1998–99 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season

The 1998–99 season was Sheffield Wednesday F.C.'s 132nd season in existence. They competed in the twenty-team Premiership, the top tier of English football, finishing twelfth. It was the club's 100th season at their Hillsborough ground.

Sheffield Wednesday
1998–99 season
ChairmanDave Richards
ManagerDanny Wilson
Premiership12th
FA CupFifth round
Worthington CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Carbone (8)
All: Carbone (9)
Highest home attendance39,475 (vs. Manchester United, Premiership)
Lowest home attendance8,921 (vs. Cambridge United, League Cup)
Average home league attendance26,745 (league)

Season summary

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Danny Wilson's return to Hillsborough as manager[1] saw them begin the season among the favourites for relegation of many pundits. But they performed reasonably well throughout the season, being one of just three sides to beat treble winners Manchester United in addition to being one of just four sides to beat second-placed Arsenal, who would finish just one point behind Manchester United. Up to 27 February 1999 – their 3–1 home win over Middlesbrough – they were boasting somewhat inconsistent yet very stable, promising mid-table form: 10th in the table, winning ten, drawing five and losing 11 of their first 26 games with an impressive goal difference of +9 and were looking like good bets for a UEFA Cup slot. However, they couldn't quite keep up the momentum and would lose their next five games which ultimately ended such hopes. However, winning three of their final seven matches ensured that they would finish 12th at the end of a campaign during which they had never faced any serious threat of relegation; a significant improvement to the previous season. The only major concern at the club was a growing mountain of debts which would have been even more of a worry had the Owls suffered relegation. An expensively assembled squad including Paolo Di Canio, Benito Carbone and Wim Jonk failed to live up to the massive wage bill the club was paying and things eventually came to a head when Italian firebrand Di Canio was sent off in a match against Arsenal and infamously proceeded to push the referee Paul Alcock on his way off, which resulted in an extended ban of 11 matches[2] and him being fined £10,000.[3]

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
10 Leicester City 38 12 13 13 40 46 −6 49
11 Tottenham Hotspur 38 11 14 13 47 50 −3 47 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
12 Sheffield Wednesday 38 13 7 18 41 42 −1 46
13 Newcastle United 38 11 13 14 48 54 −6 46 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
14 Everton 38 11 10 17 42 47 −5 43
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners.
  2. ^ As Manchester United qualified for the Champions League, their UEFA Cup place as FA Cup winners defaulted to Newcastle United, the runners-up.
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 13 7 18 41 42  −1 46 7 5 7 20 15  +5 6 2 11 21 27  −6
Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAAHHAHA
ResultLWLLWLWLLDDLDWDWWLLLDWLWWWLLLLLWLDDLWW
Position19712179131015161616161515161413141515151314141210111112131413141414141312
Source: 11v11.com: 1998-99 Sheffield Wednesday results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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Sheffield Wednesday's score comes first[4]

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

FA Premier League

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
15 August 1998 West Ham United H 0–1 30,236
22 August 1998 Tottenham Hotspur A 3–0 32,129 Atherton, Di Canio, Hinchcliffe
29 August 1998 Aston Villa H 0–1 25,989
9 September 1998 Derby County A 0–1 26,209
12 September 1998 Blackburn Rovers H 3–0 20,846 Atherton, Hinchcliffe, Di Canio
19 September 1998 Wimbledon A 1–2 13,163 Di Canio
26 September 1998 Arsenal H 1–0 27,949 Briscoe
3 October 1998 Middlesbrough A 0–4 34,163
18 October 1998 Coventry City A 0–1 16,006
24 October 1998 Everton H 0–0 26,592
31 October 1998 Southampton H 0–0 30,078
8 November 1998 Leeds United A 1–2 30,012 Booth
14 November 1998 Newcastle United A 1–1 36,698 Rudi
21 November 1998 Manchester United H 3–1 39,475 Alexandersson (2), Jonk
28 November 1998 Chelsea A 1–1 34,451 Booth
7 December 1998 Nottingham Forest H 3–2 19,321 Alexandersson, Carbone (2)
12 December 1998 Charlton Athletic H 3–0 26,010 Booth, Carbone, Rudi
19 December 1998 Liverpool A 0–2 40,003
26 December 1998 Leicester City H 0–1 33,513
28 December 1998 Aston Villa A 1–2 39,217 Carbone
9 January 1999 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–0 28,204
16 January 1999 West Ham United A 4–0 25,642 Hinchcliffe, Rudi, Humphreys, Carbone (pen)
30 January 1999 Derby County H 0–1 24,440
6 February 1999 Leicester City A 2–0 20,113 Jonk, Carbone
20 February 1999 Blackburn Rovers A 4–1 24,643 Sonner, Rudi (2), Booth
27 February 1999 Middlesbrough H 3–1 24,534 Booth (2), Sonner
3 March 1999 Wimbledon H 1–2 24,116 Thome
9 March 1999 Arsenal A 0–3 37,792
13 March 1999 Leeds United H 0–2 28,142
20 March 1999 Southampton A 0–1 15,201
3 April 1999 Coventry City H 1–2 28,136 Rudi
5 April 1999 Everton A 2–1 35,270 Carbone (2)
17 April 1999 Manchester United A 0–3 55,270
21 April 1999 Newcastle United H 1–1 21,545 Scott
25 April 1999 Chelsea H 0–0 21,652
1 May 1999 Nottingham Forest A 0–2 20,480
8 May 1999 Liverpool H 1–0 27,383 Cresswell
16 May 1999 Charlton Athletic A 1–0 20,043 Sonner

