FA Premier League 2002–03

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FA Premier League
Season	2002–03
Champions	Manchester United 8th Premier League title 15th top-flight English title
Relegated	West Ham West Brom Sunderland
Champions League	Manchester United (Group stage) Arsenal (Group stage) Newcastle (Third qualifying round) Chelsea (Third qualifying round)
UEFA Cup	Southampton (First round; via FA Cup) Blackburn Rovers (First round) Liverpool (First round; via League Cup & position) Manchester City (First qualifying round; via Fair Play)
Top goalscorer	Ruud van Nistelrooy (25)
Biggest home win	Chelsea 5-0 Manchester City (2003-03-22) Arsenal 6-1 Southampton (2003-05-07)
Biggest away win	West Brom 0–6 Liverpool (2003-04-26)
Highest scoring	Manchester United 5-3 Newcastle United (2002-11-23) Newcastle United 2-6 Manchester United (2003-04-12)
Total goals	1,000
Average goals/game	2.64
Longest winning run	Liverpool (7)
Longest unbeaten run	Manchester United (18)
Highest attendance	67,721 Man Utd v Charlton Athletic
Lowest attendance	14,017 Fulham v Blackburn
Average attendance	35,470
← Previous season 2001-02	Next season → 2003-04

The FA Premier League 2002-03 season (often referred to as the 2002-03 Barclaycard Premiership, due to sponsorship rights) was the eleventh season of the competition. The first group of matches were played on August 17, 2002 and ended on May 11, 2003. Manchester United ended the campaign as champions for the eighth time in eleven years - an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that defending champions Arsenal had led by eight points in the beginning of March, with United having a game in hand. Although this was a season of breaking new English domestic records for the Gunners and leading at all fronts come the halfway stage, they threw away a priceless lead against Bolton Wanderers and finally surrendered the title with a 3-2 home defeat to Leeds United, in the penultimate game of the season. This result all but saved Leeds from relegation, with a game to spare.

Newcastle United and Chelsea were the other two teams who qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool had to settle for the UEFA Cup; they would be joined in Europe by Blackburn Rovers for their second successive season.

Newly promoted sides Manchester City and Birmingham finished in ninth and thirteenth, respectively. Sunderland broke the record for the fewest points and goals scored in a Premiership season, while West Brom and West Ham went with them to the First Division.

Michael Ricketts had the honour of scoring the first goal of the new season for Bolton against Fulham, inside five minutes. The first hat-trick of the season was scored by Michael Owen in the match between Liverpool and Manchester City, at Maine Road in late September.

Contents 1 Final league table 2 Early events 3 Season Review 3.1 Arsenal 3.2 Aston Villa 3.3 Birmingham City 3.4 Blackburn Rovers 3.5 Bolton Wanderers 3.6 Charlton Athletic 3.7 Chelsea 3.8 Everton 3.9 Fulham 3.10 Leeds United 3.11 Liverpool 3.12 Manchester City 3.13 Manchester United 3.14 Middlesbrough 3.15 Newcastle United 3.16 Southampton 3.17 Sunderland 3.18 Tottenham Hotspur 3.19 West Bromwich Albion 3.20 West Ham United 4 Monthly awards 5 Annual awards 5.1 PFA Players' Player of the Year 5.2 PFA Young Player of the Year 5.3 PFA Team of the Year 5.4 Barclaycard Manager of the Year 5.5 Barclaycard Player of the Year 5.6 Barclaycard Golden Boot 5.7 Barclaycard Golden Gloves 5.8 Goal of the Season 6 Notable changes 6.1 Managers 6.2 Sponsors 6.3 Stadium 6.3.1 Notes 7 Records and statistics 8 Top goalscorers 9 Promoted teams 10 Relegated teams 11 See also 12 References 13 External links

