| Club: | Crystal Palace |
| Season: | 1997–98 |
| Manager: | Steve Coppell (until 13 March) Attilio Lombardo (from 13 March to 29 April) Ray Lewington (from 29 April) |
| Chairman: | Ron Noades |
| Stadium: | Selhurst Park |
| League: | Premiership |
| League Result: | 20th (relegated) |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fifth round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Second round |
| League Topscorer: | Shipperley (7) |
| Season Topscorer: | Dyer (8) |
| Highest Attendance: | 26,186 (vs. Chelsea, 13 September) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 14,410 (vs. Wimbledon, 9 February) |
| Average Attendance: | 21,983 |
| Pattern La1: | _red_blue_stripes |
| Pattern B1: | _redblue_stripes |
| Pattern Ra1: | _red_blue_stripes |
| Pattern Sh1: | _red_stripes_adidas |
| Pattern So1: | _color_3_stripes_red |
| Leftarm1: | ff0000 |
| Body1: | ff0000 |
| Rightarm1: | ff0000 |
| Prevseason: | 1996–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1998–99 |
During the 1997–98 English football season, Crystal Palace competed in the FA Premier League.
Experienced Italian midfielder Attilio Lombardo was one of the most famous names to wear a Palace shirt when he arrived at Selhurst Park early in the season, and his influential form looked to have secured Palace's top flight status as they stood 10th as late as November. Within the first 14 games of the season, they were enjoying reasonable mid-table form, losing and winning five each and drawing four games; all of their wins at the time were away from home. Their 1–0 win at Tottenham Hotspur cumulated their good form though and from then on, they would struggle. Lombardo's fellow countryman Michele Padovano was also signed, but proved to be a complete flop, as did Swedish forward Tomas Brolin, and Palace were soon deep in relegation trouble.
With a takeover by computer tycoon Mark Goldberg on the horizon, Steve Coppell relinquished his managerial duties to become Director of Football.[1] Lombardo and Brolin became joint player-managers on a short-term contract,[2] but were unable to stave off relegation, which was confirmed on 27 April after a 3–0 defeat to Manchester United and they were soon on their way out of the club and Ray Lewington was appointed for the final three league games of the season. It was a season to forget for the club which saw them win just two home league games all season and it took them a staggering eight months to record their first home league win: against Derby County in April.
When the Goldberg takeover was completed, Terry Venables returned to the manager's seat after an eventful 18 years away, with the new chairman boasting that Palace would be a European force by 2003.[3]
Palace retained the previous season's home kit, manufactured by German company Adidas and sponsored by TDK.
See main article: 1997–98 FA Premier League.
Crystal Palace's score comes first[4]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1997 | Everton | A | 2–1 | 35,716 | Lombardo, Dyer (pen) | |
| 12 August 1997 | Barnsley | H | 0–1 | 21,547 | ||
| 23 August 1997 | Leeds United | A | 2–0 | 29,076 | Warhurst, Lombardo | |
| 27 August 1997 | Southampton | A | 0–1 | 15,032 | ||
| 30 August 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–2 | 20,849 | Dyer | |
| 13 September 1997 | Chelsea | H | 0–3 | 26,186 | ||
| 20 September 1997 | Wimbledon | A | 1–0 | 16,747 | Lombardo | |
| 24 September 1997 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 15,900 | Fullarton | |
| 27 September 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 17,134 | Warhurst, Gordon | |
| 4 October 1997 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | 55,143 | ||
| 18 October 1997 | Arsenal | H | 0–0 | 26,180 | ||
| 25 October 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–1 | 22,072 | Hreidarsson, Rodger, Shipperley | |
| 8 November 1997 | Aston Villa | H | 1–1 | 21,097 | Shipperley | |
| 24 November 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–0 | 25,634 | Shipperley | |
| 29 November 1997 | Newcastle United | H | 1–2 | 26,085 | Shipperley | |
| 3 December 1997 | West Ham United | A | 1–4 | 23,335 | Shipperley | |
| 6 December 1997 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 19,191 | Padovano | |
| 13 December 1997 | Liverpool | H | 0–3 | 25,790 | ||
| 20 December 1997 | Derby County | A | 0–0 | 26,590 | ||
| 26 December 1997 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | 22,853 | Shipperley | |
| 28 December 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–2 | 23,872 | Dyer, Warhurst | |
| 10 January 1998 | Everton | H | 1–3 | 23,311 | Dyer (pen) | |
| 17 January 1998 | Barnsley | A | 0–1 | 17,819 | ||
| 31 January 1998 | Leeds United | H | 0–2 | 25,248 | ||
| 9 February 1998 | Wimbledon | H | 0–3 | 14,410 | ||
| 21 February 1998 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 38,094 | ||
| 28 February 1998 | Coventry City | H | 0–3 | 21,810 | ||
| 11 March 1998 | Chelsea | A | 2–6 | 31,917 | Hreidarsson, Bent | |
| 14 March 1998 | Aston Villa | A | 1–3 | 33,781 | Jansen | |
| 18 March 1998 | Newcastle United | A | 2–1 | 36,565 | Lombardo, Jansen | |
| 28 March 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–3 | 26,116 | Shipperley | |
| 11 April 1998 | Leicester City | H | 0–3 | 18,771 | ||
| 13 April 1998 | Liverpool | A | 1–2 | 43,007 | Bent | |
| 18 April 1998 | Derby County | H | 3–1 | 18,101 | Jansen, Ćurčić, Bent | |
| 27 April 1998 | Manchester United | H | 0–3 | 26,180 | ||
| 2 May 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–5 | 24,449 | Gordon, Bent | |
| 5 May 1998 | West Ham United | H | 3–3 | 19,129 | Bent, Rodger, Lombardo | |
| 10 May 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–0 | 16,876 | Morrison |
See main article: 1997–98 FA Cup.
