During the 1997–98 English football season, Ipswich Town competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary

For the second season running, Ipswich reached the playoffs, having won 16 of their last 20 games, but lost to Charlton Athletic who went on to be promoted.

First-team 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  ENG Richard Wright — GK  ENG Lee Bracey — DF  ENG Tony Mowbray — DF  ENG Jamie Clapham — DF  ENG Mark Venus — DF  ENG Jason Cundy — DF  NED Gus Uhlenbeek — DF  ARG Mauricio Taricco — MF  IRL Matt Holland — MF  ENG Kieron Dyer — MF  NIR Danny Sonner

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG Paul Mason — MF  ENG Simon Milton — MF  ENG Mick Stockwell — MF  ENG Adam Tanner — MF  WAL Geraint Williams — MF  NED Bobby Petta — FW  ENG Richard Naylor — FW  ENG James Scowcroft — FW  SCO Alex Mathie — FW  ENG David Johnson

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 Chris Swailes (to Bury) — DF  WAL Andy Legg (on loan from Birmingham City) — FW  ENG David Whyte (released) — MF  ENG Jason Dozzell (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  ENG Mark Stein (on loan from Chelsea) — DF  ENG David Kerslake (to Swindon Town) — FW  ZAM Neil Gregory (to Colchester United)

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 — DF  ENG Wayne Brown — DF  ENG David Theobald — MF  ENG Chris Keeble

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ENG John Kennedy — MF  SCO Stuart Niven — FW  ENG Neil Midgley

Competitions

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Pos	Name	From	Fee	Ref
1 August 1997	MF	Matt Holland	Bournemouth	£800,000	[1]
1 August 1997	DF	Mark Venus	Wolverhampton Wanderers	£150,000	[2]
1 August 1997	GK	Lee Bracey	Bury	£40,000	[3]
14 August 1997	DF	David Kerslake	Tottenham Hotspur	Free transfer	[4]
31 October 1997	FW	David Whyte	Reading	Free transfer	[5]
13 November 1997	FW	David Johnson	Bury	£1,100,000	[6]
12 March 1998	DF	Jamie Clapham	Tottenham Hotspur	£300,000	[7]

Loans in

Date from	Pos	Name	From	Date until	Ref
22 August 1997	FW	Mark Stein	Chelsea	22 October 1997	[8]
2 October 1997	MF	Jason Dozzell	Tottenham Hotspur	20 November 1997	[9]
3 November 1997	DF	Andy Legg	Birmingham City	3 December 1997	[10]
9 January 1998	DF	Jamie Clapham	Tottenham Hotspur	12 March 1998	[7]

Transfers out

Date	Pos	Name	To	Fee	Ref
31 May 1997	MF	John Wark	Retired		[11]
1 July 1997	MF	Lee Norfolk	North Shore United	Free transfer	[12]
1 July 1997	DF	Kevin Ellis	King's Lynn Town	Free transfer	[13]
1 July 1997	MF	Steve Sedgley	Wolverhampton Wanderers	£500,000	[14]
21 July 1997	GK	Craig Forrest	West Ham United	£500,000	[15]
1 August 1997	DF	Tony Vaughan	Manchester City	£1,350,000	[16]
13 November 1997	DF	Chris Swailes	Bury	£200,000	[17]
30 November 1997	FW	David Whyte	Free agent	Released	[5]
9 March 1998	DF	David Kerslake	Swindon Town	Free transfer	[4]
26 March 1998	FW	Neil Gregory	Colchester United	£50,000	[18]

Loans out

Date from	Pos	Name	From	Date until	Ref
17 October 1997	DF	Wayne Brown	Colchester United	8 November 1997	[19]
26 November 1997	FW	Neil Gregory	Peterborough United	26 December 1997	[18]
11 December 1997	DF	David Kerslake	Wycombe Wanderers	9 March 1998	[4]
1 January 1998	FW	Neil Gregory	Colchester United	2 March 1998	[18]
6 March 1998	MF	John Kennedy	Morecambe	31 May 1998	[20]

Awards

Player awards

Award	Player	Ref
Player of the Year	Matt Holland	[21]

PFA First Division Team of the Year

Player	Ref
Kieron Dyer	[22]
Mauricio Taricco	[22]

References