The Football League 2002-03
Encyclopedia
The 2002–2003 season was the 103rd completed season of The Football League
.
Football League First Division
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.
Football League Second Division
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.
Football League Third Division
Rushden & Diamonds
continued their meteoric rise, winning the divisional 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 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
; unfortunately, 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.
First Division playoffs
First Division
Second Division Play-offs
Second Division
Third Division Play-offs
Third Division
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
won the First Division by some distance, passing manager Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
’s old club, West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on the way down. Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
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
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, 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
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
were relegated, after struggling in the division for five years on extremely limited resources. Both Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
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.
Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
WiganWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
won their first-ever promotion beyond the Second Division, helped by considerable investment in the team. Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
managed a promotion on considerably less resources, while play-off winners Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
were another big-spending team that were able to earn promotion.
An ill-advised managerial change mid-season helped send Northampton
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
down. Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
’s first season out of the bottom division in over a decade ended as their previous spell had; with immediate relegation. Huddersfield
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
started badly, and a financial crisis later in the season helped condemn them to relegation, only three years after they looked Premiership-bound. Cheltenham
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
came close to survival, but a defeat on the final day of the season saw them return to the Third Division.
Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Rushden & DiamondsRushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
continued their meteoric rise, winning the divisional title. They were helped in no small part by runners-up Hartlepool
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
suffering a shocking late-season collapse, which cost them the title and manager Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
his job. Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
took the last automatic promotion spot and bounced back from the previous season’s relegation, as did play-off winners Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
.
A shock FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
victory over Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
did little to help Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, and they finished bottom of the League. 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...
were bought out pre-season in a high-profile takeover spearheaded by Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
; unfortunately, 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 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 playoffsFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
46 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 52 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 45 | 23 | 97 | 45 | + 52 | 98 | |||||
| 2 | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 40 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 33 | 28 | 73 | 40 | + 33 | 92 | |||||
| 3 | Sheffield United Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... |
46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 38 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 29 | 72 | 52 | + 20 | 80 | |||||
| 4 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 25 | 61 | 46 | + 15 | 79 | |||||
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
46 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 40 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 81 | 44 | + 37 | 76 | |||||
| 6 | Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 57 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 27 | 82 | 50 | + 32 | 74 | |||||
| 7 | 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.... |
46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 49 | 39 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 31 | 25 | 80 | 64 | + 16 | 70 | |||||
| 8 | Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 24 | 32 | 60 | 49 | + 11 | 69 | |||||
| 9 | Millwall Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 59 | 69 | – 10 | 66 | |||||
| 10 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 39 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 37 | 45 | 76 | 73 | + 3 | 65 | |||||
| 11 | Gillingham Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 31 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 34 | 56 | 65 | – 9 | 62 | |||||
| 12 | Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
46 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 29 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 24 | 41 | 68 | 70 | – 2 | 61 | |||||
| 13 | Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 54 | 70 | – 16 | 60 | |||||
| 14 | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
46 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 29 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 35 | 59 | 52 | + 7 | 59 | |||||
| 15 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 35 | 37 | 62 | 62 | ± 0 | 59 | |||||
| 16 | Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... |
46 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 44 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 30 | 45 | 65 | 89 | – 24 | 55 | |||||
| 17 | Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
46 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 34 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 57 | 69 | – 12 | 54 | |||||
| 18 | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 22 | 42 | 55 | 74 | – 19 | 52 | |||||
| 19 | Bradford City | 46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 27 | 35 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 51 | 73 | – 22 | 52 | |||||
| 20 | Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... |
46 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 23 | 31 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 31 | 46 | 62 | – 16 | 50 | |||||
| 21 | Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 44 | 45 | 69 | – 24 | 50 | |||||
| 22 | Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... |
46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 32 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 41 | 56 | 73 | – 17 | 46 | |||||
| 23 | Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system.... |
46 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 31 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 36 | 49 | 67 | – 18 | 45 | |||||
| 24 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
46 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 46 | 48 | 85 | – 37 | 39 |
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
- NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Football League Champions, promoted to 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... |
|
| Promoted to 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... |
|
| Participated in play-offs | |
| Promoted to 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... through play-offs |
|
| Relegated |
Second Division Play-offsFootball League One play-offsThe Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 37 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 9 | 68 | 25 | + 43 | 100 | |||||
| 2 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 47 | 21 | 76 | 40 | + 36 | 86 | |||||