[edit] Final league table

Last updated May 11, 2003

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts	Comments
1	Manchester United (C)	38	25	8	5	74	34	40	83	UEFA Champions League 2003-04 Group Stage
2	Arsenal	38	23	9	6	85	42	43	78
3	Newcastle United	38	21	6	11	63	48	15	69	UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round
4	Chelsea	38	19	10	9	68	38	30	67
5	Liverpool	38	18	10	10	61	41	20	64	UEFA Cup 2003-04 First Round1
6	Blackburn Rovers	38	16	12	10	52	43	9	60
7	Everton	38	17	8	13	48	49	-1	59
8	Southampton	38	13	13	12	43	46	-3	52	UEFA Cup 2003-04 First Round2
9	Manchester City	38	15	6	17	47	54	-7	51
10	Tottenham Hotspur	38	14	8	16	51	62	-11	50
11	Middlesbrough	38	13	10	15	48	44	4	49
12	Charlton Athletic	38	14	7	17	45	56	-11	49
13	Birmingham City	38	13	9	16	41	49	-8	48
14	Fulham	38	13	9	16	41	50	-9	48
15	Leeds United	38	14	5	19	58	57	1	47
16	Aston Villa	38	12	9	17	42	47	-5	45
17	Bolton Wanderers	38	10	14	14	41	51	-10	44
18	West Ham United (R)	38	10	12	16	42	59	-17	42	Relegation to Nationwide Division 1
19	West Bromwich Albion (R)	38	6	8	24	29	65	-36	26
20	Sunderland (R)	38	4	7	27	21	65	-44	19

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

¹Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers.

²Since Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their place in the UEFA Cup as FA Cup winners went to Southampton, who were the FA Cup runners-up.

[edit] Early events

Following England's exit from the 2002 FIFA World Cup at the hands of Brazil, The big talking point at the start of the season was the signing of centre-back, Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United to Manchester United, in a deal worth £29.1 million but valued by Leeds at £30 million.^[1] It made him the most expensive defender in the world, as well as becoming Britain's most expensive player for the second time in two years.

Arsenal strengthened their double winning side, by requiring the services of Swedish goalkeeper, Rami Shaaban, following the departure of Richard Wright to Everton. The only other signing Arsène Wenger brought in was Brazilian star Gilberto Silva, for a bargain price of £4.5 million. The deal proved valuable as Gilberto scored the winner in the newly named Community Shield, against Liverpool.^[2]

Liverpool were one of the few sides who spent big during summer. Out went Jari Litmanen, Nick Barmby, Jamie Redknapp and ex-Arsenal star Nicolas Anelka, who was snubbed by the management board. Anelka eventually went to newly-promoted, Manchester City, in a deal worth £13 million.^[3] Gérard Houllier's preferred striker was Senegalese star El-Hadji Diouf who cost £10 million. French international winger, Bruno Cheyrou was also acquired by Houllier, for £4.5 million.

Leeds United suffered a manager crisis during the summer transfer. David O'Leary was controversially sacked as manager, after failing to win a trophy in his four year spell.^[4] Despite reaching the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup semi-finals, O' Leary was given more than £100 million pounds in transfer funds, to produce a winning squad. He was replaced by former England boss, Terry Venables on a two year deal. ^[5]

[edit] Season Review

[edit] Arsenal

The season was one in which Arsenal had to settle for second place, after dominating the first half of the season and looking as though they would retain the title. Following their Community Shield win, Arsenal continued their breathtaking approach to football, by ripping apart promoted side Birmingham and winning their fourteenth game in a row - a new top-flight record. The Highbury faithful were expectant of seeing their team flowing like wine, complementing with goals coming from all angles. It was coming to a point of when the goals were coming, not if. A 4-1 win against Leeds United in September rewrote the record books thrice;^[6] they scored in 47 consecutive games, beat Nottingham Forest's top-flight record of 22 away league games without defeat and equaled Manchester United's Premiership total of 29 matches unbeaten. Arsène Wenger hailed the performance as 'edging nearer to perfection'^[7] and predicted that the team could go unbeaten in all competitions.^[8] By the start of October, the Gunners went 30 unbeaten, and won twelve games at home - a new club best.^[9] However at the middle of the month, Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season, against Everton. Wayne Rooney produced a moment of brilliance in the last minute to end the Gunners momentum at the top of the Premiership. This defeat was soon followed by consecutive home defeats to Auxerre in the Champions League and Blackburn in the league, which allowed Liverpool to move four points clear at the summit.

November proved a decisive month for the Gunners. 12 points out of a possible 15 moved them back to the top, despite losing to Southampton, after Liverpool only managed four points. After losing to Manchester United in early December, Arsenal slowly regrouped through a series of wins and draws and maintained top spot, setting the New Year's pace to four points. By early March, Arsenal established an eight point lead at the top of the Premiership (though United, in second, had a game in hand). Arsenal lost their grip on the title, following a series of unexceptable results in March and April; finally surrendering the title to Manchester United, after Leeds United escaped victorious in an enduring thriller at Highbury. Wenger's side however win their last two matches, starting the unbeaten run which eventually lasted until October 2004, breaking the previous record.

