1997–98 Luton Town F.C. season explained

Club:Luton Town
Season:1997–98
Manager:Lennie Lawrence
Chairman:David Kohler
Stadium:Kenilworth Road
League:Second Division
League Result:17th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:First round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Second round
Cup3:Football League Trophy
Cup3 Result:Southern Semi-final
League Topscorer:
Tony Thorpe (14)
Season Topscorer:
Tony Thorpe (19)
Highest Attendance:9,041 (vs. Watford, Second Division, 4 October 1997)
Lowest Attendance:2,816 (vs. Colchester United, League Cup, 26 August 1997)
Average Attendance:5,879
Prevseason:1996–97
Nextseason: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.

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]

Results

Luton Town's score comes first[4]

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
09 August 1997 BlackpoolAway0–16,547
18 August 1997 Southend UnitedHome1–05,140Stuart Douglas
23 August 1997 FulhamAway0–08,142
30 August 1997 Oldham AthleticHome1–15,404Tony Thorpe
02 September 1997 MillwallHome0–25,781
09 September 1997 Northampton TownAway0–17,246
13 September 1997 AFC BournemouthAway1–14,561Dwight Marshall
20 September 1997 WrexhamHome2–55,241Steve Davis, Phil Gray
27 September 1997 Bristol CityAway0–38,509
04 October 1997 WatfordHome0–49,041
11 October 1997 Plymouth ArgyleHome3–04,931Tony Thorpe (2), Simon Davies
18 October 1997 Wigan AthleticAway1–14,466David Oldfield
21 October 1997 Carlisle UnitedAway1–04,341Alan White
25 October 1997 BrentfordHome2–05,972Graham Alexander, Tony Thorpe
01 November 1997 Wycombe WanderersAway2–26,219David Oldfield, Tony Thorpe
04 November 1997 BurnleyHome2–35,315Graham Alexander (2)
08 November 1997 Preston North EndHome1–35,767Tony Thorpe
22 November 1997 WalsallHome0–14,726
29 November 1997 York CityAway2–13,636Graham Alexander, Tony Thorpe
02 December 1997 GillinghamHome2–24,408Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe
13 December 1997 ChesterfieldAway0–04,358
20 December 1997 Bristol RoversHome2–45,266Chris Allen, David Oldfield
26 December 1997 NorthamptonHome2–28,035David Oldfield, Tony Thorpe
28 December 1997 MillwallAway2–07,461Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe
03 January 1998 Southend UnitedAway2–15,056Graham Alexander (2)
10 January 1998 BlackpoolHome3–05,574Tony Thorpe (3)
17 January 1998 Oldham AthleticAway1–26,057Graham Alexander
24 January 1998 FulhamHome1–48,366Tony Thorpe
31 January 1998 AFC BournemouthHome1–25,466Marvin Johnson
07 February 1998 WrexhamAway1–23,527Steve Davis
14 February 1998 WatfordAway1–115,182Marvin Johnson
21 February 1998 Bristol CityHome0–06,405
24 February 1998 Wigan AthleticHome1–14,403David Oldfield
28 February 1998 Plymouth ArgyleAway2–04,846Andrew Fotiadis, Sean Evers
03 March 1998 Preston North EndAway0–16,992
07 March 1998 Wycombe WanderersHome0–06,114
14 March 1998 BurnleyAway1–19,656Mitchell Thomas
21 March 1998 Grimsby TownHome2–25,722Sean Evers, Steve Davis
28 March 1998 WalsallAway3–23,922David Oldfield, Rory Allen, Dwight Marshall
04 April 1998 York CityHome3–05,541Graham Alexander(pen), David Oldfield, Phil Gray
07 April 1998 Grimsby TownAway1–04,455Rory Allen
11 April 1998 GillinghamAway1–26,846Rory Allen
14 April 1998 ChesterfieldHome3–05,884Dwight Marshall, Rory Allen, David Oldfield
18 April 1998 Bristol RoversAway1–28,038David Oldfield
25 April 1998 BrentfordAway2–26,596Dwight Marshall, Rory Allen
02 May 1998 Carlisle UnitedHome3–26,729Sean Evers, (og), Rory Allen

FA Cup

See main article: 1997–98 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R115 November 1997 Torquay UnitedHome0–13,446

League Cup

See main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R1 1st leg12 August 1997 Colchester UnitedAway1–02,840Tony Thorpe
R1 2nd leg26 August 1997 Colchester UnitedHome1–12,816Tony Thorpe
R2 1st leg16 September 1997 West Bromwich AlbionHome1–13,437Stuart Douglas
R2 2nd leg23 September 1997 West Bromwich AlbionAway2–47,227Steve Davis, Tony Thorpe

Football League Trophy

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
SR206 January 1998 BrentfordHome2–13,106Tony Thorpe, David Oldfield
SQF27 January 1998 FulhamAway2–15,103Dwight Marshall, Tony Thorpe
SSF17 February 1998 AFC BournemouthAway0–15,367

Squad

[5]

Player statistics

Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
MF David Oldfield4591041305310
MF Paul McLaren41 (2)010402048 (2)0
DF Steve Davis395004020455
DF Graham Alexander398102020448
MF Gary Waddock34 (2)010400 (2)039 (4)0
DF Mitchell Thomas28 (2)100202032 (2)1
FW Tony Thorpe27 (1)14102 (1)21 (1)031 (3)16
GK Kelvin Davis320000010330
DF Alan White26 (2)110103031 (2)1
FW Dwight Marshall19 (10)400212023 (10)5
DF Darren Patterson2300 (1)0003026 (1)0
MF Sean Evers14 (8)300203019 (8)3
MF Simon Davies8 (11)10 (1)03 (1)03014 (13)1
DF Julian James23 (1)010100025 (1)0
FW Stuart Douglas5 (11)1003 (1)0008 (12)1
FW Phil Gray14 (3)200100 (1)015 (4)2
MF Chris Allen141000030171
GK Ian Feuer130101020170
FW Andrew Fotiadis5 (11)11000006 (11)1
DF Bryan Small160000000160
DF Marvin Johnson12 (1)200300015 (1)2
MF Matthew Spring6 (6)01000007 (6)0
DF Richard Harvey6 (1)0102 (1)01010 (2)0
DF Gary Doherty1 (8)00 (1)000001 (9)0
FW Rory Allen8600000086
DF Gavin McGowan6 (2)00000006 (2)0
FW Liam George10000 (2)00 (1)01 (3)0
GK Andy Dibble1000200030
DF Stuart Fraser1000000010
GK Nathan Abbey0000100010
MF Robert Kean0 (1)00000000 (1)0
MF Paul Showler0 (1)00000000 (1)0
DF Trevor Peake0 (1)00000000 (1)0
—own goal—1—0—0—0—1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Luton Town match report 27 September 1997 – HattersHeritage . 2024-02-04.
  2. Web site: Luton Town match report 25 April 1998 – HattersHeritage . 2024-02-04.
  3. Web site: Luton Town match report 02 May 1998 – HattersHeritage . 2024-02-04.
  4. Web site: Luton Town matches for the season 1997/98 – HattersHeritage . 2024-01-01.
  5. Web site: All Luton Town players: 1998.

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