| R3 | 3 January 1998 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–0 | 11,624 | Emblen (2) | |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Leicester City | H | 3–0 | 15,489 | Dyer (3) | |
| R5 | 15 February 1998 | Arsenal | A | 0–0 | 37,164 | ||
| R5R | 25 February 1998 | Arsenal | H | 1–2 | 15,674 | Dyer |
See main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup.
| R2 1st Leg | 16 September 1997 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 9,323 | ||
| R2 2nd Leg | 30 September 1997 | Hull City | H | 2–1 (lost on away goals) | 6,407 | Veart, Ndah |
Squad at end of season[5]
| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 June 1997 | GK | Kevin Miller | Watford | £1,550,000 | |
| 1 August 1997 | MF | Attilio Lombardo | Juventus | £1,600,000 | |
| 1 August 1997 | GK | Gareth Ormshaw | Ramblers | Free transfer | |
| 1 August 1997 | DF | Paul Warhurst | Blackburn Rovers | Signed | |
| 1 August 1997 | DF | Hermann Hreiðarsson | ÍBV | Unknown | |
| 1 August 1997 | MF | Jamie Fullarton | SC Bastia | Free transfer | |
| 12 August 1997 | MF | Neil Emblen | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £2,000,000 | |
| 19 August 1997 | MF | Itzik Zohar | Beitar Jerusalem | £1,200,000 | |
| 21 October 1997 | DF | Jamie Smith | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £1,000,000 | |
| 12 November 1997 | FW | Michele Padovano | Juventus | £1,700,000 | |
| 8 January 1998 | FW | Marcus Bent | Brentford | £300,000 | |
| 15 January 1998 | DF | Valérien Ismaël | Strasbourg | £2,750,000 | |
| 10 February 1998 | FW | Matt Jansen | Carlisle United | £1,000,000 | |
| 26 March 1998 | MF | Saša Ćurčić | Aston Villa | £1,000,000 |
| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 July 1997 | MF | Ray Houghton | Reading | Free transfer | |
| 21 July 1997 | MF | David Hopkin | Leeds United | £3,250,000 | |
| 1 August 1997 | DF | Andy Cyrus | Exeter City | Free transfer | |
| 1 August 1997 | GK | Chris Day | Watford | Swap | |
| 10 August 1997 | MF | Tony Scully | Manchester City | £200,000 | |
| 26 September 1997 | FW | Jason Harris | Leyton Orient | £25,000 | |
| 2 October 1997 | DF | Dean Wordsworth | Bromley | Free transfer | |
| 21 October 1997 | DF | Kevin Muscat | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £200,000 | |
| 21 October 1997 | FW | Dougie Freedman | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £800,000 | |
| 30 October 1997 | MF | Ivano Bonetti | Genoa | Free transfer | |
| 21 November 1997 | FW | George Ndah | Swindon Town | £500,000 | |
| 11 December 1997 | FW | Carl Veart | Millwall | £100,000 | |
| 9 March 1998 | MF | Andy Roberts | Wimbledon | £2,000,000 | |
| 26 March 1998 | MF | Neil Emblen | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Signed |
Transfers in: £14,100,000
Transfers out: £7,075,000
Total spending: £7,025,000
|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards|-! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season