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,^[1] 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.

Reading

1997–98 season
Chairman	John Madejski
Manager	Terry Bullivant (until 18 March) Alan Pardew (Caretaker) (18-25 March) Tommy Burns (from 25 March)
Stadium	Elm Park
First Division	24th (Relegated)
FA Cup	Fifth Round vs Sheffield United
EFL Cup	Fifth Round vs Middlesbrough
Top goalscorer	League: Carl Asaba (8) All: Carl Asaba (12)
Home colours
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

Season events

Reading started the season under new manager Terry Bullivant, with Bullivant resigning on 18 March 1998.^[2] Alan Pardew was appointed caretaker-manager for seven days before Tommy Burns was appointed as the club's new manager on 26 March 2008.^[3]

Squad

As of match played 3 May 1998

Name	Nationality	Position	Date of birth (Age[a])	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	[b]	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	[c]	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	[d]	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	[e]	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; some limited exceptions apply. 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; some limited exceptions apply. 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	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
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	[4]
26 March 1998	DF		Stuart Gray	Celtic	£100,000	[5]
26 March 1998	MF		Jim Crawford	Newcastle United	£50,000	[6]
26 March 1998	FW		Paul Brayson	Newcastle United	£100,000	[7]
26 March 1998	FW		Robert Fleck	Norwich City	£50,000	[8]
26 March 1998	FW		Jim McIntyre	Kilmarnock	£440,000	[9]

Loan in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date to	Ref.
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	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
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	Nationality	Name	Joined	Date
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

Main article: 1997–98 Football League First Division

Results

Bury v Reading

9 August 1997 1	Bury	1–1	Reading	Bury
	Armstrong 52' Daws	Report	Swales 13' Lambert	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 5,065 Referee: Terry Heilbron

Reading v Swindon Town

16 August 1997 2	Reading	0–1	Swindon Town	Reading
	Wdowczyk Lambert Meaker	Report	Hay 18' Robinson	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,338 Referee: Andy D'Urso

Birmingham City v Reading

23 August 1997 3	Birmingham City	3–0	Reading	Birmingham
	Devlin 38' Bruce 81' Ndlovu 88' Ablett Furlong	Report	Bernal   68' Booty Lambert	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 16,495 Referee: E.Lomas

Reading v Bradford City

30 August 1997 4	Reading	0–3	Bradford City	Reading
	McPherson	Report	Lawrence 10' Pepper 17', 66' Jacobs Dreyer Beagrie	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 7,163 Referee: C.R.Wilkes

Reading v Queens Park Rangers

2 September 1997 5	Reading	1–2	Queens Park Rangers	Reading
	Hodges 10' Lambert Asaba	Report	Spencer 71' Swales 72' (o.g.) Maddix Brevett Peacock Sinclair	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 10,203 Referee: M.Fletcher

West Bromwich Albion v Reading

7 September 1997 6	West Bromwich Albion	1–0	Reading	West Bromwich
	Hunt 79'	Report	Parkinson	Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 15,966 Referee: Paul Danson

Reading v Oxford United

13 September 1997 7	Reading	2–1	Oxford United	Reading
	Asaba 21' Hodges 61'	Report	Jemson 2' Whelan Beauchamp Ford Wilsterman	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,003

Tranmere Rovers v Reading

20 September 1997 8	Tranmere Rovers	6–0	Reading	Birkenhead
	Morrissey 4' Kelly 10', 41' L.Jones 20' G.Jones 38' Thompson 59'	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,565 Referee: David Laws

Portsmouth v Reading

27 September 1997 9	Portsmouth	0–2	Reading	Portsmouth
	Pethick Perrett	Report	Hodges 15' Williams 88' Primus McPherson	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 9,593 Referee: M.C.Bailey

Reading v Sunderland

4 October 1997 10	Reading	4–0	Sunderland	Reading
	Asaba 16', 26' Williams 60' Lambert 64' Parkinson	Report	Williams  67'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 10,795 Referee: M.J.Brandwood

Reading v Crewe Alexandra

11 October 1997 11	Reading	3–3	Crewe Alexandra	Reading
	Asaba 35', 60' Westwood 43' (o.g.) Meaker	Report	Westwood 13' Little 20' Adebola 31' Unsworth	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 6,685 Referee: Rob Styles

Manchester City v Reading

18 October 1997 12	Manchester City	0–0	Reading	Manchester
		Report	Parkinson Wdowczyk	Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 26,488

