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2002–03 Football League First Division

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox football league season

| competition=Football League First Division

| winners=Portsmouth
(3rd divisional title)

| promoted=Portsmouth
Leicester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers

| relegated=Sheffield Wednesday
Brighton & Hove Albion
Grimsby Town

| matches=557

| total goals=1512

| league topscorer=Svetoslav Todorov
(26 goals)

| biggest home win=Nottm Forest 6–0 Stoke,
Wolves 6–0 Gillingham

| biggest away win=Millwall 0–6 Rotherham

| highest scoring=Grimsby 6–5 Burnley,
Burnley 4–7 Watford

| longest wins=7 games{{cite news |title=English League Championship Stats – 2011–12 |url=http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-one/2002-2003/longest-sequences/full |publisher=Statto.com |access-date=2 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812074717/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-one/2002-2003/longest-sequences/full |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}
Portsmouth

| longest unbeaten=15 games
Leicester City

| longest winless=16 games
Stoke City

| longest losses=12 games
Brighton & Hove Albion

| highest attendance=

| lowest attendance=

| average attendance=15,599{{cite news |title=English League Championship Stats: Team Attendance |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/attendance/_/league/eng.2/year/2002/english-league-championship?cc=5739 |publisher=ESPN }}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| prevseason=2001–02

| nextseason=2003–04

| season=2002–03

}}

The 2002–03 Football League First Division (referred to as the Nationwide First Division for sponsorship reasons) was the eleventh season of the league under its current format as the second tier of English football.

Portsmouth won the division to return to the Premier League after a fifteen-year absence. In Harry Redknapp's first full season in charge the team secured the title on 27 April, with a victory over Rotherham, having been promoted with four games to spare by defeating Burnley.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2959237.stm |title=Portsmouth 3-2 Rotherham|date=27 April 2003 |publisher=BBC Sport}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2935375.stm |title=Portsmouth promoted|date=15 April 2003 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

Leicester City were promoted at the first attempt following their relegation. Their promotion was contentious as they entered administration during the season due to debts in excess of £50 million stemming from their loss of Premier League income and major investment in a new stadium, but were able to write-off these entirely when a new consortium took control and therefore avoided having to sell off players.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2349397.stm |title=Leicester City put into administration|date=22 October 2002 |work=BBC News}} Following this incident, the Football League would introduce rules that penalised any club entering administration with a ten-point points deduction;{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3136404.stm |title=League to punish stricken clubs|date=25 September 2003 |work=BBC News}} although Leicester would still have finished in second place had been this been applied.

Wolverhampton Wanderers won the play-offs to reach the modern-day Premiership for the first time after a 3–0 win in the play-off final against a Sheffield United team which had reached the semi-finals of both domestic cup competitions.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3050993.stm |title=Wolves back in big time|date=26 May 2003|publisher=BBC Sport}} This marked a return to top-flight football for Wolves after a nineteen-year exodus that had seen them fall as low as the fourth tier. Also leaving the division were Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton & Hove Albion and Grimsby Town, who were all relegated.

Team changes from previous season

=From the First Division=

Promoted to the Premiership:

Relegated to the Second Division:

=To the First Division=

Relegated from the Premiership:

Promoted from the Second Division:

Team overview

=Stadia and locations=

{{location map+ |England |float=right |width=400 |caption=Locations of the 2002–03 First Division clubs |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.82 | long=-1.73 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.83 |long=-0.15 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.79 | long=-2.25 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.41 |long=-1.51 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.398 | long=-0.085 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.92 |long=-1.476 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.38 | long=0.55 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.56 |long=-0.068 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.06 |long=1.14 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.62 |long=-1.14 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.48 | long=-0.048 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.63 |long=1.30 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.01 |long=-1.137|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.80 |long=-1.06 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.75 | long=-2.7 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.41 | long=-0.97 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.43 |long=-1.36|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.37 | long=-1.47 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.41 | long=-1.50 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.00 | long=-2.18 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.58 | long=-1.98 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.65 |long=-0.40 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.398 | long=-0.085 |label=|position=left}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.59 |long=-2.13 |label=|position=right}}

