1998–99 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

The 1998–99 season was the 100th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played the season in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League First Division.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
1998–99 season
ChairmanSir Jack Hayward OBE
ManagerMark McGhee
(until 5 November)
Colin Lee
(from 28 November)
Football League First Division7th
FA Cup4th round
League Cup2nd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Robbie Keane (11)
All: Robbie Keane (16)
Highest home attendance27,589 (vs Bradford, 9 May 1999)
Lowest home attendance15,296 (vs Barnet, 18 August 1998)
Average home league attendance22,620 (league only)

The season began with Mark McGhee as manager but he left "by mutual agreement" on 5 November after a run of two victories from fourteen games; the team having begun with four consecutive league wins.[1] Upon McGhee's departure his assistant Colin Lee was placed in charge of the team and, after taking ten points from a possible twelve, he was handed the post for the remainder of the season.[2]

The team finished in seventh place, one position short of the play-offs. Results on the final day, including their own, failed to go in their favour and so they missed out on a chance of promotion to the Premier League. Nonetheless, following the final match, the Wolves board announced that Colin Lee was to be given a permanent contract as manager.[3]

Results

Pre-season
15 July 1998 Wüstenrot Salzburg2–0Wolverhampton WanderersSalzburg, Austria
Glieder  18'
Koejoe  66'		 Stadium: Stadion Lehen
18 July 1998 LASK Linz2–0Wolverhampton WanderersGrieskirchen, Austria
Weissenberger  43'
Riseth  56'		 Stadium: Trattnachtalstadion
Attendance: 2,000
22 July 1998 Carl Zeiss Jena0–1Wolverhampton WanderersSchleiz, Germany
19:00 CEST Bull  21' Stadium: Sportplatz am Fasanengarten
24 July 1998 Union Berlin1–2Wolverhampton WanderersBerlin, Germany
18:00 CEST Küntzel  3' Robinson  11'
Simpson  62'		 Stadium: Stadion An der Alten Försterei
Attendance: 2,200
27 July 1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Blackburn RoversWolverhampton
Naylor  53' Johnson  78' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 8,243
Referee: Mike Fletcher
29 July 1998 Northampton Town2–1Wolverhampton WanderersNorthampton
Corazzin  60', 71' Clarkson  70' (o.g.) Stadium: Sixfields
Attendance: 2,252
Referee: Paul Rejer
1 August 1998 Wolverhampton Wanderers2–3BarcelonaWolverhampton
Bull  30'
Osborn  41'		 Anderson  10', 62'
Rosas  40'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,010
Referee: Mike Reed

Football League First Division
See also: 1998–99 Football League

A total of 24 teams competed in the Football League First Division in the 1998–99 season. Each team played every other team twice: once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. Teams finishing level on points were firstly divided by the number of goals scored rather than goal difference.

The provisional fixture list was released on 15 June 1998, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns.[4]