Norwich City v Reading

21 October 1997 13	Norwich City	0–0	Reading	Norwich
		Report	Swales Meaker Parkinson Lambert	Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 17,781 Referee: G.Stretton

Reading v Nottingham Forest

24 October 1997 14	Reading	3–3	Nottingham Forest	Reading
	Williams 57' (pen.) Lambert 73' Primus 78'	Report	van Hooijdonk 3', 48' (pen.) Beasant  56' Campbell 65' Armstrong Bart-Williams	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 12,610 Referee: M.J.Brandwood

Port Vale v Reading

1 November 1997 15	Port Vale	0–0	Reading	Stoke-on-Trent
		Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,569 Referee: George Cain

Reading v Sheffield United

4 November 1997 16	Reading	0–1	Sheffield United	Reading
	Caskey	Report	Patterson 52'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 8,132 Referee: Paul Danson

Reading v Stockport County

8 November 1997 17	Reading	1–0	Stockport County	Reading
	Morley 42' (pen.) Asaba	Report	McIntosh Cook Bennett Angell Searle	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 7,444 Referee: Mark Halsey

Huddersfield Town v Reading

15 November 1997 18	Huddersfield Town	1–0	Reading	Huddersfield
	Dalton 73' Phillips	Report	Parkinson	Stadium: Alfred McAlpine Stadium Attendance: 12,617 Referee: Bill Burns

Reading v Ipswich Town

22 November 1997 19	Reading	0–4	Ipswich Town	Reading
	Primus	Report	Holland 26' Johnson 30' Scowcroft 49' Naylor 87'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,400 Referee: Anthony Leake

Stoke City v Reading

29 November 1997 20	Stoke City	1–2	Reading	Stoke-on-Trent
	Thorne 81'	Report	Morley 32' (pen.), 59' Booty	Stadium: Britannia Stadium Attendance: 11,103 Referee: T.Jones

Reading v Charlton Athletic

6 December 1997 21	Reading	2–0	Charlton Athletic	Reading
	Hodges 9' Morley 36' (pen.) Booty Swales Lambert	Report	Rufus Chapple Robinson	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 8,076 Referee: Scott Mathieson

Middlesbrough v Reading

13 December 1997 22	Middlesbrough	4–0	Reading	Middlesbrough
	Hignett 77', 90' Beck 79', 84' Festa	Report	Parkinson	Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 29,876 Referee: Chris Foy

Reading v Wolverhampton Wanderers

20 December 1997 23	Reading	0–0	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Reading
	Bodin  37' Bernal Williams Morley	Report	Simpson  42' Curle Froggatt Goodman Keane	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 11,715 Referee: Steve Bennett

Reading v West Bromwich Albion

26 December 1997 24	Reading	2–1	West Bromwich Albion	Reading
	McDermott 1' (o.g.) Williams 27)'	Report	Kilbane 77' Hamilton Butler	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 10,154 Referee: Andy D'Urso

Queens Park Rangers v Reading

28 December 1997 25	Queens Park Rangers	1–1	Reading	White City
	Spencer 15' Maddix  78'	Report	Morley 64' Asaba  78' Caskey	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 13,015 Referee: Barry Knight

Reading v Bury

10 January 1998 26	Reading	1–1	Bury	Reading
	Lucketti 29' (o.g.)	Report	Jepson  76' Gray 87' Patterson	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 7,499 Referee: M.E.Pierce

Swindon Town v Reading

17 January 1998 27	Swindon Town	0–2	Reading	Swindon
	Borrows McDonald Collins	Report	Lovell 9' Lambert 14' Booty Swales	Stadium: The County Ground Attendance: 9,500 Referee: E.Lomas

Bradford City v Reading

27 January 1998 28	Bradford City	4–1	Reading	Bradford
	Lawrence 24' Edinho 32', 68' Blake 62' Wilder	Report	Asaba 2' Swales Bowen	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 13,021 Referee: Graham Laws

Reading v Birmingham City

31 January 1998 29	Reading	2–0	Birmingham City	Reading
	Hodges 74' Asaba 83'	Report	Furlong   66' Marsden  69' Ablett Bruce  81'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 10,315 Referee: Paul Rejer

Reading v Tranmere Rovers

7 February 1998 30	Reading	1–3	Tranmere Rovers	Reading
	Williams 75' Morley	Report	Irons 10' Kelly 65' Branch 72' Morrissey	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 7,069

