Football League Third Division 2002/03

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Football League Third Division 2002/03
master Rushden & Diamonds
Climbers Rushden & Diamonds
Hartlepool United
Wrexham
AFC Bournemouth AFC (as play-off winners)
Relegation ↑ Bournemouth AFC
Scunthorpe United
Lincoln City
Bury FC
Relegated Exeter City
Shrewsbury Town
Teams 24
Games 552
Gates 1,419  (ø 2.57 per game)
Top scorer Andy Morrell (Wrexham AFC)
← Football League Third Division 2001/02
^ Football League Second Division 2002/03

The Football League Third Division 2002/03 was the eleventh season of the Football League Third Division as only the fourth highest English football league and 45th fourth division season overall.

The top three clubs Rushden & Diamonds , Hartlepool United and AFC Wrexham rose directly to the Football League Second Division. The clubs in places four to seven determined the fourth promoted team in play-off mode. Here the AFC Bournemouth prevailed.

Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town rose to the Football Conference and were replaced by Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers the following season .

Closing table

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. Rushden & Diamonds  46  24  15th  7th 073:470 +26 87
 2. Hartlepool United  46  24  13  9 071:510 +20 85
 3. WalesFlag of Wales (1959 – present) .svg AFC Wrexham (A)  46  23  15th  8th 084:500 +34 84
 4th Bournemouth AFC (A)  46  20th  14th  12 060:480 +12 74
 5. Scunthorpe United  46  19th  15th  12 068:490 +19 72
 6th Lincoln City  46  18th  16  12 046:370  +9 70
 7th Bury FC (A)  46  18th  16  12 057:560  +1 70
 8th. Oxford United  46  19th  12  15th 057:470 +10 69
 9. Torquay United  46  16  18th  12 071:710  ± 0 66
10. York city  46  17th  15th  14th 052:530  −1 66
11. Kidderminster Harriers  46  16  15th  15th 062:630  −1 63
12. Cambridge United (A)  46  16  13  17th 067:700  −3 61
13. Hull City  46  14th  17th  15th 058:530  +5 59
14th Darlington FC  46  12  18th  16 058:590  −1 54
15th Boston United (N) 1  46  15th  13  18th 055:560  −1 54
16. Macclesfield Town  46  14th  12  20th 057:630  −6 54
17th Southend United  46  17th  3  26th 047:590 −12 54
18th Leyton Orient  46  14th  11  21st 051:610 −10 53
19th Rochdale AFC  46  12  16  18th 063:700  −7 52
20th Bristol Rovers  46  12  15th  19th 050:570  −7 51
21st WalesFlag of Wales (1959 – present) .svg Swansea City  46  12  13  21st 048:650 −17 49
22nd Carlisle United  46  13  10  23 052:780 −26 49
23. Exeter City  46  11  15th  20th 050:640 −14 48
24. Shrewsbury Town  46  9  14th  23 062:920 −30 41

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

1 Boston United were deducted four points for financial irregularities last season.
  • Promoted to the Football League Second Division 2003/04
  • Play-off winners and promoted to Football League Second Division in 2003/04
  • Participants in the play-off round
  • Relegated to the Football Conference
    • (A) Relegated from the Football League Second Division 2001/02
    (N) Newcomers from the Football Conference

    Play-off round

      Semi-finals (first leg / second leg / total) final
                         
    4th  Bournemouth AFC 0 3 3    
    7th  Bury FC 0 1 1  
    4th  Bournemouth AFC 5
      6th  Lincoln City 2
    5  Scunthorpe United 3 0 3
    6th  Lincoln City 5 1 6th  

    Web links

    Individual evidence

    1. ^ League newcomers docked points. In: bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport, July 19, 2002, accessed May 20, 2018 .