8 August 1998 1Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0Tranmere RoversWolverhampton
15:00 BST Keane  19'
Curle  88' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,203
Referee: Paul Taylor
15 August 1998 2Oxford United0–2Wolverhampton WanderersOxford
15:00 BST Bull  45'
Osborn  80'		 Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 7,521
Referee: Matt Mathias
22 August 1998 3Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0Swindon TownWolverhampton
15:00 BST Curle  29' (pen.) Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,537
Referee: Graham Frankland
28 August 1998 4Watford0–2Wolverhampton WanderersWatford
19:45 BST Report Bull  44'
Keane  46'		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 12,016
Referee: Kevin Lynch
31 August 1998 5Wolverhampton Wanderers2–2Stockport CountyWolverhampton
15:00 BST Richards  6'
Gómez  37'		 Report Angell  44', 53' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,217
Referee: George Cain
8 September 1998 6Port Vale2–1Wolverhampton WanderersBurslem
19:45 BST Beadle  14'
Naylor  58'		 Report Keane  67' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 8,087
Referee: John Kirkby
12 September 1998 7Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1SunderlandWolverhampton
15:00 BST Keane  68' Report Phillips  90+3' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 26,816
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
19 September 1998 8Huddersfield Town2–1Wolverhampton WanderersHuddersfield
15:00 BST Dalton  19'
Thornley  90+4'		 Report Keane  90+2' Stadium: McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 13,854
Referee: Chris Foy
26 September 1998 9Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0BuryWolverhampton
15:00 BST Bull  66' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,155
Referee: Mike Jones
29 September 1998 10Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2Queens Park RangersWolverhampton
19:45 BST Foley  75' Report Sheron  2', 9' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,201
Referee: David Pugh
3 October 1998 11Crewe Alexandra0–0Wolverhampton WanderersCrewe
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 5,759
Referee: Andy D'Urso
17 October 1998 12Portsmouth1–0Wolverhampton WanderersPortsmouth
15:00 BST McLoughlin  66' (pen.) Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 13,681
Referee: Paul Danson
20 October 1998 13Crystal Palace3–2Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
19:45 BST Moore  40'
Burton  52'
Ćurčić  84'		 Report Sedgley  63', 86' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 16,417
Referee: Andy Butler
24 October 1998 14Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0Grimsby TownWolverhampton
15:00 BST Foley  21'
Curle  36' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,480
Referee: Eddie Lomas
31 October 1998 15Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1BarnsleyWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Muscat  5' (pen.) Report Ward  52' (pen.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,714
Referee: Scott Mathieson
3 November 1998 16Ipswich Town2–0Wolverhampton WanderersIpswich
19:45 GMT Scowcroft  17'
Stockwell  90'		 Report Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 14,680
Referee: Roger Furnandiz
7 November 1998 17Bristol City1–6Wolverhampton WanderersBristol
15:00 GMT Hutchings  12' Report Whittingham  19'
Connolly  22', 57', 67', 77'
Robinson  79'		 Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 15,432
Referee: Paul Taylor
10 November 1998 18Wolverhampton Wanderers2–1Sheffield UnitedWolverhampton
19:45 GMT Connolly  50'
Robinson  55'		 Report Stuart  44' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,804
Referee: Roy Pearson
14 November 1998 19Norwich City0–0Wolverhampton WanderersNorwich
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,275
Referee: Phil Richards
22 November 1998 20Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Birmingham CityWolverhampton
13:00 GMT Naylor  72'
Robinson  80', 89'		 Report Furlong  21' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,037
Referee: Terry Heilbron
29 November 1998 21West Bromwich Albion2–0Wolverhampton WanderersWest Bromwich
13:00 GMT Kilbane  46'
Murphy  61'		 Report Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 22,682
Referee: Graham Laws
5 December 1998 22Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Bolton WanderersWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Emblen  72' Report Taylor  58' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,537
Referee: Clive Wilkes
12 December 1998 23Wolverhampton Wanderers2–2Norwich CityWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane  84', 89' Report Adams  31' (pen.)