Bradford City

Brighton

Burnley

Coventry

Crystal Palace

Derby County

Gillingham

Grimsby Town

Ipswich Town

Leicester City

Millwall

Norwich City

Nottingham Forest

Portsmouth

Preston North End

Reading

Rotherham

Sheffield United

Sheffield Wednesday

Stoke

Walsall

Watford

Wimbledon

Wolverhampton Wanderers

}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"

! Team

! Location

! Stadium

! Capacity

Bradford CityBradfordBradford & Bingley Stadiumalign=center|25,136
BurnleyBurnleyTurf Mooralign=center| 22,546
Brighton & Hove AlbionBrightonWithdean Stadiumalign=center| 8,850
Coventry CityCoventryHighfield Roadalign=center| 23,489
Crystal PalaceLondonSelhurst Parkalign=center| 26,309
Derby CountyDerbyPride Parkalign=center| 33,597
GillinghamGillinghamPriestfield Stadiumalign=center| 11,582
Grimsby TownCleethorpesBlundell Parkalign=center| 10,033
Ipswich TownIpswichPortman Roadalign=center| 30,311
Leicester CityLeicesterWalkers Stadiumalign=center| 32,500
MillwallLondonThe New Denalign=center| 20,146
Nottingham ForestNottinghamCity Groundalign=center| 30,576
Norwich CityNorwichCarrow Roadalign=center| 26,018
PortsmouthPortsmouthFratton Parkalign=center| 20,224
Preston North EndPrestonDeepdalealign=center| 23,408
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadiumalign=center| 24,161
Rotherham UnitedRotherhamMillmooralign=center| 8,300
Sheffield UnitedSheffieldBramall Lanealign=center| 32,702
Sheffield WednesdaySheffieldHillsboroughalign=center| 39,812
Stoke CityStokeBritannia Stadiumalign=center| 27,740
WalsallWalsallBescot Stadiumalign=center| 11,300
WatfordWatfordVicarage Roadalign=center| 17,504
WimbledonLondonSelhurst Park1align=center| 26,309
Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhamptonMolineuxalign=center| 27,828

  • Note 1: Wimbledon rented the use of Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park home.

=Personnel and sponsoring=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
Team

! Manager

! Kit maker

! Sponsor

Bradford City

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Nicky Law

| BCAFC

| JCT600

Burnley

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Stan Ternent

| TFG Sports

| Lanway

Brighton & Hove Albion

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Hinshelwood

| Erreà

| Skint Records

Coventry City

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Gary McAllister

| CCFC

| Subaru

Crystal Palace

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Trevor Francis

| Le Coq Sportif

| Churchill Insurance

Derby County

| {{flagicon|ENG}} John Gregory

| Erreà

| Pedigree

Gillingham

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Hessenthaler

| Gills Leisure

| SeaFrance

Grimsby Town

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Groves

| Avec

| Dixon

Ipswich Town

| {{flagicon|SCO}} George Burley

| Punch

| TXU Energi

Leicester City

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Micky Adams

| Le Coq Sportif

| LG

Millwall

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Mark McGhee

| Strikeforce

| 24seven

Nottingham Forest

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Hart

| Umbro

| Pinnacle Insurance

Norwich City

| {{flagicon|NIR}} Nigel Worthington

| Xara

| Digital Phone Company

Portsmouth

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Redknapp

| Pompey Sport

| Ty

Preston North End

| {{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Brown

| Voi

| NewReg.com

Reading

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Pardew

| Kit@

| Westcoast

Rotherham United

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ronnie Moore

| Bodyline

| T-Mobile

Sheffield United

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Warnock

| Le Coq Sportif

| Desun

Sheffield Wednesday

| {{flagicon|WAL}} Terry Yorath

| Diadora

| Chupa Chups

Stoke City

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Cotterill

| Le Coq Sportif

| Britannia

Walsall

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Lee

| Xara

| Banks's

Watford

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ray Lewington

| Kit@

| Toshiba

Wimbledon

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Stuart Murdoch

| Patrick

| Go MK

Wolverhampton Wanderers

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Jones

| Admiral

| Doritos

==Managerial changes==

class="wikitable"
Team

! Outgoing manager

! Manner of departure

! Date of vacancy

! Position in table

! Replaced by

! Date of appointment

Brighton & Hove Albion

| {{flagicon|England}} Peter Taylor

| Resigned

| 29 April 2002{{cite news |title=Taylor quits Brighton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/1957526.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 April 2002}}

| Off season

| {{flagicon|England}} Martin Hinshelwood

| 15 July 2002{{cite news |title=Hinshelwood given Brighton job|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/2130073.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 July 2002}}

