-10-21) 12	Darlington	0–0	Cardiff City	Darlington
				Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 2,278

Cardiff City v Hartlepool United

25 October 1997 (1997-10-25) 13	Cardiff City	1–1	Hartlepool United	Cardiff
15:00	Glen Crowe 73'		21' Paul Baker	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,383

Cardiff City v Swansea City

2 November 1997 (1997-11-02) 14	Cardiff City	0–1	Swansea City	Cardiff
12:05			11' Keith Walker	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 6,459

Doncaster Rovers v Cardiff City

4 November 1997 (1997-11-04) 15	Doncaster Rovers	1–1	Cardiff City	Doncaster
	Prince Moncrieffe 54'		59' Andy Saville	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 1,004

Cardiff City v Torquay United

8 November 1997 (1997-11-08) 16	Cardiff City	1–1	Torquay United	Cardiff
15:00	Gareth Stoker 70'		51' Andy McFarlane	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,797

Cardiff City v Scunthorpe United

11 November 1997 (1997-11-11) 17	Cardiff City	0–0	Scunthorpe United	Cardiff
19:30				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,340

Cardiff City v Hull City

18 November 1997 (1997-11-18) 18	Cardiff City	2–1	Hull City	Cardiff
19:30	Andy Saville 2' Dave Penney 19'		64' Duane Darby	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,504

Brighton & Hove Albion v Cardiff City

22 November 1997 (1997-11-22) 19	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–1	Cardiff City	Gillingham
15:00			20' (o.g.) Derek Allan	Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 2,086

Cardiff City v Scarborough

29 November 1997 (1997-11-29) 20	Cardiff City	1–1	Scarborough	Cardiff
15:00	Carl Dale 69'		41' Michael McElhatton	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,593

Cardiff City v Peterborough United

13 December 1997 (1997-12-13) 21	Cardiff City	0–0	Peterborough United	Cardiff
15:00				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,401

Macclesfield Town v Cardiff City

20 December 1997 (1997-12-20) 22	Macclesfield Town	1–0	Cardiff City	Macclesfield
	Steve Wood 85'			Stadium: Moss Rose Attendance: 2,398

Cardiff City v Exeter City

26 December 1997 (1997-12-26) 23	Cardiff City	1–1	Exeter City	Cardiff
15:00	Carl Dale 10'		82' Neil Illman	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 6,623

Shrewsbury Town v Cardiff City

28 December 1997 (1997-12-28) 24	Shrewsbury Town	3–2	Cardiff City	Shrewsbury
	Mickey Brown 37' Devon White 53' Roger Preece 86'		69' Jason Fowler 78' Scott Young	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 3,238

Cardiff City v Leyton Orient

10 January 1998 (1998-01-10) 25	Cardiff City	1–0	Leyton Orient	Cardiff
15:00	Dave Penney 19' (pen.)			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 4,335

Notts County v Cardiff City

17 January 1998 (1998-01-17) 26	Notts County	3–1	Cardiff City	Nottingham
	Phil Robinson 19' Gary Jones 76', 79'		31' Mark Harris	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 6,448

Colchester United v Cardiff City

20 January 1998 (1998-01-20) 27	Colchester United	2–1	Cardiff City	Colchester
	Neil Gregory 69' Paul Buckle 79'		85' Carl Dale	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,929 Referee: Mick Bailey (Impington)

Chester City v Cardiff City

27 January 1998 (1998-01-27) 28	Chester City	0–0	Cardiff City	Chester
				Stadium: Deva Stadium Attendance: 1,757

Rochdale v Cardiff City

31 January 1998 (1998-01-31) 29	Rochdale	0–0	Cardiff City	Rochdale
				Stadium: Spotland Attendance: 1,445 Referee: Bill Burns (Scarborough)

Cardiff City v Lincoln City

7 February 1998 (1998-02-07) 30	Cardiff City	0–1	Lincoln City	Cardiff
15:00			51' Colin Alcide	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,896

Barnet v Cardiff City

14 February 1998 (1998-02-14) 31	Barnet	2–2	Cardiff City	Chipping Barnet
	Paul Wilson 43' (pen.) Scott McGleish 68'		16' Jason Fowler 4' Andy Saville	Stadium: Underhill Stadium Attendance: 2,406

Cardiff City v Mansfield Town

17 February 1998 (1998-02-17) 32	Cardiff City	4–1	Mansfield Town	Cardiff
19:30	Andy Saville 42' (pen.) Jason Fowler 46' Tony Carss 53' Dave Penney 78'		74' Lee Williams	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,451