Arsenal were given some consolation with an FA Cup win over Southampton becoming the first team to retain the cup in more than 20 years.^[10]

[edit] Aston Villa

An unremarkable season with one notable match. Being the only team to not win away from home you would not have been blamed for expecting an away game to the only side with an unbeaten home record for the season to date, Middlesbrough, to be a sure home bet. An unusually thrilling game saw Villa rip Middlesbrough apart on a cold Tuesday night winning by 5 goals to 2. Also of note was a first, if somewhat fortuitous goal from new Icelandic loan signing Joey Gudjohnson. The season was typified by the fact that they finished below fierce rivals Birmingham City.

[edit] Birmingham City

Newly Promoted Birmingham City made their first ever showing in the Premier League as it is known today. Steve Bruce made astute signings such as Robbie Savage and Aliou Cisse who ensured Birminghams survival, and led to them to, more pleasingly to the fans, finishing clearly above local rivals Aston Villa

[edit] Blackburn Rovers

Dwight Yorke was brought in from Manchester United to rekindle his successful partnership with Andy Cole, although the pairing was not as successful this time around. The outstanding players this season for Rovers were Damien Duff who followed up his impressive World Cup performances with 10 league goals from midfield and keeper Brad Friedel who was named in the Premier League team of the season. A sixth place finish was achieved on the final day of the season with a 4-0 win at Spurs, meaning qualification for the UEFA cup and a highest league finish since the 1997-98 season. There was also a run to the semi finals of the League Cup and impressive wins over Manchester United, Chelsea and a double over Arsenal.

[edit] Bolton Wanderers

[edit] Charlton Athletic

[edit] Chelsea

Claudio Ranieri guided Chelsea to their first Champions League qualification in 4 years. Gianfranco Zola was top scorer, and there were also impressive performances from Frank Lampard, John Terry & Eidur Gudjohnssen.

[edit] Everton

Everton had a fantastic year, and comfortably held a European spot for most of the season, however a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on the final game of the season meant that Everton had to settle for 7th place. The positives coming from Goodison Park was 16-year old Wayne Rooney and his formidable partnership with Tomasz Radzinski and Kevin Campbell. Defeats to Chelsea in the League Cup and a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Shrewsbury Town in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, meant Everton were left trophyless for another year.

[edit] Fulham

[edit] Leeds United

Although qualifying for Europe last season and starting the season in good form, Leeds narrowly avoided relegation in their penultimate game of the season.

After a summer of change in management, Terry Venables' side got off to a dream start by destroying Manchester City and following the win with a free-flowing display against West Brom. Leeds finished fourth at the end of month one, a point behind Liverpool and Arsenal. However, the team lost the services of striker Robbie Keane, who transferred to Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of August. Rio Ferdinand returned to Elland Road in early September, and clearly wasn't missed as Leeds took their revenge, thanks to a Harry Kewell goal. The month ended on a sour note, as a rampant Arsenal side scored four goals at will. Still though, Leeds moved up to third still behind unbeaten Arsenal and Liverpool.

The team's fortunes turned dramatically in October and November and went from third place to sixteenth. Christmas didn't help, and the January transfer market saw Robbie Fowler, Olivier Dacourt and Jonathan Woodgate heading to Manchester City, AS Roma and Newcastle United, respectively.

A string of losses in January and February, confirmed the sacking of Terry Venables. He was replaced by ex-Sunderland boss Peter Reid, who was signed on a six month contract with a view of the Leeds United board to extend it at the end of the season. Reid didn't get the best of starts - Liverpool produced a thrilling display to beat Leeds and leave them five points ahead of Bolton, having placed one game more.

The results soon came and by May, Leeds needed to beat current champions, Arsenal to avoid relegation. Despite losing the reverse fixture, Leeds beat the Gunners at Highbury - thus handing the title to Manchester United and made Reid permanent manager.

Harry Kewell was at his best during his last season at Elland Road, as his exploits were enough to keep Leeds United in the Premiership. Fellow Australian Mark Viduka also obliged and proceeded to go on an end of season scoring spree to contribute to Leed's survival.

