1997–98 Reading F.C. season
# 1997–98 Reading F.C. season

The 1997–98 season was Reading's 127th year in existence and fourth consecutive season in the First Division, and covered the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. Reading finished the season in 24th position, resulting in relegation back to the Second Division. In the Football League Cup, Reading were knocked out by Middlesbrough at the Fifth Round stage, whilst in the FA Cup, Sheffield United knocked Reading out at the Fifth Round stage.

## Season events

Reading started the season under new manager Terry Bullivant, with Bullivant resigning on 18 March 1998. Alan Pardew was appointed caretaker-manager for seven days before Tommy Burns was appointed as the club's new manager on 26 March 2008.

## Squad

    As of match played 3 May 1998

| Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||
| Steve Mautone | GK | (1970-08-10)10 August 1970 (aged 27) | West Ham United | 1997 | | 34 | 0 |
| Jamie Ashdown | GK | (1980-11-30)30 November 1980 (aged 17) | Trainee | 1998 | | 0 | 0 |
| Sal Bibbo | GK | (1974-08-24)24 August 1974 (aged 23) | Sheffield United | 1996 | | 9 | 0 |
| Nick Hammond | GK | (1967-09-07)7 September 1967 (aged 30) | Plymouth Argyle | 1996 | | 31 | 0 |
| Nick Colgan | GK | (1973-09-19)19 September 1973 (aged 24) | loan from Chelsea | 1998 | 1998 | 5 | 0 |
| Scott Howie | GK | (1972-01-04)4 January 1972 (aged 26) | Motherwell | 1998 | | 7 | 0 |
| Defenders |||||||||
| Andy Bernal | DF | (1973-02-21)21 February 1973 (aged 25) | Sydney Olympic | 1994 | | 174 | 2 |
| Martyn Booty | DF | (1971-05-30)30 May 1971 (aged 26) | Crewe Alexandra | 1996 | | 70 | 2 |
| Keith McPherson | DF | (1963-09-11)11 September 1963 (aged 34) | Northampton Town | 1990 | | | |
| Linvoy Primus | DF | (1973-09-14)14 September 1973 (aged 24) | Barnet | 1997 | | 43 | 1 |
| Steve Swales | DF | (1973-12-26)26 December 1973 (aged 24) | Scarborough | 1995 | | 56 | 1 |
| Michael Thorp | DF | (1975-12-05)5 December 1975 (aged 22) | Trainee | 1995 | | 9 | 0 |
| Barry Hunter | DF | (1968-11-18)18 November 1968 (aged 29) | Wrexham | 1996 | | 29 | 2 |
| Dariusz Wdowczyk | DF | (1962-09-25)25 September 1962 (aged 35) | Celtic | 1994 | | 104 | 0 |
| Stuart Gray | DF | (1973-12-18)18 December 1973 (aged 24) | Celtic | 1998 | | 7 | 0 |
| Paddy Kelly | DF | (1978-04-26)26 April 1978 (aged 20) | loan from Newcastle United | 1998 | 1998 | 3 | 0 |
| Paul Bodin | DF | (1964-09-13)13 September 1964 (aged 33) | Swindon Town | 1996 | | 45 | 1 |
| Gareth Davies | DF | (1973-12-11)11 December 1973 (aged 24) | Crystal Palace | 1997 | | 22 | 0 |
| Andy Legg | DF | (1966-07-28)28 July 1966 (aged 31) | Birmingham City | 1998 | | 10 | 0 |
| Midfielders |||||||||
| Darren Caskey | MF | (1974-08-21)21 August 1974 (aged 23) | Tottenham Hotspur | 1996 | | 79 | 3 |
| Andy Freeman | MF | (1977-09-08)8 September 1977 (aged 20) | Trainee | 1995 | | 1 | 0 |
| Byron Glasgow | MF | (1979-02-18)18 February 1979 (aged 19) | Trainee | 1996 | | 8 | 0 |
| Lee Hodges | MF | (1973-09-04)4 September 1973 (aged 24) | Barnet | 1997 | | 35 | 6 |
| Jamie Lambert | MF | (1973-09-14)14 September 1973 (aged 24) | Trainee | 1992 | | 151 | 20 |
| Phil Parkinson | MF | (1967-12-01)1 December 1967 (aged 30) | Bury | 1992 | | 255 | 11 |
| Michael O'Neill | MF | (1969-07-05)5 July 1969 (aged 28) | loan from Coventry City | 1998 | | 9 | 1 |
| Jim Crawford | MF | (1973-05-01)1 May 1973 (aged 25) | Newcastle United | 1998 | | 6 | 0 |
| Ray Houghton | MF | (1962-01-09)9 January 1962 (aged 36) | Crystal Palace | 1997 | | 35 | 1 |
| Michael Meaker | MF | (1971-08-18)18 August 1971 (aged 25) | Queens Park Rangers | 1995 | | 73 | 3 |
| Forwards |||||||||
| Stuart Lovell | FW | (1972-01-09)9 January 1972 (aged 26) | Trainee | 1990 | | | |
| Carl Asaba | FW | (1973-01-28)28 January 1973 (aged 25) | Brentford | 1997 | | 42 | 12 |
| Paul Brayson | FW | (1977-09-16)16 September 1977 (aged 20) | Newcastle United | 1998 | | 6 | 1 |
| Trevor Morley | FW | (1961-03-20)20 March 1961 (aged 37) | West Ham United | 1995 | | 91 | 38 |
| Martin Williams | FW | (1973-07-12)12 July 1973 (aged 24) | Luton Town | 1995 | | 86 | 12 |
| Robert Fleck | FW | (1965-08-11)11 August 1965 (aged 32) | Norwich City | 1998 | | 5 | 0 |
| Jim McIntyre | FW | (1972-05-24)24 May 1972 (aged 25) | Kilmarnock | 1998 | | 6 | 0 |
| Jason Bowen | FW | (1972-08-24)24 August 1972 (aged 25) | Birmingham City | 1997 | | 20 | 1 |
| Out on loan |||||||||
| Neville Roach | FW | (1978-09-29)29 September 1978 (aged 19) | Trainee | 1996 | | 16 | 2 |
| Left during the season |||||||||
| Lee Sandford | DF | (1968-04-22)22 April 1968 (aged 30) | loan from Sheffield United | 1997 | 1997 | 5 | 0 |
| Paul Holsgrove | MF | (1969-08-26)26 August 1969 (aged 28) | Millwall | 1994 | | 86 | 7 |
| Ben Smith | MF | (1978-11-23)23 November 1978 (aged 19) | Arsenal | 1996 | | 1 | 0 |
| David Whyte | FW | (1971-04-20)20 April 1971 (aged 27) | Charlton Athletic | 1997 | | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Robins | FW | (1969-12-22)22 December 1969 (aged 28) | loan from Leicester City | 1997 | 1997 | 5 | 0 |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| — | FW | ENG | Neville Roach (at Kingstonian) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| — | DF | ENG | Lee Sandford (loan return to Sheffield United) |
| — | MF | ENG | Paul Holsgrove (to Crewe Alexandra) |
| — | MF | ENG | Ben Smith (to Yeovil Town) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | ENG | David Whyte (to Ipswich Town) |
| — | FW | ENG | Mark Robins (loan return to Leicester City) |