Sunderland v Reading

17 February 1998 31	Sunderland	4–1	Reading	Sunderland
	Quinn 21' Rae 22' Phillips 46', 61'	Report	Bowen 53'	Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 40,579 Referee: J.A.Kirkby

Reading v Portsmouth

21 February 1998 32	Reading	0–1	Portsmouth	Reading
	Legg Morley	Report	Whitbread 83' Pethick	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,928 Referee: Alan Wiley

Reading v Manchester City

24 February 1998 33	Reading	3–0	Manchester City	Reading
	Hodges 8' Houghton 29' Asaba 89' Parkinson Williams	Report	Symons Whitley Brown Dickov	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 11,513 Referee: Anthony Bates

Crewe Alexandra v Reading

28 February 1998 34	Crewe Alexandra	1–0	Reading	Crewe
	Rivers 11' Lightfoot	Report	Bowen	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 5,202 Referee: K.M.Lynch

Stockport County v Reading

3 March 1998 35	Stockport County	5–1	Reading	Stockport
	Byrne 10', 32' Angell 11', 70' Grant 23'	Report	Williams 80' (pen.) Caskey	Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 6,148 Referee: T.Jones

Reading v Port Vale

7 March 1998 36	Reading	0–3	Port Vale	Reading
	Primus Bernal Davies Houghton Legg	Report	Mills 7' Talbot 19' Jansson 82' Porter Ainsworth	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 7,139 Referee: Mark Halsey

Sheffield United v Reading

14 March 1998 37	Sheffield United	4–0	Reading	Sheffield
	Stuart 44' Marcelo 46' Taylor 54' Quinn 90' Borbokis	Report	Davies	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 15,473 Referee: Chris Foy

Oxford United v Reading

17 March 1998 38	Oxford United	3–0	Reading	Oxford
	Beauchamp 44', 70' Gray 77' Marsh Smith Francis	Report	O'Neill Parkinson Lambert	Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 8,103 Referee: M.Fletcher

Reading v Huddersfield Town

21 March 1998 39	Reading	0–2	Huddersfield Town	Reading
	Davies Lovell	Report	Stewart 73', 88' Johnson Nielsen	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 8,593 Referee: Paul Taylor

Ipswich Town v Reading

28 March 1998 40	Ipswich Town	1–0	Reading	Ipswich
	Scowcroft 39' Petta Johnson	Report	Legg   45' Bernal   68' Primus Fleck McIntyre	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 19,075 Referee: B.Coddington

Reading v Stoke City

4 April 1998 41	Reading	2–0	Stoke City	Reading
	O'Neill 32' Meaker 48' Lambert	Report	Forsyth Crowe	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 10,448 Referee: G.Stretton

Charlton Athletic v Reading

10 April 1998 42	Charlton Athletic	3–0	Reading	Charlton
	Mendonca 6' Mortimer 44' Bright 79' Youds Barness Jones	Report	Caskey	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 14,220 Referee: M.E.Pierce

Reading v Middlesbrough

13 April 1998 43	Reading	0–1	Middlesbrough	Reading
	McIntyre	Report	Branca 8' Hignett  90' Festa	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 14,501 Referee: Barry Knight

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Reading

18 April 1998 44	Wolverhampton Wanderers	3–1	Reading	Wolverhampton
	Muscat 9' Goodman 69', 90'	Report	Brayson 44'	Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 19,785 Referee: Terry Heilbron

Nottingham Forest v Reading

26 April 1998 45	Nottingham Forest	1–0	Reading	West Bridgford
	Bart-Williams 87' Rogers	Report	Primus Lovell	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 29,302 Referee: G.B.Frankland

Reading v Norwich City

3 May 1998 46	Reading	0–1	Norwich City	Reading
		Report	Bellamy 57' Jackson	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 14,817 Referee: T.Jones

Table

Pos	Team v t e	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
24	Reading (R)	46	11	9	26	39	78	−39	42

Source: Statto.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(R) Relegated

FA Cup

Main article: 1997–98 FA Cup

Cheltenham Town v Reading

13 January 1998 Third Round	Cheltenham Town	1–1	Reading	Cheltenham
19:45 GMT (UTC)	Watkins 22' (pen.) M.Freeman	Report	Morley 71' Bowen	Stadium: Whaddon Road Attendance: 6,000