Roberts  60'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,014
Referee: John Kirkby
19 December 1998 24Bradford City2–1Wolverhampton WanderersBradford
15:00 GMT Blake  20'
Mills  50'		 Report Keane  67' Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 13,846
Referee: Steve Bennett
26 December 1998 25Swindon Town1–0Wolverhampton WanderersSwindon
15:00 GMT Onuora  89' Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 11,627
Referee: Fraser Stretton
28 December 1998 26Wolverhampton Wanderers1–0Ipswich TownWolverhampton
13:00 GMT Muscat  88' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,636
Referee: Mark Halsey
8 January 1999 27Tranmere Rovers1–2Wolverhampton WanderersBirkenhead
19:45 GMT Santos  20' Report Keane  1'
Gómez  12'		 Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 6,179
Referee: Kevin Lynch
16 January 1999 28Wolverhampton Wanderers0–0WatfordWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,408
Referee: Brian Coddington
30 January 1999 29Stockport County1–2Wolverhampton WanderersStockport
15:00 GMT Angell  56' Report Richards  54'
Robinson  74'		 Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 8,654
Referee: George Cain
6 February 1999 30Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1Oxford UnitedWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Keane  36' Report Windass  39' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,811
Referee: Andy Butler
13 February 1999 31Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Port ValeWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Simpson  2'
Keane  32'
Curle  89' (pen.)		 Report Bogie  4' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,488
Referee: Phil Richards
20 February 1999 32Sunderland2–1Wolverhampton WanderersSunderland
15:00 GMT Johnston  10'
Quinn  90+'		 Report Melville  23' (o.g.) Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 41,268
Referee: Phil Richards
27 February 1999 33Wolverhampton Wanderers2–2Huddersfield TownWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Robinson  10'
Gray  64' (o.g.)		 Report Gray  59'
Hamilton  90+'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,778
Referee: Scott Mathieson
6 March 1999 34Queens Park Rangers0–1Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
15:00 GMT Report Sedgley  84' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 13,150
Referee: Michael Pierce
13 March 1999 35Wolverhampton Wanderers3–0Bristol CityWolverhampton
15:00 GMT Flo  14', 84'
Sebők  53' (o.g.)		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 25,237
Referee: David Crick
16 March 1999 36Bury0–0Wolverhampton WanderersBury
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 5,204
Referee: Paul Robinson
20 March 1999 37Barnsley2–3Wolverhampton WanderersBarnsley
15:00 GMT Richards  31' (o.g.)
Jones  33'		 Report Emblen  41'
Connolly  78'
Richards  90'		 Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 16,587
Referee: Mike Dean
30 March 1999 38Wolverhampton Wanderers3–0Crewe AlexandraWolverhampton
19:45 BST Robinson  14'
Flo  25'
Muscat  78' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,197
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
3 April 1999 39Wolverhampton Wanderers2–0PortsmouthWolverhampton
15:00 BST Muscat  71'
Flo  76'		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,262
Referee: Clive Wilkes
5 April 1999 40Sheffield United1–1Wolverhampton WanderersSheffield
15:00 BST Marcelo  62' Report Osborn  86' Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 21,761
Referee: Rob Styles
10 April 1999 41Wolverhampton Wanderers0–0Crystal PalaceWolverhampton
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,643
Referee: Terry Heilbron
17 April 1999 42Birmingham City0–1Wolverhampton WanderersBirmingham
15:00 BST Report Corica  13' Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 28,143
Referee: Barry Knight
25 April 1999 43Wolverhampton Wanderers1–1West Bromwich AlbionWolverhampton
13:00 BST Robinson  37' Report Evans  18' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,038
Referee: Michael Pierce
30 April 1999 44Bolton Wanderers1–1Wolverhampton WanderersBolton
19:45 BST Gardner  36' Report Corica  52' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 20,208
Referee: Paul Taylor
4 May 1999 45Grimsby Town0–0Wolverhampton WanderersCleethorpes
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,009
Referee: Graham Frankland
9 May 1999 46Wolverhampton Wanderers2–3Bradford CityWolverhampton
13:30 BST Flo  12'
Simpson  81'		 Report Beagrie  25'
Mills  40'
Blake  64'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,589
Referee: Chris Foy