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 3 January 1999 Norwich City H 4–1 18,737 Humphreys (2), Rudi, Stefanović
R4 23 January 1999 Stockport County H 2–0 20,984 Thome, Carbone
R5 13 February 1999 Chelsea H 0–1 29,410

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 1st Leg 16 September 1998 Cambridge United H 0–1 8,921
R2 2nd Leg 22 September 1998 Cambridge United A 1–1 (lost 1–2 on agg) 8,502 Campbell (own goal)

Players

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First-team squad

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Squad at end of season[5]

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   ENG Kevin Pressman
2 DF   ENG Peter Atherton (captain)
3 DF   NIR Ian Nolan[notes 1]
4 MF   NED Wim Jonk
5 DF   ENG Jon Newsome
6 DF   ENG Des Walker
7 FW   ENG Guy Whittingham
8 FW   ITA Benito Carbone
10 FW   ENG Andy Booth
12 MF   SCO Philip Scott
13 GK   ENG Matt Clarke
14 FW   ITA Francesco Sanetti
15 DF   ARG Juan Cobián
16 MF   ENG Ritchie Humphreys
17 MF   ENG Lee Briscoe
18 DF   YUG Dejan Stefanović
19 MF   ENG Scott Oakes
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF   ENG Andy Hinchcliffe
21 FW   ENG Richard Cresswell
22 DF   BRA Emerson Thome
23 FW   GHA Junior Agogo
25 MF   NOR Petter Rudi
26 MF   SWE Niclas Alexandersson
27 DF   ENG Earl Barrett
28 MF   IRL Alan Quinn
29 MF   ENG Krystof Kotylo
30 FW   ENG Andrew Douglas
31 MF   IRL Mark McKeever[notes 2]
32 MF   NIR Danny Sonner[notes 3]
33 GK   CZE Pavel Srníček
34 MF   NIR Owen Morrison
35 DF   ENG Steve Haslam
36 MF   ENG Alex Higgins

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
21 DF   MKD Goce Sedloski (to Dinamo Zagreb)
11 FW   ITA Paolo Di Canio (to West Ham United)
12 MF   ENG Graham Hyde (to Birmingham City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF   NIR Jim Magilton (to Ipswich Town)
MF   ENG Mark Platts (to Torquay United)

Reserve squad

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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   ENG Stuart Jones
DF   ENG Leigh Bromby
DF   IRL Derek Geary
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   ENG Kevin Nicholson
MF   ENG Peter Holmes