## Transfers

### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 July 1997 | MF | Ray Houghton | Crystal Palace | Free |
| 1 August 1997 | DF | Linvoy Primus | Barnet | £250,000 |
| 1 August 1997 | MF | Lee Hodges | Barnet | £250,000 |
| 7 August 1997 | FW | Carl Asaba | Brentford | £800,000 |
| 23 September 1997 | FW | David Whyte | Charlton Athletic | Free |
| 11 December 1997 | DF | Gareth Davies | Crystal Palace | £175,000 |
| 26 December 1997 | FW | Jason Bowen | Birmingham City | £200,000 |
| 20 February 1998 | DF | Andy Legg | Birmingham City | £75,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | GK | Scott Howie | Motherwell | £30,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | DF | Stuart Gray | Celtic | £100,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | MF | Jim Crawford | Newcastle United | £50,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | FW | Paul Brayson | Newcastle United | £100,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | FW | Robert Fleck | Norwich City | £50,000 |
| 26 March 1998 | FW | Jim McIntyre | Kilmarnock | £440,000 |

### Loan in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 29 August 1997 | FW | Mark Robins | Leicester City | 26 September 1997 |
| 5 September 1997 | DF | Lee Sandford | Sheffield United | 4 October 1997 |
| 26 February 1998 | GK | Nick Colgan | Chelsea | End of Season |
| 1 March 1998 | MF | Michael O'Neill | Coventry City | End of Season |
| 26 March 1998 | DF | Paddy Kelly | Newcastle United | End of Season |

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 August 1997 | FW | Lee Nogan | Grimsby Town | £100,000 |
| 31 October 1997 | FW | David Whyte | Ipswich Town | Undisclosed |
| 21 November 1997 | MF | Paul Holsgrove | Crewe Alexandra | Undisclosed |
| 1 March 1998 | MF | Ben Smith | Yeovil Town | Undisclosed |

