1998–99 Wimbledon F.C. season

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Wimbledon
1998–99 season
ChairmanSam Hammam
ManagerJoe Kinnear
StadiumSelhurst Park
Premiership16th
FA CupFourth round
League CupSemi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Euell/Gayle (10)
All: Gayle (11)
Highest home attendance26,121 (vs. Manchester United, 3 April)
Lowest home attendance3,756 (vs. Portsmouth, 22 September)
Average home league attendance18,207

During the 1998–99 English football season, Wimbledon F.C. competed in the FA Premier League.

Season summary[]

Wimbledon started the season well, reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup for the second time in their history, and as March arrived Wimbledon were sixth in the table with 11 matches to go. The signing of striker John Hartson from top-five rivals West Ham United for a club record £7.5 million in January looked to be the crucial signing the South London club needed for European qualification, but after his arrival the club suffered a slump in form, winning only one more game all season and taking only 2 points from their last 11 games to fall to 16th in the final table, their lowest finish in 13 seasons of top flight football.

Manager Joe Kinnear resigned at the end of the season on health grounds after seven years in charge, having suffered heart problems before a match at Sheffield Wednesday in March. He was succeeded by former Norwegian national coach Egil Olsen, who had frequently spoke of his admiration of Wimbledon and had transformed Norway into a leading international side with long-ball tactics similar to those employed by Kinnear.[1]

Final league table[]

Main article: 1998–99 FA Premier League
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
14 Everton 38 11 10 17 42 47 −5 43
15 Coventry City 38 11 9 18 39 51 −12 42
16 Wimbledon 38 10 12 16 40 63 −23 42
17 Southampton 38 11 8 19 37 64 −27 41
18 Charlton Athletic (R) 38 8 12 18 41 56 −15 36 Relegation to Football League First Division
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 10 12 16 40 63  −23 42 7 7 5 22 21  +1 3 5 11 18 42  −24
Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHA
ResultWDDWLWDLLDDWLWLWWLWDWDDLDDWLLLDLLLDLLL
Position13446435111212710898888967789966881011111213131516
Source: Soccerbase: 1998-99 Wimbledon results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results[]

Wimbledon's score comes first[2]

Legend[]

Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League[]

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
15 August 1998 Tottenham Hotspur H 3–1 23,031 Earle, Ekoku (2)
22 August 1998 Derby County A 0–0 25,747
29 August 1998 Leeds United H 1–1 16,437 Hughes
9 September 1998 West Ham United A 4–3 25,311 Gayle (2), Euell, Ekoku
12 September 1998 Aston Villa A 0–2 32,959
19 September 1998 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–1 13,163 Euell (2)
27 September 1998 Leicester City A 1–1 17,725 Earle
3 October 1998 Everton H 1–2 16,054 Roberts
17 October 1998 Manchester United A 1–5 55,265 Euell
24 October 1998 Middlesbrough H 2–2 14,114 Gayle (2)
31 October 1998 Blackburn Rovers H 1–1 12,526 Earle
7 November 1998 Nottingham Forest A 1–0 21,362 Gayle
14 November 1998 Chelsea A 0–3 34,757
21 November 1998 Arsenal H 1–0 26,003 Ekoku
28 November 1998 Newcastle United A 1–3 36,623 Gayle
5 December 1998 Coventry City H 2–1 11,717 Euell (2)
13 December 1998 Liverpool H 1–0 26,080 Earle
19 December 1998 Southampton A 1–3 14,354 Gayle
26 December 1998 Charlton Athletic H 2–1 19,106 Euell, Hughes
29 December 1998 Leeds United A 2–2 39,816 Earle, Cort
9 January 1999 Derby County H 2–1 12,732 Euell, Roberts
16 January 1999 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–0 32,422
30 January 1999 West Ham United H 0–0 23,035
8 February 1999 Charlton Athletic A 0–2 20,002
21 February 1999 Aston Villa H 0–0 15,582
27 February 1999 Everton A 1–1 32,574 Ekoku
3 March 1999 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–1 24,116 Ekoku, Gayle
6 March 1999 Leicester City H 0–1 11,801
13 March 1999 Nottingham Forest H 1–3 12,149 Gayle
20 March 1999 Blackburn Rovers A 1–3 21,754 Euell
3 April 1999 Manchester United H 1–1 26,121 Euell
5 April 1999 Middlesbrough A 1–3 33,999 Cort
11 April 1999 Chelsea H 1–2 21,577 Gayle
19 April 1999 Arsenal A 1–5 37,982 Cort
24 April 1999 Newcastle United H 1–1 21,172 Hartson
1 May 1999 Coventry City A 1–2 21,200 Hartson
8 May 1999 Southampton H 0–2 24,068
16 May 1999 Liverpool A 0–3 41,902

