| Club: | Sunderland |
| Season: | 1997–98 |
| Manager: | Peter Reid |
| Chairman: | Bob Murray |
| Stadium: | Stadium of Light |
| League: | First Division |
| League Result: | 3rd |
| Cup2: | FA Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Fourth round |
| Cup3: | League Cup |
| Cup3 Result: | Third round |
| League Topscorer: | Kevin Phillips (29) |
| Season Topscorer: | Kevin Phillips (35) |
| Average Attendance: | 33,492 |
| Prevseason: | 1996–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1998–99 |
During the 1997–98 English football season, Sunderland A.F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.
In the 1997–98 season, their first campaign at their new ground, Sunderland finished third in Division One.[1] After beating Sheffield United in the Football League play-offs semi-final, they reached the final at Wembley with a place in the Premier League at stake. Over 40,000 fans travelled from the North-East to see the game against Charlton Athletic. The match was drawn 4–4 after extra time had been played; Charlton, however, won the game on a penalty shootout, after Michael Gray had his penalty saved by Charlton goalkeeper Saša Ilić.[2]
See main article: 1997–98 Football League First Division.
Sunderland's score comes first[3]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 1997 | Sheffield United | A | 0–2 | 17,324 | ||
| 15 August 1997 | Manchester City | H | 3–1 | 38,827 | Quinn, Phillips, Clark | |
| 23 August 1997 | Port Vale | A | 1–3 | 8,290 | Phillips | |
| 30 August 1997 | Norwich City | H | 0–1 | 29,204 | ||
| 2 September 1997 | Oxford United | H | 3–1 | 27,643 | Phillips, Beauchamp (own goal), Melville | |
| 5 September 1997 | Bradford City | A | 4–0 | 16,484 | Gray, Clark, Phillips, Johnston | |
| 14 September 1997 | Birmingham City | A | 1–0 | 17,478 | Gray | |
| 20 September 1997 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–1 | 30,682 | Smith | |
| 28 September 1997 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–2 | 35,384 | Ball | |
| 4 October 1997 | Reading | A | 0–4 | 10,795 | ||
| 18 October 1997 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | 24,782 | Smith, Bridges, Clark | |
| 21 October 1997 | Swindon Town | H | 0–0 | 27,553 | ||
| 25 October 1997 | Stoke City | A | 2–1 | 14,587 | Clark (2) | |
| 1 November 1997 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 | 9,474 | Clark | |
| 4 November 1997 | Charlton Athletic | H | 0–0 | 25,455 | ||
| 8 November 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 | 33,160 | Phillips | |
| 15 November 1997 | Portsmouth | A | 4–1 | 10,702 | Quinn, Clark, Johnston, Summerbee | |
| 22 November 1997 | Bury | A | 1–1 | 7,790 | Phillips | |
| 29 November 1997 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 3–0 | 26,674 | Clark (2), Phillips | |
| 6 December 1997 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–0 | 15,266 | Quinn | |
| 13 December 1997 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–0 | 29,231 | Phillips, Johnston | |
| 20 December 1997 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 3–0 | 5,404 | Phillips, Summerbee, Quinn | |
| 26 December 1997 | Bradford City | H | 2–0 | 40,055 | Phillips, Johnston | |
| 28 December 1997 | Oxford United | A | 1–1 | 8,659 | Phillips | |
| 10 January 1998 | Sheffield United | H | 4–2 | 36,391 | Quinn, Rae, Phillips (2) | |
| 17 January 1998 | Manchester City | A | 1–0 | 31,715 | Phillips | |
| 28 January 1998 | Norwich City | A | 1–2 | 15,940 | Clark | |
| 31 January 1998 | Port Vale | H | 4–2 | 39,258 | Johnston, Phillips, Quinn, Carragher (own goal) | |
| 7 February 1998 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 27,502 | Ball | |
| 17 February 1998 | Reading | H | 4–1 | 40,579 | Quinn, Rae, Phillips (2) | |
| 21 February 1998 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–3 | 30,227 | Clark | |
| 24 February 1998 | Huddersfield Town | A | 3–2 | 14,615 | Johnston (3, 1 pen) | |
| 28 February 1998 | Ipswich Town | H | 2–2 | 35,114 | Williams, Phillips | |
| 4 March 1998 | Nottingham Forest | A | 3–0 | 29,009 | Rae, Johnston, Phillips | |
| 7 March 1998 | Stockport County | H | 4–1 | 34,870 | Quinn (3), Phillips | |
| 10 March 1998 | Birmingham City | H | 1–1 | 37,602 | Johnston | |
| 15 March 1998 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–1 | 15,355 | Phillips | |
| 21 March 1998 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | 38,134 | Phillips, Johnston | |
| 28 March 1998 | Bury | H | 2–1 | 37,425 | Clark, Phillips | |
| 3 April 1998 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–0 | 14,116 | Phillips, Summerbee | |
| 10 April 1998 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–2 | 40,014 | Quinn (2) | |
| 13 April 1998 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 3–3 | 20,181 | Quinn (2), Phillips | |
| 18 April 1998 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–1 | 40,441 | Ball, Clark | |
| 25 April 1998 | Stoke City | H | 3–0 | 41,214 | Williams, Phillips (2) | |
| 28 April 1998 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–2 | 20,902 | ||
| 3 May 1998 | Swindon Town | A | 2–1 | 14,868 | Phillips (2) |
| SF 1st Leg | 10 May 1998 | Sheffield United | A | 1–2 | 23,800 | Ball | |
| SF 2nd Leg | 13 May 1998 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 (won 3–2 on agg) | 40,092 | Marker (own goal), Phillips | |
| F | 25 May 1998 | Charlton Athletic | N | 4–4 (lost 6–7 on pens) | 77,739 | Quinn (2), Phillips, Summerbee |
See main article: 1997–98 FA Cup.
| R3 | 3 January 1998 | Rotherham United | A | 5–1 | 11,500 | Phillips (4, 1 pen), Quinn | |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–1 | 14,055 |
See main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup.
| R2 First Leg | 16 September 1997 | Bury | H | 2–1 | 18,775 | Williams, Bridges | |
| R2 Second Leg | 23 September 1997 | Bury | A | 2–1 (won 4–2 on agg) | 3,928 | Smith, Rae | |
| R3 | 15 October 1997 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–2 | 26,451 |
Squad at end of season[4]
|-! 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|-|}