### Loan out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| January 1998 | FW | | Neville Roach | Kingstonian | End of Season | |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined |
| - | - | - | - |
| 30 June 1998 | GK | Sal Bibbo | Havant & Waterlooville |
| 30 June 1998 | DF | Michael Thorp | |
| 30 June 1998 | DF | Steve Swales | Hull City |
| 30 June 1998 | DF | Dariusz Wdowczyk | Polonia Warsaw |
| 30 June 1998 | DF | Paul Bodin | Bath City |
| 30 June 1998 | MF | Andy Freeman | |
| 30 June 1998 | MF | Alan Pardew | Retired |
| 30 June 1998 | MF | Michael Meaker | Bristol Rovers |
| 30 June 1998 | FW | Stuart Lovell | Hibernian |
| 30 June 1998 | FW | Trevor Morley | Sogndal |

## Results

### First Division

**Table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 51 | 63 | −12 | 49 | |
| 21 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 51 | 63 | −12 | 49 | |
| 22 | Manchester City (R) | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 56 | 57 | −1 | 48 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 23 | Stoke City (R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 44 | 74 | −30 | 46 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 24 | Reading (R) | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 39 | 78 | −39 | 42 | Relegation to the Second Division |

## Squad statistics

    As of match played 3 May 1998

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | First Division | First Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| | GK | AUS | Steve Mautone | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Sal Bibbo | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Nick Hammond | 24 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | GK | IRL | Nick Colgan | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | SCO | Scott Howie | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | AUS | Andy Bernal | 45 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Martyn Booty | 35 | 1 | 24+1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4+1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Keith McPherson | 30 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| | DF | ENG | Linvoy Primus | 43 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Steve Swales | 42 | 1 | 26+5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Michael Thorp | 4 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | POL | Dariusz Wdowczyk | 8 | 0 | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Stuart Gray | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Paddy Kelly | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | WAL | Paul Bodin | 6 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | WAL | Gareth Davies | 22 | 0 | 17+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | WAL | Andy Legg | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Darren Caskey | 26 | 0 | 19+4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Lee Hodges | 35 | 6 | 20+4 | 6 | 4+1 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Byron Glasgow | 3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Jamie Lambert | 43 | 4 | 33+1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| | MF | ENG | Phil Parkinson | 47 | 1 | 36+1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| | MF | NIR | Michael O'Neill | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | IRL | Jim Crawford | 6 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | IRL | Ray Houghton | 35 | 1 | 20+5 | 1 | 2+2 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
| | MF | WAL | Michael Meaker | 26 | 2 | 16+5 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| | FW | AUS | Stuart Lovell | 18 | 1 | 8+7 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Carl Asaba | 42 | 12 | 31+1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| | FW | ENG | Paul Brayson | 6 | 1 | 2+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Trevor Morley | 30 | 9 | 17+6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| | FW | ENG | Martin Williams | 37 | 8 | 25+4 | 6 | 1+1 | 0 | 4+2 | 2 |
| | FW | SCO | Robert Fleck | 5 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Jim McIntyre | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | WAL | Jason Bowen | 20 | 1 | 11+3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: ||||||||||||
| | FW | ENG | Neville Roach | 13 | 1 | 0+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+4 | 1 |
| Players who appeared for Reading but left during the season: ||||||||||||
| | DF | ENG | Lee Sandford | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Paul Holsgrove | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Mark Robins | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | FW | | Carl Asaba | 8 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| 2 | FW | | Trevor Morley | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | FW | | Martin Williams | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | MF | | Lee Hodges | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | MF | | Jamie Lambert | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | | | Own goal | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | | Michael Meaker | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | | Jason Bowen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | | Paul Brayson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | | Ray Houghton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | | Stuart Lovell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | | Michael O'Neill | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | Linvoy Primus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | Steve Swales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | Martyn Booty | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | DF | | Keith McPherson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | | Phil Parkinson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | FW | | Neville Roach | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 39 | 5 | 12 | 56 |

### Clean sheets

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | | Nick Hammond | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | GK | | Steve Mautone | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | GK | | Scott Howie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |

### Disciplinary record

| Position | Nation | Name | First Division | First Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| DF | | Andy Bernal | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| DF | | Martyn Booty | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | | Keith McPherson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | | Linvoy Primus | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| DF | | Steve Swales | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| DF | | Dariusz Wdowczyk | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | | Paul Bodin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DF | | Gareth Davies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | | Andy Legg | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| MF | | Darren Caskey | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | | Lee Hodges | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | | Jamie Lambert | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| MF | | Phil Parkinson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| MF | | Michael O'Neill | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | | Ray Houghton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | | Michael Meaker | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | | Stuart Lovell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Carl Asaba | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| FW | | Trevor Morley | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | | Martin Williams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | | Robert Fleck | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | | Jim McIntyre | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | | Jason Bowen | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Players away on loan: |||||||||||
| Players who left Reading during the season: |||||||||||
| Total | Total | Total | 73 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 86 | 5 |
