| Club: | Walsall |
| Season: | 1997–98 |
| Manager: | Jan Sørensen |
| Chairman: | Jeff Bonser |
| Stadium: | Bescot Stadium |
| League: | Second Division |
| League Result: | 19th |
| Cup2: | FA Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Fourth round |
| Cup3: | League Cup |
| Cup3 Result: | Fourth round |
| Cup4: | Auto Windscreens Shield |
| Cup4 Result: | Southern Area final |
| League Topscorer: | Boli (12) |
| Season Topscorer: | Boli (24) |
| Average Attendance: | 4,062 |
| Pattern La1: | _redsquares |
| Pattern B1: | _blacksquares |
| Pattern Ra1: | _redsquares |
| Pattern Sh1: | _redsides |
| Pattern So1: | _hoops_black |
| Leftarm1: | 000000 |
| Body1: | ff0000 |
| Rightarm1: | 000000 |
| Shorts1: | 000000 |
| Socks1: | ff0000 |
| Prevseason: | 1996–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1998–99 |
The 1997–98 season was the 99th completed season in the history of Walsall Football Club, the clubs 78th season in the Football League and third consecutive season in the Football League Second Division. In addition to the league, Walsall also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.[1] [2]
The Saddlers finished in the top half of the Second Division in the previous two seasons under Chris Nicholl's management, however, he quit in May 1997 citing family reasons. After Nicholl's departure, Walsall turned to former Denmark international Jan Sørensen who became Walsall's first, and to date only, ever manager from continental Europe.[2]
Sørensen attracted some exciting foreign talent to Walsall, bringing in former Ligue 1 top goalscorer Roger Boli and his compatriot Jean-François Péron, who quickly became fans' favourites.[2]
Whilst Walsall finished a lowly 19th in the Second Division, the club reached the fourth round of the League Cup, fourth round of the FA Cup and the Southern Area Final of the Football League Trophy, being just ten minutes away from a first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium.[2] [3]
However, despite the club's cup exploits, a poor finish in the league signalled the end of Sørensen's time at Walsall after just one season.[2]
See main article: 1997–98 Football League.
Walsall's score comes first[4]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1997 | Chesterfield | A | 1–3 | 5,193 | Platt | |
| 16 August 1997 | Fulham | H | 1–1 | 4,418 | Mountfield | |
| 23 August 1997 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 5,083 | Boli | |
| 30 August 1997 | Southend United | H | 3–1 | 3,304 | Boli (3) | |
| 2 September 1997 | Northampton Town | H | 0–2 | 5,550 | ||
| 9 September 1997 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 6,225 | ||
| 13 September 1997 | Preston North End | A | 0–0 | 9,092 | ||
| 20 September 1997 | York City | H | 2–0 | 2,972 | Boli, Hodge | |
| 27 September 1997 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–2 | 6,207 | Boli | |
| 4 October 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 3–1 | 3,957 | Boli (2), Watson | |
| 11 October 1997 | Wrexham | H | 3–0 | 4,042 | Boli, Hodge (pen), Watson | |
| 18 October 1997 | Brentford | A | 0–3 | 4,874 | ||
| 21 October 1997 | Wycombe Wanderers | A | 2–4 | 3,884 | Viveash, Watson | |
| 25 October 1997 | Bristol City | H | 0–0 | 4,618 | ||
| 1 November 1997 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 9,293 | Viveash | |
| 4 November 1997 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–0 | 2,599 | ||
| 8 November 1997 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 5,077 | ||
| 22 November 1997 | Luton Town | A | 1–0 | 4,726 | Hodge | |
| 29 November 1997 | Blackpool | H | 2–1 | 3,933 | Watson, Boli | |
| 3 December 1997 | Millwall | A | 1–0 | 4,647 | Keates | |
| 13 December 1997 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 3,548 | Boli, Hodge | |
| 19 December 1997 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–0 | 4,677 | ||
| 26 December 1997 | Bristol Rovers | H | 0–1 | 6,634 | ||
| 28 December 1997 | Northampton Town | A | 2–3 | 7,094 | Porter, Hodge | |
| 10 January 1998 | Chesterfield | H | 3–2 | 4,042 | Reeves (own goal), Watson (2) | |
| 17 January 1998 | Southend United | A | 1–0 | 3,310 | Watson | |
| 31 January 1998 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | 5,377 | Hodge (pen) | |
| 7 February 1998 | York City | A | 0–1 | 2,959 | ||
| 14 February 1998 | Carlisle United | A | 1–1 | 4,530 | Hodge | |
| 21 February 1998 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–1 | 4,612 | ||
| 24 February 1998 | Brentford | H | 0–0 | 3,166 | ||
| 28 February 1998 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 3,622 | Ricketts | |
| 3 March 1998 | Watford | A | 2–1 | 8,096 | Tholot, Blake | |
| 7 March 1998 | Burnley | H | 0–0 | 5,212 | ||
| 14 March 1998 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–3 | 4,916 | ||
| 21 March 1998 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–0 | 3,169 | Péron | |
| 28 March 1998 | Luton Town | H | 2–3 | 3,922 | Viveash, Tholot | |
| 31 March 1998 | Gillingham | H | 1–0 | 3,117 | Evans | |
| 4 April 1998 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 4,451 | ||
| 7 April 1998 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 6,733 | Boli | |
| 11 April 1998 | Millwall | H | 2–0 | 3,307 | Tholot, Hodge (pen) | |
| 14 April 1998 | Bournemouth | A | 0–1 | 3,404 | ||
| 18 April 1998 | Oldham Athletic | H | 0–0 | 3,562 | ||
| 21 April 1998 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–2 | 2,725 | ||
| 25 April 1998 | Bristol City | A | 1–2 | 15,059 | Tholot | |
| 2 May 1998 | Wycombe Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 4,412 |
See main article: 1997–98 FA Cup.
| R1 | 15 November 1997 | Lincoln United | H | 2–0 | 3,279 | Watson, Boli | |
| R2 | 6 December 1997 | Macclesfield Town | A | 7–0 | 3,566 | Boli (2, 1 pen), Hodge (2, 1 pen), Viveash, Porter (2) | |
| R3 | 13 January 1998 | Peterborough United | A | 2–0 | 12,809 | Watson (2) | |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Manchester United | A | 1–5 | 54,669 | Boli |
See main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup.
| R1 1st Leg | 12 August 1997 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 2,321 | Platt, Boli | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 26 August 1997 | Exeter City | A | 1–0 (won 3–0 on agg) | 2,467 | Boli | |
| R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1997 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–0 | 7,841 | Skinner | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 24 September 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–2 (won 3–2 on agg) | 6,037 | Watson (2) | |
| R3 | 14 October 1997 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | 8,239 | Watson, Tiler (own goal) | |
| R4 | 19 November 1997 | West Ham United | A | 1–4 | 17,463 | Watson |
See main article: 1997–98 Football League Trophy.
| SR1 | 9 December 1997 | Barnet | A | 2–1 | 754 | Blake, Boli | |
| SR2 | 6 January 1998 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 5–0 | 2,562 | Watson, Boli (2), Keates, Allan (own goal) | |
| SQF | 28 January 1998 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–0 | 4,165 | Boli | |
| SSF | 17 February 1998 | Peterborough United | A | 2–1 | 4,199 | Boli, Ricketts | |
| Southern F 1st Leg | 10 March 1998 | Bournemouth | H | 0–2 | 6,017 | ||
| Southern F 2nd Leg | 17 March 1998 | Bournemouth | A | 3–2 (lost 3–4 on agg) | 8,972 | Thomas, Boli, Tholot |