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
5 Watford 46 21 14 11 65 56 0+9 77
6 Bolton Wanderers 46 20 16 10 78 59 +19 76
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 19 16 11 64 43 +21 73
8 Sheffield United 46 18 13 15 71 66 0+5 67

Source: Statto.com

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 19 16 11 64 43  +21 73 11 10 2 37 19  +18 8 6 9 27 24  +3

Source: Statto.com

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
ResultWWWWDLDLWLDLLWDLWWDWLDDLLWWDWDWLDWWDWWWDDWDDDL
Position1141244747810141210118775810111212121011997879666665566777
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup
See also: 1998–99 FA Cup
2 January 1999 R3Bolton Wanderers1–2Wolverhampton WanderersBolton
15:00 GMT Sellars  57' Report Keane  8', 65' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 18,269
Referee: Andy D'Urso
24 January 1999 R4Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2ArsenalWolverhampton
15:30 GMT Flo  37' Report Overmars  10'
Bergkamp  69'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 27,511
Referee: Steve Dunn

League Cup
See also: 1998–99 Football League Cup
11 August 1998 R1.1Barnet2–1Wolverhampton WanderersLondon
19:45 BST McGleish  68'
Currie  90'		 Report Osborn  77' Stadium: Underhill
Attendance: 3,181
Referee: Fraser Stretton
18 August 1998 R1.2Wolverhampton Wanderers5–0
(6–2 agg.)		BarnetWolverhampton
19:45 BST Bull  14', 35', 79'
Keane  45', 74'		 Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 15,296
Referee: Steve Baines
15 September 1998 R2.1Bournemouth1–1Wolverhampton WanderersBournemouth
19:45 BST Stein  17' Ferguson  83' Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 7,096
Referee: Rob Styles
22 September 1998 R2.2Wolverhampton Wanderers1–2
(2–3 agg.)		BournemouthWolverhampton
19:45 BST Keane  57' Report Stein  21', 60' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 15,431
Referee: Anthony Leake

Players

Key:
  ‡ On loan from another club   * First appearance(s) for the club

Correct as of end of season. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.

PosNamePGPGPGPG Notes
League FA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
GK Justin Bray 0000000000
GK Matt Murray 0000000000
GK Jørgen Nielsen ‡ 0000000000
GK Mike Stowell 460204052000
DF Keith Curle (c) 444203049481
DF Ryan Green 1000001000
DF Kevin Muscat 17(6)4204023(6)4120
DF Lee Naylor 24(6)1004028(6)100
DF Dean Richards 40(1)3104045(1)350
DF Gordon Simms 0000000000
DF Adrian Williams 0000101000
MF Mark Atkins 150200(1)017(1)001
MF Steve Corica 18(5)2101(1)020(6)210
MF Neil Emblen 30(3)2202(1)034(4)230
MF Darren Ferguson ¤ 2(2)0000(2)12(4)110
MF Steve Froggatt † 80002(1)010(1)020
MF Michael Gilkes 25(4)0200(1)027(5)030
MF Fernando Gómez 18(1)2102021(1)200
MF Darren Middleton 0000000000
MF Robert Niestroj 2(2)010003(2)010
MF Simon Osborn 35(2)2104140(2)390
MF Carl Robinson 19(5)8201022(5)840
MF Steve Sedgley 41(3)30(1)03044(4)380
MF Paul Simpson ¤ 8(3)20(1)0109(4)200
MF Andy Turner 0000000000
FW Steve Bull 11(4)3002313(4)610
FW Steve Claridge † 0000000000
FW David Connolly ‡ 18(14)60(1)02020(15)610
FW Glen Crowe ¤† 0000000000
FW Håvard Flo 18(1)5110019(1)610
FW Dominic Foley ¤ 2(3)200002(3)200
FW Mark Jones 0(2)0000(2)00(4)010
FW Robbie Keane 30(3)11224336(3)1610
FW Colin Larkin 0000000000
FW Mixu Paatelainen † 0000000000
FW Adam Proudlock 0000000000
FW Guy Whittingham ‡ 9(1)100009(1)100

Transfers

In
Date Player From Fee
5 August 1998 Fernando GómezValenciaFree[5]
13 November 1998 Robert NiestrojFortuna Düsseldorf£500,000[6]
13 January 1999 Håvard FloWerder Bremen£700,000[7]
25 March 1999 Darren MiddletonAston VillaFree[8]
25 March 1999 Andy TurnerCrystal PalaceFree[9]