| 3 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 43 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 36 | 33 | 79 | 48 | + 31 | 83 | |||||
| 4 | Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 38 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 31 | 26 | 69 | 45 | + 24 | 83 | |||||
| 5 | Oldham Athletic Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league... |
46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 29 | 20 | 68 | 38 | + 30 | 82 | |||||
| 6 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 33 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 23 | 68 | 43 | + 25 | 81 | |||||
| 7 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 34 | 66 | 57 | + 9 | 80 | |||||
| 8 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 28 | 63 | 52 | + 11 | 65 | |||||
| 9 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 34 | 67 | 62 | + 5 | 65 | |||||
| 10 | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 34 | 27 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 36 | 59 | 63 | – 4 | 60 | |||||
| 11 | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 51 | 54 | – 3 | 58 | |||||
| 12 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 28 | 32 | 52 | 56 | – 4 | 58 | |||||
| 13 | Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 39 | 56 | 64 | – 8 | 58 | |||||
| 14 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 39 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 26 | 32 | 65 | 70 | – 5 | 55 | |||||
| 15 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 37 | 32 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 25 | 38 | 62 | 70 | – 8 | 55 | |||||
| 16 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 47 | 56 | – 9 | 54 | |||||
| 17 | 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... |
46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 34 | 31 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 39 | 54 | 70 | – 16 | 53 | |||||
| 18 | Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
46 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 39 | 38 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 28 | 59 | 66 | – 7 | 52 | |||||
| 19 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
46 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 27 | 31 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 33 | 51 | 64 | – 13 | 52 | |||||
| 20 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 29 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 14 | 45 | 43 | 73 | – 30 | 50 | |||||
| 21 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
46 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 26 | 31 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 53 | 68 | – 15 | 48 | |||||
| 22 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
46 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 27 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 37 | 39 | 61 | – 22 | 45 | |||||
| 23 | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
46 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 38 | 45 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 28 | 52 | 66 | 97 | – 31 | 44 | |||||
| 24 | Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C. Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... |
46 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 31 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 48 | 40 | 79 | – 39 | 39 |
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
- NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Division Champions, promoted | |
| Promoted | |
| Participated in play-offs | |
| Promoted through play-offs | |
| Relegated |
Third Division Play-offsFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | F | A | GD | Pts | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rushden & Diamonds Rushden & Diamonds F.C. Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of... |
46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 48 | 19 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 28 | 73 | 47 | + 26 | 87 | |||||
| 2 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 30 | 71 | 51 | + 20 | 85 | |||||
| 3 | Wrexham | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 48 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 24 | 84 | 50 | + 34 | 84 | |||||
| 4 | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 22 | 30 | 60 | 48 | + 12 | 74 | |||||
| 5 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 40 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 29 | 68 | 49 | + 19 | 72 | |||||
| 6 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
46 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 29 | 18 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 46 | 37 | + 9 | 70 | |||||
| 7 | Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... |
46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 26 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 30 | 57 | 56 | + 1 | 70 | |||||
| 8 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 27 | 57 | 47 | + 10 | 69 | |||||
| 9 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
46 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 41 | 31 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 30 | 40 | 71 | 71 | ± 0 | 66 | |||||
| 10 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 52 | 53 | – 1 | 66 | |||||
| 11 | Kidderminster Harriers | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 33 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 32 | 30 | 62 | 63 | – 1 | 63 | |||||
| 12 | Cambridge United Cambridge United F.C. Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League... |
46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 38 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 45 | 67 | 70 | – 3 | 61 | |||||
| 13 | 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... |
46 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 34 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 53 | +5 | 59 | |||||
| 14 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
46 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 36 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 32 | 58 | 59 | – 1 | 54 | |||||
| 15 | Boston United Boston United F.C. Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's... Boston United Boston United F.C. Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's... had deducted 4 points for on-field brawl. |
46 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 56 | – 1 | 54 | |||||
| 16 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
46 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 35 | 57 | 63 | – 6 | 54 | |||||
| 17 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
46 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 36 | 47 | 59 | – 12 | 54 | |||||
| 18 | Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 23 | 37 | 51 | 61 | – 10 | 53 | |||||
| 19 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
46 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 33 | 40 | 63 | 70 | – 7 | 52 | |||||
| 20 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 25 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 25 | 30 | 50 | 57 | – 7 | 51 | |||||
| 21 | Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 40 | 48 | 65 | – 17 | 49 | |||||
| 22 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
46 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 26 | 40 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 38 | 52 | 78 | – 26 | 49 | |||||
| 23 | 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... |
46 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 31 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 33 | 50 | 64 | – 14 | 48 | |||||
| 24 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 34 | 39 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 53 | 62 | 92 | – 30 | 41 |
- Pld = Matches ; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
- NB: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Division Champions, promoted | |
| Promoted | |
| Participated in play-offs | |
| Promoted through play-offs | |
| New club in the league | |
| Relegated to Conference Football Conference The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional... |
See also
- 2002-03 in English football2002-03 in English footballThe 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
- 2002 in association football
- 2003 in association football