[edit] Liverpool

Having ended the previous season in second place, and automatically in the Champions League, big things were expected of Liverpool and Gérard Houllier's desire to win the club their first league trophy, in over twelve years. The season however ended with one trophy, the Worthington Cup and a fifth placed position - not even enough to secure a Champions League spot.

Despite losing out to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield, The Reds started the season in comfortable fashion, although suffering a series of draws against Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and Birmingham City and likewise to Arsenal, they were unbeaten throughout September and October. After the Gunners string of losses in late October, Liverpool moved towards seven points clear of the Premiership, still unbeaten and looking for an eighth straight win - a record for the season. Pundits noted that Liverpool were winning games, without their full potential - A sign of champions. However, Liverpool eventually suffered their first loss of the season against Middlesbrough, which soon followed at the hands of Sunderland and Fulham in November. A defeat to Manchester United at Anfield sparked a dramatic change in form. Liverpool started December in second place but after a month without a win, Gérard Houllier found his team lying in sixth at the turn of the New Year. A early loss to Newcastle in January all but eliminated the team from the title race. Houllier also endured the worst run a Liverpool manager had for almost fifty years. Liverpool were also shown just how far they were to matching the eventual champions Manchester United, when they travelled to Old Trafford, they were completely outclassed by United getting beat 4-0.

Liverpool's new target was fourth place, which was their last chance of qualifying for the Champions League. After a group of wins in February and March, it looked like as though they would fed off competition from Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers. Liverpool's loss to Manchester City in May made the race for fourth place go until the last day.

Fourth place eventually went to Chelsea and guaranteed a Champions League spot for the first time in five years.

[edit] Manchester City

The 2002-03 season was the last at Maine Road, and included a 3-1 derby victory over rivals Manchester United, ending a run of 13 years without a derby win.[6] City also qualified for the UEFA Cup through the "Fair Play ranking", earning the club's first entry into European competition in 25 years. In the 2003 close season the club moved to the new City of Manchester Stadium.

[edit] Manchester United

After ending the previous season by surrendering the title to Arsenal at home and finishing third behind rejuvenated Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson reiterated his desire to dominate English football by signing a three year contract in the late winter of 2002^[11]. By the end of the season, Ferguson got his wish and bagged Manchester United their fifteenth domestic league title, thanks largely to the form of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored an impressive 25 goals during the run in. The manager also assembled a new defense which included new signing Rio Ferdinand, who broke the transfer record for a defender and in English football.

The Red Devils started their quest to regain the Premiership title at home to newly-promoted West Brom and scrapped up three points thanks to a late Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tap in. Results didn't flow as Ferguson hoped and by early September, Manchester United got of to their worst start since the inauguration of the Premiership, lying in tenth place.^[12] Things didn't get better as losses to Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United, were eclipsed by a derby day defeat to Manchester City allowed a four point gap to open with leaders, Liverpool. Following a empathic win against Newcastle United, the team started a run of wins most notably against Liverpool, West Ham and champions Arsenal to help their Premiership challenge gather ominous momentum. Although losing at Boxing Day to Middlesbrough, the team finished a respectable third, five points behind Arsenal come the new year. This, surprisingly was the time they were on the losing since come the end of the season and remained unbeaten.^[13]

A series of home wins against Sunderland and Chelsea in January helped pile the pressure on runaway leaders Arsenal, who were suffering from a minor goalkeeping crisis. After drawing at Bolton and at home to Manchester City, Arsenal had the chance to open a five point gap at the top of the Premiership summit all be it if they win at Maine Road. A five star performance ensured this through a rampant display of attacking football that all but put one hand on the trophy. The title race went down to two after Blackburn completed a sensational double over the reigning champions at home. Rovers' win gave United a chance to steal a march on their rivals; their victory over Aston Villa thanks to a solo David Beckham goal, narrowed the gap at the top to just two points.