Cardiff City v Cambridge United

21 February 1998 (1998-02-21) 33	Cardiff City	0–0	Cambridge United	Cardiff
15:00				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,681

Cardiff City v Rotherham United

24 February 1998 (1998-02-24) 34	Cardiff City	2–2	Rotherham United	Cardiff
19:30	Andy Saville 17' Steve White 68'		11' (o.g.) Craig Middleton 61' Lee Glover	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,731

Scunthorpe United v Cardiff City

28 February 1998 (1998-02-28) 35	Scunthorpe United	3–3	Cardiff City	Scunthorpe
	John Eyre 14' (pen.) Jamie Forrester 32' Alex Calvo-Garcia 86'		29', 52', 88' Andy Saville	Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 2,136

Torquay United v Cardiff City

3 March 1998 (1998-03-03) 36	Torquay United	1–0	Cardiff City	Torquay
	Kevin Hill 45'			Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 3,358

Swansea City v Cardiff City

8 March 1998 (1998-03-08) 37	Swansea City	1–1	Cardiff City	Swansea
	Jonathan Coates 84'		58' Jason Fowler	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 5,621

Cardiff City v Doncaster Rovers

14 March 1998 (1998-03-14) 38	Cardiff City	7–1	Doncaster Rovers	Cardiff
15:00	Andy Saville 27', 84' Wayne O'Sullivan 45' Christian Roberts 55' Chris Beech 68' Dave Penney 76' Scott Young 78'		89' Adie Mike	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,931

Hull City v Cardiff City

21 March 1998 (1998-03-21) 39	Hull City	0–1	Cardiff City	Hull
			57' Christian Roberts	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 3,408

Cardiff City v Brighton & Hove Albion

28 March 1998 (1998-03-28) 40	Cardiff City	0–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Cardiff
15:00				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 3,509

Scarborough v Cardiff City

3 April 1998 (1998-04-03) 41	Scarborough	3–1	Cardiff City	Scarborough
	Ben Worrall 8', 15' Gary Bennett 44'		51' Andy Saville	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,905

Cardiff City v Colchester United

11 April 1998 (1998-04-11) 42	Cardiff City	0–2	Colchester United	Cardiff
15:00			48' Paul Abrahams 60' David Gregory	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,809

Peterborough United v Cardiff City

13 April 1998 (1998-04-13) 43	Peterborough United	2–0	Cardiff City	Peterborough
	Steve Castle 48' Niall Inman 67'			Stadium: London Road Attendance: 4,756

Cardiff City v Macclesfield Town

18 April 1998 (1998-04-18) 44	Cardiff City	1–2	Macclesfield Town	Cardiff
15:00	Christian Roberts 25'		58' Efetobore Sodje 79' Neil Sorvel	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,501

Hartlepool United v Cardiff City

27 April 1998 (1998-04-27) 45	Hartlepool United	2–0	Cardiff City	Hartlepool
	Craig Midgley 3' Denny Ingram 54' (pen.)			Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2,817

Cardiff City v Darlington

2 May 1998 (1998-05-02) 46	Cardiff City	0–0	Darlington	Cardiff
15:00				Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,610

Source ^{[2] [3]}

Coca-Cola Cup (League Cup)

Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup

Cardiff City v Southend United

12 August 1997 (1997-08-12) Round 1 (First leg)	Cardiff City	1–1	Southend United	Cardiff
19:30	Jimmy Rollo 88'		40' Paul Byrne	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,804

Southend United v Cardiff City

26 August 1997 (1997-08-26) Round 1 (Second leg)	Southend United	3–1 (4–2 agg.)	Cardiff City	Southend
	Paul Williams 16', 18' Mike Marsh 79'		61' Jason Fowler	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 3,002

FA Cup

Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup

Slough Town v Cardiff City

15 November 1997 (1997-11-15) Round 1	Slough Town	1–1	Cardiff City	Slough
	Danny Bolt 68'		16' Wayne O'Sullivan	Attendance: 2,262

Cardiff City v Slough Town

25 November 1997 (1997-11-25) Round 1 (Replay)	Cardiff City	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Slough Town	Cardiff
19:30	Carl Dale 22' Andy Saville 55' Steve White 114'		5' Lloyd Owusu 74' Terry Angus	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,343 Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury)

