2002–03 Newcastle United F.C. season
Encyclopedia
During the 2002-03 English football season, Newcastle United F.C.
participated in the FA Premier League
(known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Newcastle had mounted a surprise title challenge the previous season following four seasons in midtable, and mounted a similar challenge in the 2002-03 season. The season was also Newcastle's second ever in the Champions League
.
The 2002-2003 season was a particularly colourful one for Newcastle on the European stage. In the first group stage, Newcastle lost their first three matches in a row, then, in an astonishing reversal, shocked Italian giants 1-0 at St James' Park. They then controversially beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in Newcastle before winning the crucial last match, away to Feyenoord, 3-2 in injury time, with striker Craig Bellamy scoring the injury time winner. With[Dynamo Kiev losing at home to Juventus, Newcastle progressed to the second round,, in a group with Inter Milan
, Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen
.
Bellamy was sent off after being involved in an on-pitch brawl with Inter defender Marco Materazzi
. Bellamy was punished further by a three-match ban. Compounding the disaster for Newcastle was the suspension of influential captain Alan Shearer for a similar incident, although the punishment was just a two-match ban. Newcastle went on to lose 1-4 at home.
Shearer returned in the fourth game in the 4-team group, scoring all three goals in a 3-1 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen at home. Despite a superb performance against Internazionale in the famous San Siro, only to draw 2-2, Newcastle lost at home 2-0 to Barcelona and dropped out of the Champions League.
and the main shirt sponsor was ntl:.
(vc)
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
participated in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
(known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Newcastle had mounted a surprise title challenge the previous season following four seasons in midtable, and mounted a similar challenge in the 2002-03 season. The season was also Newcastle's second ever in the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
Season summary
After a slow start, the club began putting together the wins and, by the end of March, were in a three-way title race with and . Consecutive defeats to a resurgent and a 6-2 home thrashing by Sir Alex Ferguson's side killed off Newcastle's title hopes, but Sir Bobby Robson and his team was able to brush off the challenge from to finish 3rd in the Premier League, entering the qualification rounds for the Champions League in the 2003/2004 season.The 2002-2003 season was a particularly colourful one for Newcastle on the European stage. In the first group stage, Newcastle lost their first three matches in a row, then, in an astonishing reversal, shocked Italian giants 1-0 at St James' Park. They then controversially beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in Newcastle before winning the crucial last match, away to Feyenoord, 3-2 in injury time, with striker Craig Bellamy scoring the injury time winner. With[Dynamo Kiev losing at home to Juventus, Newcastle progressed to the second round,, in a group with Inter Milan
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
, Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
.
Bellamy was sent off after being involved in an on-pitch brawl with Inter defender Marco Materazzi
Marco Materazzi
Marco Materazzi , is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender, and is currently a free agent.At the beginning of his career, Materazzi played with various Italian teams in Serie B and Serie C, and with Premier League side Everton. He spent two periods with Perugia and signed for...
. Bellamy was punished further by a three-match ban. Compounding the disaster for Newcastle was the suspension of influential captain Alan Shearer for a similar incident, although the punishment was just a two-match ban. Newcastle went on to lose 1-4 at home.
Shearer returned in the fourth game in the 4-team group, scoring all three goals in a 3-1 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen at home. Despite a superb performance against Internazionale in the famous San Siro, only to draw 2-2, Newcastle lost at home 2-0 to Barcelona and dropped out of the Champions League.
Team kit
The team kit for the 2002-03 season was produced by AdidasAdidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
and the main shirt sponsor was ntl:.
In
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2002 | MF |  Hugo VianaHugo Viana Hugo Miguel Ferreira Gomes Viana is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Sporting de Braga as a central midfielder.His main assets are good set-pieces and passing skills... |
Sporting CP |
£8,500,000 |
| July 2002 | DF |  Titus BrambleTitus Bramble Titus Malachi Bramble is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland as a defender. He is currently suspended by Sunderland after bring arrested for possession of a class A drug and sexual assault.-Ipswich Town:... |
Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
£4,500,000 |
| January 2003 | DF | Jonathan Woodgate Jonathan Woodgate Jonathan Simon Woodgate is an English footballer who plays for Stoke City in the Premier League.Woodgate started his football career at Leeds United where he established himself in the starting eleven. However, Woodgate was sold to Newcastle United for £9 million in January 2003. He impressed... |
Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
£9,000,000 |
| March 2003 | MF | Darren Ambrose Darren Ambrose Darren Paul Ambrose is an English footballer who currently plays for Crystal Palace. Ambrose is a midfielder.-Ipswich Town:... |
Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
£2,500,000 |
- Total spending: £24.5m
Out
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2002 | GK | Jonny Brain Jonny Brain Jonathon Robert "Jonny" Brain is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Nantwich Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.... |
Unattached | Free |
| April 2002 | DF | David Cowan David Cowan (footballer) David Cowan is an English football defender, and is currently signed with Scottish Second Division side Cowdenbeath.-Youth career:... |