April began with a ruthless win at Old Trafford aganist Liverpool, which helped them reclaim top spot all be it temporarily. However, Kolo Toure's late own goal gifted Aston Villa a point when Arsenal perhaps should have taken three. By the end of the week, just goal difference separated the top two, favouring the Gunners.^[14] A rout against Newcastle, led up to the game of the season - against Arsenal at Highbury. A stalemate draw didn't prove decisive, however favouring Manchester United who kept a three point lead, although the Gunners with a game in hand. Despite more European disappointment; this time at the hands of Real Madrid through an impressive Ronaldo performance, A late draw at Bolton Wanderers dented Arsenal's hopes of regaining the double and installed Manchester United as sole favourites to win the league. They didn't bluff, cruising to a home win against Charlton Athletic which virtually won the them the title after Arsenal failed to better the result.

[edit] Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough enjoyed a good campaign in the Premier League finishing 11. However the season offered so much more for Middlesbrough as they lost two games at home all season. Middlesbrough unveiled they record 8.15 Million Pounds for Italian Striker Massimo Maccarone who finished the season with 9 goals next to his name. Boro away record cost them badly as they were placed 3rd after 9 games behind Liverpool and Arsenal. The highlight for them would have had to have been the 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Boxing day, with Boskic, Job and Nemeth netting for the Boro. Middlesbrough's 13-game unbeaten run ended at the hands of Aston Villa in a crushing 5-2 defeat. Against Arsenal (April 19) made it the first time they had not scored in a home fixture since the 27th of April the previous year against Chelsea.

[edit] Newcastle United

Newcastle United started the domestic season on a high by thrashing West Ham United 4-0 at home, with Lomana Lua Lua scoring a brace and Alan Shearer and Noberto Solano also scoring, all four strikes coming in the second half. Newcastle United were later beaten by Manchester City, thanks to a first half goal from Darren Huckerby .

In early October, Newcastle came from a goal down to win 2-1 against West Bromwich Albion, Alan Shearer getting on the scoresheet. Manchester United beat the Magpies 5-3, Ruud Van Nisterooy scoring a hat-trick and Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solkjaer scoring a goal each. Craig Bellamy's goal came far too late for the Magpies.

In the last game of the season, they were held to a 2-2 draw by Middlesbrough. Ending the season in 3rd position in the English premier league, Newcastle thus secured a place in the Champions League Qualifying round. Alan Shearer scored 17 league goals over the course of the season, adding to his impressive tally of 260 English Premiership goals.

[edit] Southampton

Southampton had enjoyed their best position in the Premiership finishing 8th place in the league. They got into The FA Cup final losing 1-0 to Arsenal at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.

[edit] Sunderland

With a total of 19 points, Sunderland earned the dubious record of having the worst season of a team in the history of the Premier League to date. The club would later break the record in the 2005-06 season, when they earned 15 points. The record was broken yet again in 2007–08, when Derby County earned just 11 points. Three players - Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry, and James Beattie - scored more goals than the entire Sunderland team in 2002–03. Henry would then repeat this feat in 2005-06.

[edit] Tottenham Hotspur

[edit] West Bromwich Albion

[edit] West Ham United

They became the only team to be relegated after getting more than 40 points in the 20 team format of the EPL.

[edit] Monthly awards

Month	Manager	Player
August	Glenn Hoddle (Tottenham Hotspur)[15]	Sylvain Wiltord (Arsenal)[16]
September	Arsène Wenger (Arsenal)[17]	Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
October	Gérard Houllier (Liverpool)[18]	Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea)
November	David Moyes (Everton)[19]	James Beattie (Southampton)[20]
December	Gordon Strachan (Southampton)[21]	Alan Shearer (Newcastle United)[22]
January	Sir Bobby Robson (Newcastle United)[23]	Paul Scholes (Manchester United)[24]
February	Alan Curbishley (Charlton Athletic)[25]	Robert Pires (Arsenal)[26]
March	Glenn Roeder (West Ham United)[27]	Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)[28]
April	Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)[29]	Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)

[edit] Annual awards

[edit] PFA Players' Player of the Year

The PFA Players' Player of the Year award for 2003 was won by Thierry Henry of Arsenal.^[30] This was the Frenchman’s first award of the season and he beat off competition from the previous winner Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, in alphabetical order, is as follows:

Player	Team
James Beattie	Southampton
Thierry Henry	Arsenal
Ruud van Nistelrooy	Manchester United
Paul Scholes	Manchester United
Alan Shearer	Newcastle United
Gianfranco Zola	Chelsea

[edit] PFA Young Player of the Year

The PFA Young Player of the Year award was won by Jermaine Jenas of Newcastle United.^[31] Wayne Rooney came as runner-up, and John O'Shea finished third in one of his first full seasons as a United player.