Out
Date Player To Fee
June 1998 Tony DaleyReleasedFree[10]
June 1998 Don GoodmanReleasedFree[11]
June 1998 Dariusz KubickiReleasedFree[10]
June 1998 Richard LeadbeaterReleasedFree[10]
June 1998 Hans SegersReleasedFree[12]
June 1998 Robbie SlaterReleasedFree[10]
June 1998 Chris WestwoodReleasedFree[10]
6 August 1998 Dougie FreedmanNottingham Forest£950,000[13]
6 August 1998 Jason RobertsBristol Rovers£250,000[14]
10 August 1998 Steve ClaridgePortsmouth£200,000[15]
11 September 1998 Mixu PaatelainenHibernian£75,000[16]
1 October 1998 Steve FroggattCoventry City£1.9 million[17]
27 January 1999 Glen CrowePlymouth ArgyleFree[18]

Loans in
Start date Player From End date
20 August 1998 David ConnollyFeyenoordEnd of season[19]
2 November 1998 Guy WhittinghamSheffield Wednesday28 December 1998
25 March 1999 Jørgen NielsenLiverpoolEnd of season[8]

Loans out
Start date Player To End date
1 August 1998 Glen CroweExeter City26 September 1998
18 September 1998 Paul SimpsonWalsall5 October 1998[20]
8 December 1998 Dominic FoleyNotts County31 December 1998[21]
11 December 1998 Paul SimpsonWalsall11 January 1999[22]
26 January 1999 Darren FergusonSparta Rotterdam26 April 1999[18]
4 February 1999 Dominic FoleyEthnikos Piraeus24 March 1999

Kit

The season brought a new home kit as the design returned to a plain gold shirt with black collar. The away kit, a white away shirt with a dark green collar and dark green shorts, was retained from the previous season. Both were manufactured by Puma and sponsored by Goodyear.

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References
  1. "Wolves axe McGhee". The Mirror. 6 November 1998.
  2. "Wolves 'gamble' on boss Lee". Sunday Mirror. 29 November 1998.
  3. "Stunned Wolves leave it to Lee". The Birmingham Post. 10 May 1999.
  4. "Champions to tackle Forest fire". The Independent. 16 June 1998.
  5. "McGhee taking another Spanish step forward". Birmingham Post. 5 August 1998.
  6. "Reinforcements for Lee's cause". Birmingham Post. 14 November 1998.
  7. "Flo in at Wolves". The Mirror. 13 January 1999.
  8. "Loan raider Lee notches one-in-three strike rate". Birmingham Post. 26 March 1999.
  9. "Wolves get Turner prize but still want extra rewards". Birmingham Post. 25 March 1999.
  10. "Daley cuts his Wolves losses for fresh fields". Birmingham Post. 6 May 1998.
  11. "Goodman gets a free but has regrets at leaving Molineux". Birmingham Post. 16 April 1998.
  12. "Healthy dose of pessimism can pep up McGhee". Birmingham Post. 5 August 1998.
  13. "Forest Freed transfer deal". The Mirror. 7 August 1998.
  14. "Wolves allow Roberts to go". Birmingham Evening Mail. 6 August 1998.
  15. "Fernando waiting on debut call at Wolves". Birmingham Post. 11 August 1998.
  16. "Hibs pay £75,000 for Paatelainen as McLeish says there's no panic". Daily Record. 12 September 1998.
  17. "Strachan's plans leave Froggatt on firm ground". Birmingham Post. 2 October 1998.
  18. "Wolves banking on mutual benefits if Ferguson departs". Birmingham Post. 27 January 1999.
  19. "Connolly to strike chord as McGhee gets his way". Birmingham Post. 21 August 1998.
  20. "Walsall light up the Sky". Birmingham Evening Mail. 19 September 1998.
  21. "Foley goes to County". The Mirror. 9 December 1998.
  22. "Returning Simpson could ease Graydon's nagging headache". Birmingham Post. 12 December 1998.
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