Football League Second Division 2002/03

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Football League Second Division 2002/03
Football League logo between 1988 and 2004
master Wigan Athletic
Climbers Wigan Athletic
Crewe Alexandra
Cardiff City (as play-off winner)
Relegated Cheltenham Town
Huddersfield Town
Mansfield Town
Northampton Town
Teams 24
Games 552
Gates 1,421  (ø 2.57 per game)
Top scorer Robert Earnshaw ( Cardiff City )
← Football League Second Division 2001/02
^ Football League First Division 2002/03

The Football League Second Division 2002/03 was the eleventh season of the Football League Second Division as the third highest English football league and 76th third division season overall. Third division champion was Wigan Athletic and next rose the second-placed Crewe Alexandra and after play-off successes against Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers, the sixth-placed Cardiff City in the Football League First Division .

For the three promoted teams, the three second division teams Sheffield Wednesday , Brighton & Hove Albion and Grimsby Town, ranked in the table below, took the places in the following third division season 2003/04 . Cheltenham Town , Huddersfield Town , Mansfield Town and Northampton Town had to relegate from the Second Division . Instead of these four clubs, the fourth division champions Rushden & Diamonds , behind them Hartlepool United and AFC Wrexham and the play-off winners AFC Bournemouth took the vacant positions in the following season 2003/04 .

Closing table

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. Wigan Athletic  46  29  13  4th 068:250 +43 100
 2. Crewe Alexandra (A)  46  25th  11  10 076:400 +36 86
 3. Bristol City  46  24  11  11 079:480 +31 83
 4th Queens Park Rangers  46  24  11  11 069:450 +24 83
 5. Oldham Athletic  46  22nd  16  8th 068:380 +30 82
 6th WalesFlag of Wales (1959 – present) .svg Cardiff City  46  23  12  11 068:430 +25 81
 7th Tranmere Rovers  46  23  11  12 066:570  +9 80
 8th. Plymouth Argyle (N)  46  17th  14th  15th 063:520 +11 65
 9. Luton Town (N)  46  17th  14th  15th 067:620  +5 65
10. Swindon Town  46  16  12  18th 059:630  −4 60
11. Peterborough United  46  14th  16  16 051:540  −3 58
12. Colchester United  46  14th  16  16 052:560  −4 58
13. Blackpool FC  46  15th  13  18th 056:640  −8 58
14th Stockport County (A)  46  15th  10  21st 065:700  −5 55
15th Notts County  46  13  16  17th 062:700  −8 55
16. Brentford FC  46  14th  12  20th 047:560  −9 54
17th Port Vale  46  14th  11  21st 054:700 −16 53
18th Wycombe Wanderers  46  13  13  20th 059:660  −7 52
19th Barnsley FC (A)  46  13  13  20th 051:640 −13 52
20th Chesterfield FC  46  14th  8th  24 043:730 −30 50
21st Cheltenham Town (N)  46  10  18th  18th 053:680 −15 48
22nd Huddersfield Town  46  11  12  23 039:610 −22 45
23. Mansfield Town (N)  46  12  8th  26th 066:970 −31 44
24. Northampton Town  46  10  9  27 040:790 −39 39

Placement criteria: 1st points - 2nd goal difference - 3rd goals scored

  • Third division champion and promoted to the Football League First Division 2003/04
  • Promoted to the Football League First Division 2003/04
  • Play-off winners and promoted to Football League First Division in 2003/04
  • defeated participants of the play-off round to participate in the Football League First Division 2003/04
  • Relegation to the Football League Third Division in 2003/04
    • (A) Relegated from the Football League First Division 2001/02
    (N) Newcomers from the Football League Third Division 2001/02

    Play-off games for participation in the First Division

      Semi-finals (first leg / second leg / total) Finals at the Millennium Stadium
                         
    3  Bristol City 0 0 0    
    6th  Cardiff City 0 1 1  
    6th  Cardiff City 1
      4th  Queens Park Rangers 0
    4th  Queens Park Rangers 1 1 2
    5  Oldham Athletic 1 0 1  

    List of goalscorers

    player society Gates
    1 WalesFlag of Wales (1959 – present) .svg Robert Earnshaw Cardiff City 31
    2 EnglandEngland Luke Beckett Stockport County 27
    3 ScotlandScotland Sam Parkin Swindon Town 25th
    4th EnglandEngland Mark Stallard Notts County 24
    5 ScotlandScotland Steve Howard Luton Town 22nd
    = EnglandEngland Rob Hulse Crewe Alexandra =

    Web links

    References and footnotes

    1. ↑ English League Leading Goalscorers (RSSSF)
    2. ↑ Jack Rollin (Ed.): Rothmans Football Yearbook 2003-2004 . Queen Anne Press, London 2003, ISBN 0-7553-1228-7 , pp. 50 .
    3. ↑ Result after extension.