The shortlist for the award was as follows:

Player	Team
Craig Bellamy	Newcastle United
Jermain Defoe	West Ham United
Jermaine Jenas	Newcastle United
John O'Shea	Manchester United
Scott Parker	Charlton Athletic
Wayne Rooney	Everton

[edit] PFA Team of the Year

Goalkeeper:	Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers)
Defence:	Stephen Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), William Gallas (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
Midfield:	Patrick Vieira (Arsenal), Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Robert Pires (Arsenal)
Attack:	Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Alan Shearer (Newcastle United)

[edit] Barclaycard Manager of the Year

The award was won by Sir Alex Ferguson^[32] for winning his eighth title and regaining the league after a superb second half to the season, involving an 18 match unbeaten run.

[edit] Barclaycard Player of the Year

The award was given to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who's form, creativity and goals all helped Manchester United regain the league from Arsenal.

[edit] Barclaycard Golden Boot

This award was also won by Ruud van Nistelrooy who scored 25 goals in 38 league matches and 44 in all competitions. He also equalled his record of eight goals in eight successive matches, he set in the previous season.

[edit] Barclaycard Golden Gloves

The award was given to Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who proved vital in their quest for Champions League qualification. He kept twelve clean sheets - the most in the season and only conceded 35 goals. Viewers of ITV's On the Ball voted Cudicini on top of Saints keeper, Antti Niemi and Blackburn's Brad Friedel.

[edit] Goal of the Season

The annual award was won by a wonder goal from Thierry Henry against Tottenham Hotspur, on 16 November 2002, voted by viewers of ITV's The Premiership. The French striker picked up the ball from his side of the pitch following a Kanu pass and ran almost 30 yards, twisting and turing the Spurs defence to unleash a thunderous drive. In celebration, he ran the distance of the whole pitch and skidded infront of the Spurs faithful. The goal proved important as it helped them regain their position at the top of the Premiership from Liverpool.

[edit] Notable changes

[edit] Managers

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Sunderland	Peter Reid	Sacked	7 October 2002[33]	Howard Wilkinson	10 October 2002[34]	17th
Leeds United	Terry Venables	Sacked	21 March 2003[35]	Peter Reid	21 March 2003[36]	15th
Fulham	Jean Tigana	Sacked	17 April 2003[37]	Chris Coleman	15 May 2003[38]	15th

West Ham United manager Glenn Roeder was forced to take sick leave in mid-April after being diagnosed with a brain tumour during a Premier League match against Middlesbrough at Upton Park. Former Hammers legend Sir Trevor Brooking took temporary charge for the remaining three matches. Despite Brooking's efforts, the Hammers failed to beat the drop after drawing against Birmingham on the final day of the season.

[edit] Sponsors

Team	Kit Maker	Shirt Sponsor	Notes
Arsenal	Nike	O2	O2 takes over from SEGA Dreamcast as sponsors, which would be worth in the region of £6 to £10 million. New home and blue away kit. The previous metallic gold shirt of last season would become the third kit.
Aston Villa	Diadora	Rover	Rover takes over from NTL: as shirt sponsors in a multi million pound sponsership deal, effective from the start of this season and lasting until 2004. As a result, The home and away kit will feature the Rover and MG brands respectively rather than having MG Rover Group on both.
Birmingham City	le coq sportif	Phones 4U	New away kit.
Blackburn Rovers	Lonsdale	TIME	New away kit.
Bolton Wanderers	Reebok	Reebok	New yellow away kit.
Charlton Athletic	le coq sportif	all:sports	New home and away kit.
Chelsea	Umbro	Fly Emirates	Home shirt from 2001/02. New black and blue away kit.
Everton	Puma	Kejian	Kejian replaces One 2 One as shirt sponsors. New home and away kit.
Fulham	adidas	Betfair.com	New home and away kit.
Leeds United	Nike	Strongbow	New home and blue/yellow away kit.
Liverpool	Reebok	Carlsberg	New home and black/gray away kit. The white kit from the previous season will become third choice and the european jersey will remain the same.
Manchester City	le coq sportif	Eidos	New home and away.
Manchester United	Nike	Vodafone	Nike replaces Umbro as kit sponsors, in a multi-million pound sponsorship deal. Due to this, the club launched a new home, away and third kit released in August 2002.
Middlesbrough	Errea	Dial-a-Phone	New home and away kit.
Newcastle United	adidas	Ntl:	New away kit. Home kit from previous season.
Southampton		Friends Provident	New away kit.
Sunderland	Nike	Reg Vardy	New home and away kit.
Tottenham Hotspur	adidas	Holsten	New away kit. Home kit from previous season.
West Bromwich Albion		West Bromwich Building Society	New home and away kit.
West Ham United	Fila	Dr. Martens	New away kit.