FA Cup[]

Main article: 1998–99 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 2 January 1999 Manchester City H 1–0 11,226 Cort
R4 23 January 1999 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–1 22,229 Earle
R4R 2 February 1999 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–3 24,049

League Cup[]

Main article: 1998–99 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 1st Leg 15 September 1998 Portsmouth A 1–2 7,010 Ekoku
R2 2nd Leg 22 September 1998 Portsmouth H 4–1 (won 5–3 on agg) 3,756 Ardley, Ekoku (2), Leaburn
R3 28 October 1998 Birmingham City A 2–1 11,845 Ardley (2)
R4 10 November 1998 Bolton Wanderers A 2–1 7,868 Gayle, Kennedy
QF 1 December 1998 Chelsea H 2–1 19,286 Earle, Hughes (pen)
SF 1st Leg 27 January 1999 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–0 35,997
SF 2nd Leg 16 February 1999 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–1 (lost 0–1 on agg) 25,204

Players[]

First-team squad[]

Squad at end of season[3]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Scotland SCO Neil Sullivan[notes 1]
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Kenny Cunningham
3 DF England ENG Alan Kimble
4 DF England ENG Chris Perry
5 DF England ENG Dean Blackwell
6 DF England ENG Ben Thatcher[notes 2]
7 MF Wales WAL Ceri Hughes
8 MF Jamaica JAM Robbie Earle[notes 3]
9 FW Nigeria NGA Efan Ekoku[notes 4]
10 MF England ENG Andy Roberts
11 FW Jamaica JAM Marcus Gayle[notes 5]
12 MF England ENG Neal Ardley
13 GK England ENG Paul Heald
14 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Jon Goodman[notes 6]
15 FW England ENG Carl Leaburn
16 MF Northern Ireland NIR Michael Hughes
17 DF Scotland SCO Brian McAllister
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Kennedy
19 MF England ENG Stewart Castledine
20 FW England ENG Jason Euell[notes 7]
21 DF Scotland SCO Duncan Jupp[notes 8]
22 FW England ENG Andy Clarke
23 FW England ENG Carl Cort[notes 9]
24 MF England ENG Peter Fear
25 DF England ENG Andy Pearce
26 MF England ENG Gareth Ainsworth
27 MF England ENG Damien Francis[notes 10]
28 FW England ENG Richard O'Connor[notes 11]
29 FW Wales WAL John Hartson
30 DF England ENG Peter Hawkins
31 DF England ENG
33 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Brendan Murphy
35 FW England ENG Patrick Agyemang[notes 12]

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
32 GK Norway NOR Morten Bakke (on loan from Molde)
No. Pos. Nation Player
34 GK England ENG Brian Parkin (to Brighton & Hove Albion)

Reserve squad[]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Shane Gore
— GK England ENG Bryn Halliwell
— DF England ENG Rob Gier[notes 13]
— DF England ENG Samuel Okikiolu
— MF England ENG Mikele Leigertwood[notes 14]
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Ansah Owusu
— FW England ENG Wayne Gray
— FW England ENG Leigh Hinds
— FW Republic of Ireland IRL Stephen O'Flynn

Transfers[]

In[]

Date Pos. Name From Fee
29 October 1998 MF Gareth Ainsworth Port Vale £2,000,000
14 January 1999 FW John Hartson West Ham United £7,500,000

Out[]

Date Pos. Name To Fee
15 June 1998 DF Alan Reeves Swindon Town Free transfer
1 August 1998 MF Ståle Solbakken Aalborg BK Undisclosed
Transfers in: Decrease £9,500,000
Transfers out: Increase £0
Total spending: Decrease £9,500,000

Appearances and goals[]