 MotherwellMotherwell F.C. Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998... |
Free |
| April 2002 | DF | Ryan McGuffie Ryan McGuffie Ryan McGuffie is a Scottish professional association footballer currently playing for Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division club Queen of the South... |
Gretna Gretna F.C. Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland... |
Free |
| April 2002 | MF | Mark Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... |
Port Vale Port Vale F.C. Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as... |
Free |
| April 2002 | FW | Colin McMenamin Colin McMenamin Colin McMenamin is a Scottish professional Association footballer who usually plays as a striker but has also played in midfield... |
Livingston Livingston F.C. Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team... |
Free |
| May 2002 | DF |  Sylvain DistinSylvain Distin Sylvain Distin is a French footballer who plays for English Premier League side Everton.-Early career:Born in Bagnolet, Distin started his career at French non-league side Joue-les-Tours before moving to Tours a year later, where he played 26 times and scored three goals. He then transferred to... |
Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
Loan end |
| July 2002 | DF | James Coppinger James Coppinger James Coppinger is an English professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Doncaster Rovers.-Early career:... |
Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
Released |
| February 2002 | MF | Stuart Green Stuart Green Stuart Green is an English professional footballer currently playing for Workington A.F.C..-Career:... |
Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
£150,000 |
| January 2003 | MF | Tommy English Tommy English Thomas Steven "Tommy" English is an English former professional footballer.-Biography:Born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, After attending school in Colchester, Essex, English began his career as an apprentice at Coventry City. After making 66 league appearances for Coventry, he signed for... |
Livingston Livingston F.C. Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team... |
Released |
| January 2003 | MF | Neale McDermott Neale McDermott Neale Terence McDermott is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Marsaxlokk.-Playing career:He signed for Carlisle United on 1 August 2006... |
Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
Free |
| January 2003 | MF |  Christian BassedasChristian Bassedas Christian Gustavo Bassedas is a former Argentine football midfielder who works as general manager for Vélez Sársfield of the Argentine Primera División.... |
Newell's Old Boys Newell's Old Boys Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys is an Argentine sports club based in Rosario. The club was founded on November 3, 1903, and is named after Isaac Newell, one of the pioneers of Argentine football... |
Released |
| March 2003 | GK |  John KarelseJohn Karelse John Karelse is a retired Dutch football goalkeeper.He played for AGOVV Apeldoorn in his native country for a few years before moving to NAC Breda. It was here that he caught the attention of then Newcastle United manager Ruud Gullit, who signed him for £900,000 in August 1999... |
AGOVV Apeldoorn AGOVV Apeldoorn AGOVV Apeldoorn is a Dutch football club, playing in the Eerste Divisie, based in Apeldoorn.The club was founded on 25 February 1913, as AGOSV, which stood for Apeldoornse Geheel Onthoudersvoetbalvereniging Steeds Voorwaarts... |
Free |
| March 2003 | MF | Joe Kendrick |  1860 MunichTSV 1860 München Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season... |
Free |
| January 2003 | MF | Damon Robson |
Unattached | Free |
- Total spending: £0.15m
Squad
(c)(vc)
Starting 11
- (These are the most used starting players in the most used formation throughout the complete season)
| No. | Pos. | Name | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Shay Given Shay Given Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002.... |
38 |
| 12 | DF | Andy Griffin Andy Griffin Andrew "Andy" Griffin is an English footballer, currently playing for Championship team, ReadingGriffin began his career at Stoke City, where he established a reputation as a solid wing-back defender... |
22 |
| 18 | DF |  Aaron HughesAaron Hughes Aaron William Hughes is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham. Hughes is able to play centre back, right back or left back, as well as anywhere in midfield. He is usually deployed in a centre half position for his club and country, and is the current Northern Ireland captain... |
35 |
| 5 | DF |  Andy O'Brien |
26 |
| 35 | DF | Olivier Bernard Olivier Bernard Olivier Bernard is a retired French footballer. He announced his retirement after leaving Newcastle United on 16 May 2007.-Newcastle United:Bernard made his name during his first spell with Newcastle after joining from Lyon... |
24 |
| 4 | MF |  Nolberto SolanoNolberto Solano Nolberto Albino "Nobby" Solano Todco is a Peruvian footballer who plays for Hartlepool United. He has spent much of his career in the English Premier League and also played 95 times for Peru between 1994 and 2009... |
29 |
| 7 | MF | Jermaine Jenas Jermaine Jenas Jermaine Anthony Jenas is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He is of mixed African-Caribbean and English descent.-Nottingham Forest:... |
23 |
| 8 | MF | Kieron Dyer Kieron Dyer Kieron Courtney Dyer is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. Born in Ipswich, he is an attacking midfielder who played youth football for his home club before going on to make nearly 100 league appearances for the club's first team... |
33 |
| 32 | MF | Laurent Robert Laurent Robert Laurent Robert is a former French footballer. He was a left winger, and has played for the French national football team.... |
25 |
| 9 | FW | Alan Shearer Alan Shearer Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team... |
35 |
| 10 | FW |  Craig BellamyCraig Bellamy Craig Douglas Bellamy is a Welsh footballer who plays as a striker for Liverpool and the Welsh national team. Born in Cardiff, Bellamy was the captain of the Welsh national side for four years after taking over from Ryan Giggs in 2007, but stood down in January 2011 due to constant injuries... |
27 |