[edit] Stadium

Team	Stadium	Capacity
Manchester United	Old Trafford	68,174
Newcastle United	St James' Park	52,387
Sunderland	Stadium of Light	48,707
Liverpool	Anfield	45,522
Aston Villa	Villa Park	42,573
Chelsea	Stamford Bridge	42,055
Everton	Goodison Park	40,569
Leeds United	Elland Road	40,242
Arsenal	Highbury	38,419
Tottenham Hotspur	White Hart Lane	36,240
West Ham United	Boleyn Ground	35,647
Manchester City	Maine Road	35,150
Middlesbrough	Riverside Stadium	35,049
Southampton	St Mary's Stadium	32,689
Blackburn Rovers	Ewood Park	31,367
Birmingham City	St Andrews Stadium	30,009
Charlton Athletic	The Valley	27,111
Bolton Wanderers	Reebok Stadium	28,723
West Bromwich Albion	The Hawthorns	28,003
Fulham	Loftus Road	19,148

[edit] Notes

• This was the last season Manchester City played in Maine Road. They would move to the redeveloped 48,000 seater City of Manchester Stadium. Highlights of the season was the last ever Manchester derby, which was won by City. However, Manchester City did lose their last game at the stadium to Southampton.

• Fulham temporarily relocated to Loftus Road after Craven Cottage was in need of a refurbishment.

[edit] Records and statistics

Liverpool had the longest winning run in the league - 7, which started on September 14, 2002 against Bolton Wanderers and ended on November 9 against Middlesbrough.

Manchester United hold the record for the longest unbeaten run - 18, starting against Birmingham and lasting throughout the entire season.

Arsenal hold the record for the most goals scored in the season - 83, while Manchester United conceded the least amount of goals - 34, four better than Chelsea. Arsenal also broke the record for the most away games without defeat, goals scored in consecutive games and equalled Manchester United's unbeaten record. However, the Gunners failed to set a new all-time English football record of 15 consecutive victories after drawing to West Ham United in August 2002.

Birmingham City were given the most yellow cards in the season, while Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur were given the most red cards. Manchester United were the most disciplined side with only one red card and 45 yellow cards.

The most goals in one match were between Manchester United and Newcastle, which involved 8 goals. The biggest home win was between Chelsea's 5-0 win against Manchester City, while the biggest away win was Liverpool's 6–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.

Sunderland ended the season relegated with the fewest points, while West Ham United became the first team to be relegated with more than 40 points. Sunderland also had the longest losing run of 15 games.

The highest attendance in the season was 67,721 who watched Manchester United against Charlton at Old Trafford, while the lowest attendance was between Fulham and Blackburn Rovers at Loftus Road. 14,017 watched the match. The average attendance of the season was 35,470.

[edit] Top goalscorers

Pos	Scorer	Goals	Team
1st	Ruud van Nistelrooy	25	Manchester United
2nd	Thierry Henry	24	Arsenal
3rd	James Beattie	23	Southampton
4th	Mark Viduka	20	Leeds United
5th	Michael Owen	19	Liverpool
6th	Alan Shearer	17	Newcastle United
7th	Nicolas Anelka	15	Manchester City
8th	Robert Pires	14	Arsenal

[edit] Promoted teams

These three teams were promoted from Nationwide Division 1 at the start of the season:

• Manchester City
• West Bromwich Albion
• Birmingham City

[edit] Relegated teams

These three teams were relegated from the FA Premier League at the end of the season:

• Sunderland
• West Bromwich Albion
• West Ham United

[edit] See also

• 2002-03 in English football
• FA Premier League 2003-04

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• 2002-03 FA Premier League Review
• Barclaycard Premiership club-by-club Season Review

Preceded by FA Premier League 2001-02

FA Premier League 2002-03 Manchester United

Succeeded by FA Premier League 2003-04

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