Reading v Cheltenham Town

20 January 1998 Third Round Reply	Reading	2–1	Cheltenham Town	Reading
19:45 GMT (UTC)	Morley 38' Booty 72'	Report	Walker 51' B.Bloomer	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,686

Cardiff City v Reading

24 January 1998 Fourth Round	Cardiff City	1–1	Reading	Cardiff
15:00 GMT (UTC)	Nugent 47' Middleton Carss Penney	Report	Asaba 56' Lambert	Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 10,174 Referee: Stephen Lodge

Reading v Cardiff City

3 February 1998 Fourth Round Reply	Reading	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p)	Cardiff City	Reading
19:45 GMT (UTC)	Morley 56' Bernal Booty Bowen	Report	Dale 40' Harris Middleton Penney	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 11,808 Referee: Stephen Lodge

Sheffield United v Reading

13 February 1998 Fifth Round	Sheffield United	1–0	Reading	Sheffield
15:00 GMT (UTC)	Sandford 87' Stuart Taylor	Report		Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 17,845 Referee: Neale Barry

League Cup

Main article: 1997–98 Football League Cup

Reading v Swansea City

12 August 1997 First Round 1st leg	Reading	2–0	Swansea City	Reading
BST (UTC+1)	Lambert 58' Roach 75'	Report	Price	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 4,829 Referee: Paul Taylor

Swansea City v Reading

26 August 1997 First Round 2nd leg	Swansea City	1–1 (1–3 agg.)	Reading	Swansea
BST (UTC+1)	J.Coates 49' C.Edwards  78' Moreira	Report	Asaba 54' Booty Lambert M.Williams	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 3,333 Referee: Jarnail Singh

Reading v Peterborough United

16 September 1997 Second Round 1st leg	Reading	0–0	Peterborough United	Reading
BST (UTC+1)	Booty	Report	Quinn	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 5,138

Peterborough United v Reading

23 September 1997 Second Round 2nd leg	Peterborough United	0–2 (0–2 agg.)	Reading	Peterborough
BST (UTC+1)	Payne  1' Bodley	Report	Asaba 51' M.Williams 70'	Stadium: London Road Attendance: 3,333 Referee: R.D.Furnandiz

Reading v Wolverhampton Wanderers

14 October 1997 Third Round	Reading	4–2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Reading
BST (UTC+1)	A. Williams 33' (o.g.) Parkinson 34' Meaker 46' McPherson 54'	Report	Bull 44', 57' Curle A. Williams Atkins Ferguson	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 11,080 Referee: C.R.Wilkes

Leeds United v Reading

18 November 1998 Fourth Round	Leeds United	2–3	Reading	Leeds
GMT (UTC)	Wetherall 16' Bowyer 54' Ribeiro	Report	Asaba 9' M.Williams 66' Morley 85' McPherson	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 15,069 Referee: Graham Barber

Reading v Middlesbrough

6 January 1998 Fifth Round	Reading	0–1	Middlesbrough	Reading
GMT (UTC)	Morley	Report	Hignett 89'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 13,072 Referee: George Cain

Squad statistics

As of match played 3 May 1998^[10]

Appearances and goals

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		First Division		FA Cup		League Cup
				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
			Own goal	3	0	1	4
7	MF		Michael Meaker	1	0	1	2
8	MF		Jason Bowen	1	0	0	1
	FW		Paul Brayson	1	0	0	1
	MF		Ray Houghton	1	0	0	1
	FW		Stuart Lovell	1	0	0	1
	MF		Michael O'Neill	1	0	0	1
	DF		Linvoy Primus	1	0	0	1
	DF		Steve Swales	1	0	0	1
	DF		Martyn Booty	0	1	0	1
	DF		Keith McPherson	0	0	1	1
	MF		Phil Parkinson	0	0	1	1
	FW		Neville Roach	0	0	1	1
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				12	0	0	12

Disciplinary record

Position	Nation	Name	First Division		FA Cup		League Cup		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			73	5	6	0	7	0	86	5

Notes

1. Age as of the end of the season
2. Stuart Gray was born in Harrogate, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally, representing Scotland U21 between 1995 and 1996.
3. Gareth Davies was born in Hereford, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally, representing Wales U21.
4. Jim Crawford was born in Chicago, United States, but also qualified to represent Republic of Ireland internationally, representing Republic of Ireland U21 between 1993 and 1994.
5. Michael Meaker was born in Greenford, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally, representing Wales U21 and Wales B.