2002–03 Walsall F.C. season

During the 2002–03 English football season, Walsall competed in the Football League First Division. It was the club's second consecutive season at that level.

Walsall
2002–03 season
ChairmanJeff Bonser
ManagerColin Lee
StadiumBescot Stadium
First Division17th
FA CupFifth round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: José Júnior (15)
All: José Júnior (16)
Highest home attendance11,037 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 11 January)
Lowest home attendance3,847 (vs. Shrewsbury Town, 10 September)
Average home league attendance6,978

Season summary

Walsall managed to avoid relegation to extend their stay in English football's second tier to a third season. Much of their success was down to the signing of key players, such as ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Vinny Samways, returning to English football after a six-year spell in Spain.

Kit

Xara became Walsall's new kit manufacturers. Banks's remained the kit sponsors.

Final league table
Main article: 2002–03 Football League First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
15 Rotherham United 46 15 14 17 62 62 0 59
16 Burnley 46 15 10 21 65 89 −24 55
17 Walsall 46 15 9 22 57 69 −12 54
18 Derby County 46 15 7 24 55 74 −19 52
19 Bradford City 46 14 10 22 51 73 −22 52
Updated to match(es) played on 11 May 2003. Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results

Walsall's score comes first[1]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
10 August 2002Ipswich TownH0-25,253
14 August 2002Wolverhampton WanderersA1-327,904Herivelto
17 August 2002Sheffield UnitedA1-114,011Corica
24 August 2002Nottingham ForestH2-15,096Sonner (pen), Wrack
26 August 2002Brighton & Hove AlbionA2-06,519Corica, Leitão
31 August 2002ReadingH0-25,327
7 September 2002WatfordA0-210,528
14 September 2002Bradford CityH0-14,678
17 September 2002Rotherham UnitedH3-44,648Zdrilic (2), Leitão
21 September 2002MillwallA3-07,525Zdrilic, Wrack, Leitão
28 September 2002Sheffield WednesdayH1-06,792Simpson
5 October 2002Derby CountyA2-225,247Corica, Aranalde (pen)
12 October 2002BurnleyA1-212,907Birch
19 October 2002Preston North EndH3-36,832Leitão, Júnior, Aranalde (pen)
26 October 2002Coventry CityA0-014,544
29 October 2002Crystal PalaceH3-46,368Corica, Júnior (2)
2 November 2002Stoke CityH4-26,391Leitão (2), Júnior, Aranalde (pen)
9 November 2002Leicester CityA0-225,243
16 November 2002WimbledonA2-31,255Júnior, Sonner (pen)
23 November 2002GillinghamH1-06,630Júnior
30 November 2002PortsmouthA2-317,701Sonner (2 pens)
7 December 2002Grimsby TownH3-15,888Júnior, Leitão, Wrack
14 December 2002WimbledonH2-06,596Wrack, Júnior
21 December 2002Norwich CityA1-219,872Easton (own goal)
26 December 2002Sheffield UnitedH0-110,459
28 December 2002Ipswich TownA2-326,550Wrack (2)
1 January 2003Nottingham ForestA1-128,441Ainsworth
11 January 2003Wolverhampton WanderersH0-111,037
18 January 2003ReadingA0-011,786
1 February 2003Brighton & Hove AlbionH1-08,413Leitão
8 February 2003Leicester CityH1-48,741O'Connor
22 February 2003WatfordH2-07,705Júnior, Leitão
26 February 2003Stoke CityA0-110,409
1 March 2003Bradford CityA2-110,893Robinson, Matías
4 March 2003Rotherham UnitedA0-05,792
8 March 2003MillwallH1-26,647Júnior
15 March 2003BurnleyH3-26,327Leitão, Carbon, Matías
18 March 2003Preston North EndA0-511,170
22 March 2003Crystal PalaceA0-219,102
5 April 2003PortsmouthH1-27,899Júnior
12 April 2003GillinghamA1-06,972Leitão
15 April 2003Coventry CityH0-07,337
19 April 2003Norwich CityH0-07,018
21 April 2003Grimsby TownA1-04,618Júnior
26 April 2003Derby CountyH3-28,416Júnior (3)
4 May 2003Sheffield WednesdayA1-220,864Matías

FA Cup
Main article: 2002–03 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 2003ReadingH0-05,987
R3R14 January 2003ReadingA1-1 (won 4-1 on pens)8,767Wrack
R425 January 2003WimbledonH1-06,693Zdrilic
R515 February 2003Sheffield UnitedA0-217,510

League Cup
Main article: 2002–03 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R110 September 2002Shrewsbury TownH1-03,847Leitão
R22 October 2002Nottingham ForestA2-16,343Leitão, Júnior
R36 November 2002Blackburn RoversA2-2 (lost 4-5 on pens)9,486Aranalde (pen), Zdrilic

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ENG Jimmy Walker
2 MF  ENG Darren Bazeley
3 DF  ESP Zigor Aranalde
4 DF  ENG Matt Carbon
5 DF  NZL Danny Hay
6 DF  ENG Ian Roper
7 MF  ENG Darren Wrack
8 MF  ENG Martin O'Connor[3]
9 FW  POR Jorge Leitão
10 MF  AUS Steve Corica
11 MF  ESP Pedro Matías
12 MF  WAL Carl Robinson (on loan from Portsmouth)
14 FW  AUS David Zdrilic
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF  ENG Tony Barras
16 MF  NIR Danny Sonner[4]
17 FW  ENG Gary Birch
18 MF  ENG Gareth Ainsworth (on loan from Wimbledon)
19 MF  ENG Mark Wright
24 MF  ENG Vinny Samways
25 FW  BRA José Júnior (on loan from Treze)
26 MF  JAM Fitzroy Simpson[5]
27 GK  ENG Gavin Ward
29 MF  ENG Chris Shuker (on loan from Manchester City)
29 MF  JAM Jamie Lawrence[6]
30 DF  FRA Ludovic Pollet (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
33 MF  ENG Neil Emblen (on loan from Norwich City)

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
12 FW  POR Dani Rodrigues (to Ionikos)
13 MF  BRA Moreira Herivelto (to Ionikos)
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF  ENG Matt Gadsby (to Mansfield Town)
24 MF  ESP Roberto Martínez (to Swansea City)

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW  ENG Karl Hawley
21 MF  ENG Craig Stanley
22 FW  ENG Andy Bishop
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF  ENG Nick Smith
28 GK  ENG Matthew Harris
31 MF  FRA Jean-Philippe Javary (on loan from Sheffield United)

References
  1. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/walsall/2002-2003/results
  2. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2002-2003/d1/walsall.htm
  3. O'Connor was born in Walsall, England, but represented the Cayman Islands internationally, although FIFA later ruled that he was ineligible.
  4. Sonner was born in Wigan, England.
  5. Simpson was born in Bradford-on-Avon, England.
  6. Lawrence was born in Balham, England.
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