Source:
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with names struck through and marked Left club during playing season left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Burnley.
Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Players contracted for the 1998–99 season
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK  SCO Neil Sullivan 38 0 3 0 5 0 46 0
2 DF  IRL Kenny Cunningham 35 0 2 0 6 (1) 0 43 (1) 0
3 DF  ENG Alan Kimble 22 (4) 0 2 0 1 (2) 0 25 (6) 0
4 DF  ENG Chris Perry 34 0 2 0 7 0 43 0
5 DF  ENG Dean Blackwell 27 (1) 0 2 0 4 0 33 (1) 0
6 DF  ENG Ben Thatcher 31 0 2 0 7 0 40 0
7 MF  WAL Ceri Hughes 8 (6) 0 0 (3) 0 0 (1) 0 8 (10) 0
8 MF  JAM Robbie Earle 35 5 3 1 5 1 43 7
9 FW  NGA Efan Ekoku 11 (11) 6 0 0 4 (1) 3 15 (12) 9
10 MF  ENG Andy Roberts 23 (5) 2 2 (1) 0 3 (1) 0 28 (7) 2
11 FW  JAM Marcus Gayle 31 (4) 10 1 0 4 1 36 (4) 11
12 MF  ENG Neal Ardley 16 (7) 0 3 0 5 3 24 (7) 3
13 GK  ENG Paul Heald 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
14 FW  IRL Jon Goodman 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
15 FW  ENG Carl Leaburn 14 (8) 0 3 0 3 (4) 1 20 (12) 1
16 MF  NIR Michael Hughes 28 (2) 2 2 0 4 1 34 (2) 1
17 DF  SCO Brian McAllister 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
18 MF  IRL Mark Kennedy 7 (10) 0 2 0 4 (1) 1 13 (11) 1
19 MF  ENG Stewart Castledine 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
20 FW  ENG Jason Euell 31 (2) 10 3 0 5 (2) 0 39 (4) 10
21 DF  SCO Duncan Jupp 3 (3) 0 1 0 2 0 6 (3) 0
22 FW  ENG Andy Clarke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW  ENG Carl Cort 6 (10) 3 0 (3) 1 2 (1) 0 8 (14) 4
24 MF  ENG Peter Fear 0 (2) 0 0 0 1 0 1 (2) 0
25 DF  ENG Andy Pearce 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 MF  ENG Gareth Ainsworth 5 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 5 (3) 0
27 MF  ENG Damien Francis 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
28 FW  ENG Richard O'Connor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 FW  WAL John Hartson 12 (2) 2 0 0 0 0 12 (2) 2
30 DF  ENG Peter Hawkins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 DF  ENG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 GK  NOR Morten Bakke * Left club during playing season 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 GK  IRL Brendan Murphy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 GK  ENG Brian Parkin Left club during playing season 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
35 FW  ENG Patrick Agyemang 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References[]

  1. ^ Brodkin, Jon (3 June 1999). "Wimbledon set for Scandinavian invasion". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  2. ^ http://www.statto.com/football/teams/wimbledon/1998-1999
  3. ^ "FootballSquads - Wimbledon - 1998/99". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2020.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Sullivan was born in Sutton, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and made his international debut for Scotland in 1997.
  2. ^ Thatcher was born in Swindon, England and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally through his grandmother and made his international debut for Wales in March 2004.
  3. ^ Earle was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, and was called up for England without playing, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1997.
  4. ^ Ekoku was born in Cheetham, England, but also qualified to represent Nigeria internationally and made his international debut for Nigeria in 1994.
  5. ^ Gayle was born in Hammersmith, London, and represented them at U-18 level, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally through his father and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1998.
  6. ^ Goodman was born in Waltham Forest, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1997.
  7. ^ Euell was born in Lambeth, England, and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Jamaica in November 2004.
  8. ^ Jupp was born in Haslemere, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at U-21 level.
  9. ^ Cort was born in Southwark, England, but also qualified to represent Guyana internationally and would make his international debut for Guyana in 2011.
  10. ^ Francis was born in Wandsworth, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and would make his international debut for Jamaica in 2003.
  11. ^ O'Connor was born in Wandsworth, England, but also qualified to represent Anguilla internationally and would make his international debut for Anguilla in 2000.
  12. ^ Agyemang was born in Waltham Forest, England, but also qualified to represent Ghana internationally and would make his international debut for Ghana in May 2003.
  13. ^ Gier was born in Ascot, England, but also qualified to represent the Philippines internationally through his mother and would make his international debut for the Philippines in April 2009.
  14. ^ Leigertwood was born in Enfield, England, but also qualified to represent Antigua and Barbuda internationally and would make his international debut for Antigua and Barbuda in November 2008.
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