2002–03 Football League
# 2002–03 Football League

The 2002–03 Football League (known as the Nationwide Football League for sponsorship reasons) was the 104th completed season of The Football League.

Portsmouth won the First Division by some distance, passing manager Harry Redknapp's old club, West Ham on the way down. Leicester City earned a somewhat controversial promotion, as administration and a Creditor's Voluntary Agreement wrote off much of their debt. Partly as a result of this, the League would introduce a ten-point deduction for any teams going into administration from the next season onwards. The play-offs were won by Wolves, returning to the top flight after nearly 20 years and finally allowing owner Sir Jack Hayward to see the return he wanted on his years of investment.

Grimsby Town were relegated, after struggling in the division for five years on extremely limited resources. Both Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday suffered awful starts to the season (Brighton managing only a single win from their first sixteen matches), and despite good runs of form late in the season, neither were able to survive.

Wigan won their first-ever promotion beyond the Second Division, helped by considerable investment in the team. Crewe Alexandra managed a promotion on considerably less resources, while play-off winners Cardiff City were another big-spending team that were able to earn promotion.

An ill-advised managerial change mid-season helped send Northampton down. Mansfield Town's first season out of the bottom division in over a decade ended as their previous spell had; with immediate relegation. Huddersfield started badly, and a financial crisis later in the season helped condemn them to relegation, only three years after they looked Premiership-bound. Cheltenham came close to survival, but a defeat on the final day of the season saw them return to the Third Division.

Rushden & Diamonds continued their meteoric rise, winning the Third Division title. They were helped in no small part by runners-up Hartlepool suffering a shocking late-season collapse, which cost them the title and manager Mike Newell his job. Wrexham took the last automatic promotion spot and bounced back from the previous season's relegation, as did play-off winners AFC Bournemouth.

A shock FA Cup victory over Everton did little to help Shrewsbury, and they finished bottom of the League. Exeter City were bought out pre-season in a high-profile takeover spearheaded by Uri Geller; Geller's associates proceeded to asset-strip the club, and despite a late-season run of form, Exeter fell victim to the first-ever dual relegation from the League.

## Final league tables and results

The tables and results below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website, with home and away statistics separated. Play-off results are from the same website.

## First Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Portsmouth (C, P) | 46 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 97 | 45 | +52 | 98 | Promotion to 2003–04 FA Premier League |
| 2 | Leicester City (P) | 46 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 92 | Promotion to 2003–04 FA Premier League |
| 3 | Sheffield United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 72 | 52 | +20 | 80 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 4 | Reading | 46 | 25 | 4 | 17 | 61 | 46 | +15 | 79 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (O, P) | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 81 | 44 | +37 | 76 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 82 | 50 | +32 | 74 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 7 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 80 | 64 | +16 | 70 | |
| 8 | Norwich City | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 60 | 49 | +11 | 69 | |
| 9 | Millwall | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 59 | 69 | −10 | 66 | |
| 10 | Wimbledon | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 76 | 73 | +3 | 65 | |
| 11 | Gillingham | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 56 | 65 | −9 | 62 | |
| 12 | Preston North End | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 68 | 70 | −2 | 61 | |
| 13 | Watford | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 54 | 70 | −16 | 60 | |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 59 | 52 | +7 | 59 | |
| 15 | Rotherham United | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 62 | 0 | 59 | |
| 16 | Burnley | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 65 | 89 | −24 | 55 | |
| 17 | Walsall | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 57 | 69 | −12 | 54 | |
| 18 | Derby County | 46 | 15 | 7 | 24 | 55 | 74 | −19 | 52 | |
| 19 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 51 | 73 | −22 | 52 | |
| 20 | Coventry City | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 50 | |
| 21 | Stoke City | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 45 | 69 | −24 | 50 | |
| 22 | Sheffield Wednesday (R) | 46 | 10 | 16 | 20 | 56 | 73 | −17 | 46 | Relegation to 2003–04 Second Division |
| 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion (R) | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 49 | 67 | −18 | 45 | Relegation to 2003–04 Second Division |
| 24 | Grimsby Town (R) | 46 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 48 | 85 | −37 | 39 | Relegation to 2003–04 Second Division |

### Play-offs

| Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 14/15 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 14/15 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 14/15 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 14/15 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 14/15 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 26 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 26 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 26 May 2003 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | Sheffield United | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | |
| 6th | Nottingham Forest | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | |
| 6th | Nottingham Forest | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3rd | Sheffield United | 0 |
| | | | | | 5th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 |
| 4th | Reading | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 |
| 5th | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | |

## Second Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Wigan Athletic (C, P) | 46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 37 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 9 | +43 | 100 | Promoted |
| 2 | Crewe Alexandra (P) | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 47 | 21 | +36 | 86 | Promoted |
| 3 | Bristol City | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 43 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 36 | 33 | +31 | 83 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 26 | +24 | 83 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 29 | 20 | +30 | 82 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Cardiff City (O, P) | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 33 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 23 | +25 | 81 | Participated in play-offs |
| 7 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 34 | +9 | 80 | |
| 8 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 28 | +11 | 65 | |
| 9 | Luton Town | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 34 | +5 | 65 | |
| 10 | Swindon Town | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 34 | 27 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 36 | −4 | 60 | |
| 11 | Peterborough United | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 26 | 34 | −3 | 58 | |
| 12 | Colchester United | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 28 | 32 | −4 | 58 | |
| 13 | Blackpool | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 39 | −8 | 58 | |
| 14 | Stockport County | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 39 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 26 | 32 | −5 | 55 | |
| 15 | Notts County | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 37 | 32 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 25 | 38 | −8 | 55 | |
| 16 | Brentford | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 35 | −9 | 54 | |
| 17 | Port Vale | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 34 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 39 | −16 | 53 | |
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 39 | 38 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 28 | −7 | 52 | |
| 19 | Barnsley | 46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 27 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 33 | −13 | 52 | |
| 20 | Chesterfield | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 45 | −30 | 50 | |
| 21 | Cheltenham Town (R) | 46 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 26 | 31 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 37 | −15 | 48 | Relegated |
| 22 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 27 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 37 | −22 | 45 | Relegated |
| 23 | Mansfield Town (R) | 46 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 38 | 45 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 28 | 52 | −31 | 44 | Relegated |
| 24 | Northampton Town (R) | 46 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 31 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 48 | −39 | 39 | Relegated |

### Play-offs

| Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg – 10 May; 2nd leg – 13/14 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 28 May 2003 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | Bristol City | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| 6th | Cardiff City | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| 6th | Cardiff City | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4th | Queens Park Rangers | 0 |
| | | | | | 6th | Cardiff City (a.e.t.) | 1 |
| 4th | Queens Park Rangers | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6th | Cardiff City (a.e.t.) | 1 |
| 5th | Oldham Athletic | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |

## Third Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Rushden & Diamonds (C, P) | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 48 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 28 | +26 | 87 | Promoted |
| 2 | Hartlepool United (P) | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 30 | +20 | 85 | Promoted |
| 3 | Wrexham (P) | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 24 | +34 | 84 | Promoted |
| 4 | AFC Bournemouth (O, P) | 46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 30 | +12 | 74 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 40 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 29 | +19 | 72 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Lincoln City | 46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 29 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 19 | +9 | 70 | Participated in play-offs |
| 7 | Bury | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 26 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 30 | +1 | 70 | Participated in play-offs |
| 8 | Oxford United | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 27 | +10 | 69 | |
| 9 | Torquay United | 46 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 41 | 31 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 30 | 40 | 0 | 66 | |
| 10 | York City | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 29 | −1 | 66 | |
| 11 | Kidderminster Harriers | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 33 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 32 | 30 | −1 | 63 | |
| 12 | Cambridge United | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 38 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 45 | −3 | 61 | |
| 13 | Hull City | 46 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 34 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 34 | +5 | 59 | |
| 14 | Darlington | 46 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 32 | −1 | 54 | |
| 15 | Boston United | 46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 34 | −1 | 54 | |
| 16 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 35 | −6 | 54 | |
| 17 | Southend United | 46 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 36 | −12 | 54 | |
| 18 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 37 | −10 | 53 | |
| 19 | Rochdale | 46 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 52 | |
| 20 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 25 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 25 | 30 | −7 | 51 | |
| 21 | Swansea City | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 40 | −17 | 49 | |
| 22 | Carlisle United | 46 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 26 | 40 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 38 | −26 | 49 | |
| 23 | Exeter City (R) | 46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 31 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 33 | −14 | 48 | Relegated to Conference |
| 24 | Shrewsbury Town (R) | 46 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 34 | 39 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 53 | −30 | 41 | Relegated to Conference |

* ↑ New club in the league
* ↑ Boston United had 4 points deducted for financial irregularities.

### Play-offs

| Semifinals 1st leg −10 May; 2nd leg −13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg −10 May; 2nd leg −13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg −10 May; 2nd leg −13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg −10 May; 2nd leg −13/14 May 2003 | Semifinals 1st leg −10 May; 2nd leg −13/14 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 24 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 24 May 2003 | Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 24 May 2003 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4th | AFC Bournemouth | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | |
| 7th | Bury | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 7th | Bury | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4th | AFC Bournemouth | 5 |
| | | | | | 6th | Lincoln City | 2 |
| 5th | Scunthorpe United | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6th | Lincoln City | 2 |
| 6th | Lincoln City | 5 | 1 | 6 | | | |