Cardiff City v Hendon

6 December 1997 (1997-12-06) Round 2	Cardiff City	3–1	Hendon	Cardiff
15:00	Carl Dale 20', 45' Andy Saville 41'		86' Bashir	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 2,578 Referee: P Hunt (Cheshunt, Herts)

Cardiff City v Oldham Athletic

3 January 1998 (1998-01-03) Round 3	Cardiff City	1–0	Oldham Athletic	Cardiff
15:00	Jason Fowler 18'			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 6,808

Cardiff City v Reading

24 January 1998 (1998-01-24) Round 4	Cardiff City	1–1	Reading	Cardiff
15:00	Kevin Nugent 47'		56' Carl Asaba	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 10,174

Reading v Cardiff City

3 February 1998 (1998-02-03) Round 4 (Replay)	Reading	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p)	Cardiff City	Reading
19:45	Trevor Morley 56'		40' Carl Dale	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 11,808 Referee: Stephen Lodge (Barnsley)

Auto Windscreens Shield

Main article: 1997–98 Football League Trophy

Cardiff City v Millwall

9 December 1997 (1997-12-09) Round 1	Cardiff City	0–2	Millwall	Cardiff
19:30			37' Paul Shaw 65' Kim Grant	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 1,219

FAW Premier Cup

Main article: 1997–98 FAW Premier Cup

Wrexham v Cardiff City

7 October 1997 (1997-10-07) Group B	Wrexham	0–1	Cardiff City	Wrexham
			(o.g.) Mark McGregor	Stadium: The Racecourse Attendance: 1,181

Cardiff City v Wrexham

27 October 1997 (1997-10-27) Group B	Cardiff City	1–1	Wrexham	Cardiff
19:30	Scott Partridge		Peter Ward	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 1,383

Merthyr Tydfil v Cardiff City

16 December 1997 (1997-12-16) Group B	Merthyr Tydfil	0–0	Cardiff City	Merthyr Tydfil
				Stadium: Penydarren Park Attendance: 542

Newtown v Cardiff City

23 December 1997 (1997-12-23) Group B	Newtown	1–1	Cardiff City	Newtown, Powys
19:15	Jonathan Williams		Gareth Stoker	Attendance: 415

Cardiff City v Newtown

14 January 1998 (1998-01-14) Group B	Cardiff City	3–2	Newtown	Cardiff
	Steve White Steve White Kevin Nugent (pen.)		Scott Ruscoe Kevin Morrison	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 951

Cardiff City v Merthyr Tydfil

10 February 1998 (1998-02-10) Group B	Cardiff City	1–0	Merthyr Tydfil	Cardiff
19:15	Gary Wager (o.g.)			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 1,055

Cardiff City v Conwy United

17 March 1998 (1998-03-17) Quarter Final	Cardiff City	4–0	Conwy United	Cardiff
19:15	Jeff Eckhardt Christian Roberts Jason Fowler Jason Fowler			Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 1,328

Merthyr Tydfil v Cardiff City

7 April 1998 (1998-04-07) Semi Final (First leg)	Merthyr Tydfil	0–4	Cardiff City	Merthyr Tydfil
			Craig Middleton Tony Carss Andy Saville Carl Dale	Stadium: Penydarren Park Attendance: 1,302

Cardiff City v Merthyr Tydfil

21 April 1998 (1998-04-21) Semi Final (Second leg)	Cardiff City	3–1 (7–1 agg.)	Merthyr Tydfil	Cardiff
19:00	Christian Roberts Williams (o.g.) Robert Earnshaw		Ian Mitchell	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 825

Wrexham v Cardiff City

17 May 1998 (1998-05-17) Final	Wrexham	2–1	Cardiff City	Wrexham
	Mark Wilson Gareth Owen		Tony Carss	Stadium: The Racecourse Attendance: 3,700

See also

• List of Cardiff City F.C. seasons

References

1. "All Cardiff City football club players: 1998". 11v11. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
2. "Cardiff City 1997-98 results". Cardiff City Forum. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
3. "Cardiff City football club match record: 1998". 11v11. Retrieved 21 January 2022.

Bibliography

• Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
• Shepherd, Richard (2002). The Definitive Cardiff City F.C. Tony Brown. ISBN 1-899-46817-X.
• Crooks, John (1992). Cardiff City Football Club: Official History of the Bluebirds. Yore Publications. ISBN 0-9513321-8-X.
• Rollin, Glenda, ed. (1997). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1998-99. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7652-8.

• "Football Club History Database – Cardiff City".
• Welsh Football Data Archive