Statistics

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Appearances and goals

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No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK   ENG Kevin Pressman 18 0 14+1 0 1 0 2 0
33 GK   CZE Pavel Srníček 26 0 24 0 2 0 0 0
Defenders
2 DF   ENG Peter Atherton 43 2 38 2 3 0 2 0
5 DF   ENG Jon Newsome 7 0 2+3 0 0+1 0 1 0
6 DF   ENG Des Walker 42 0 37 0 3 0 2 0
15 DF   ARG Juan Cobián 10 0 7+2 0 0 0 1 0
18 DF   SCG Dejan Stefanović 13 1 8+3 0 2 1 0 0
20 DF   ENG Andy Hinchcliffe 36 3 32 3 2 0 2 0
22 DF   BRA Emerson Thome 43 2 38 1 3 1 2 0
27 DF   ENG Earl Barrett 6 0 0+5 0 0 0 0+1 0
35 DF   ENG Steve Haslam 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
4 MF   NED Wim Jonk 43 2 38 2 3 0 2 0
12 MF   SCO Phillip Scott 4 1 0+4 1 0 0 0 0
16 MF   ENG Richie Humphreys 21 3 10+9 1 2 2 0 0
17 MF   ENG Lee Briscoe 19 1 5+11 1 0+2 0 1 0
19 MF   ENG Scott Oakes 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
25 MF   NOR Petter Rudi 38 7 33+1 6 3 1 1 0
26 MF   SWE Niclas Alexandersson 36 3 31+1 3 3 0 0+1 0
28 MF   IRL Alan Quinn 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
31 MF   IRL Mark McKeever 3 0 1+2 0 0 0 0 0
32 MF   NIR Danny Sonner 29 3 24+2 3 2+1 0 0 0
34 MF   NIR Owen Morrison 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
7 FW   ENG Guy Whittingham 3 0 1+1 0 0 0 0+1 0
8 FW   ITA Benito Carbone 36 9 31 8 3 1 2 0
10 FW   ENG Andy Booth 38 6 34 6 1+1 0 2 0
14 FW   ITA Francesco Sanetti 5 0 0+3 0 0 0 0+2 0
21 FW   ENG Richard Cresswell 7 1 1+6 1 0 0 0 0
23 FW   GHA Junior Agogo 2 0 0+1 0 0+1 0 0 0
Players transferred out during the season
11 FW   ITA Paolo Di Canio 8 3 5+1 3 0 0 2 0
12 MF   ENG Graham Hyde 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
25 MF   NIR Jim Magilton 6 0 1+5 0 0 0 0 0

Last updated: 16 May 1999
Source: Competitions

Starting 11

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Considering starts in all competitions[6]

Transfers

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Date Pos. Name From Fee
6 August 1998 MF Wim Jonk PSV Eindhoven £2,500,000
11 August 1998 DF Juan Cobián Boca Juniors Undisclosed
14 October 1998 MF Danny Sonner Ipswich Town £75,000
11 November 1998 GK Pavel Srníček Consenza Free
25 March 1999 FW Richard Cresswell York City £950,000
25 March 1999 MF Philip Scott St Johnstone £75,000
Date Pos. Name To Fee
27 January 1999 FW Paolo Di Canio West Ham United £1,750,000
5 February 1999 MF Graham Hyde Birmingham City Free
22 March 1999 MF Jim Magilton Ipswich Town £682,500
25 March 1999 MF Mark Platts Torquay United Free
Transfers in:   £3,600,000
Transfers out:   £2,432,500
Total spending:   £1,167,500

References

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  1. ^ Edwards, John (7 July 1998). "WILSON: I'M NO TRAITOR; Storm as Danny switches to Owls". The Free Library. The Mirror. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Di Canio gets 11-match ban for push on ref". BBC Sport. 23 October 1998.
  3. ^ "Di Canio ban too short, say referees". BBC Sport. 24 October 1998.
  4. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 1998-1999 Results". statto.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday - 1998/99". footballsquads.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010.
  6. ^ "All Sheffield Wednesday players: 1999". www.11v11.com.
  • Dickinson, Jason (1999). One Hundred Years at Hillsborough. Sheffield: The Hallamshire Press/Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. pp. 246–247, 387. ISBN 978-1-874718-29-1.
  • Dickinson, Jason; Brodie, John (2005). The Wednesday Boys: A Definitive Who's Who of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club 1880–2005. Sheffield: Pickard Communication. pp. 347, 350. ISBN 978-0-9547264-9-2.
  • Drake, A. "1998–99 Players". The Owl Football Historian. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2008.

Notes

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  1. ^ Nolan was born in Liverpool, England, but also qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and made his international debut for Northern Ireland in 1996.
  2. ^ McKeever was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented them at U-19 and U-21 level.
  3. ^ Sonner was born in Wigan, England, but also qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally and represented them at B level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in September 1997.