Brighton & Hove Albion

| {{flagicon|England}} Martin Hinshelwood

| Moved to director of football position

| 7 October 2002{{cite news |title=Seagulls go for Coppell|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2307873.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 October 2002}}

| 24th

| {{flagicon|England}} Steve Coppell

| 7 October 2002

Stoke City

| {{flagicon|England}} Steve Cotterill

| Resigned to become assistant manager at Sunderland

| 10 October 2002{{cite news |title=Cotterill quits Stoke|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/2315421.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=10 October 2002}}

| 15th

| {{flagicon|Wales}} Tony Pulis

| 1 November 2002{{cite news |title=Pulis gets Stoke job|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/2385193.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=1 November 2002}}

Ipswich Town

| {{flagicon|Scotland}} George Burley

| Sacked

| 11 October 2002{{cite news |title=Ipswich sack Burley|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/2319359.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 October 2002}}

|19th

| {{flagicon|England}} Joe Royle

| 28 October 2002{{cite news |title=Royle eyes promotion|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/2363793.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 October 2002}}

Sheffield Wednesday

| {{flagicon|Wales}} Terry Yorath

| Resigned

| 31 October 2002{{cite news |title=Yorath quits Wednesday|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/2380371.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=31 October 2002}}

|22nd

| {{flagicon|England}} Chris Turner

| 7 November 2002{{cite news |title=Turner handed Owls post|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/2409785.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=7 November 2002}}

Crystal Palace

| {{flagicon|England}} Trevor Francis

| Mutual consent

| 18 April 2003{{cite news |title=Francis leaves Palace|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/2958993.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 April 2003}}

| 11th

| {{flagicon|England}} Steve Kember

| 23 May 2003{{cite news |title=Palace appoint Kember|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/2933846.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=23 May 2003}}

Derby County

| {{flagicon|England}} John Gregory

| Sacked

| 9 May 20032{{cite news |title=Gregory suspended by Derby|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/2873721.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 March 2003}}{{cite news |title=Derby sack Gregory|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/3009733.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=9 May 2003}}

| 18th (end of season)

| {{flagicon|Scotland}} George Burley

| 5 June 20033{{cite news |title=Burley takes over at Derby|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/2902481.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=31 March 2003}}{{cite news |title=Burley relishes Derby challenge|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/3051511.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 June 2003}}

  • Note 2: Although Gregory was dismissed on this date, he had already been suspended from his post on 21 March after "serious allegations" were made against him.
  • Note 3: Burley was initially appointed on 31 March as interim manager following John Gregory's suspension.

League table

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|show_limit=5

|res_col_header=PR

|team1=POR|name_POR=Portsmouth

|team2=LEI|name_LEI=Leicester City

|team3=SHU|name_SHU=Sheffield United

|team4=REA|name_REA=Reading

|team5=WOL|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wanderers

|team6=NOT|name_NOT=Nottingham Forest

|team7=IPS|name_IPS=Ipswich Town

|team8=NWC|name_NWC=Norwich City

|team9=MIL|name_MIL=Millwall

|team10=WIM|name_WIM=Wimbledon

|team11=GIL|name_GIL=Gillingham

|team12=PNE|name_PNE=Preston North End

|team13=WAT|name_WAT=Watford

|team14=CRY|name_CRY=Crystal Palace

|team15=ROT|name_ROT=Rotherham United

|team16=BUR|name_BUR=Burnley

|team17=WAL|name_WAL=Walsall

|team18=DER|name_DER=Derby County

|team19=BRA|name_BRA=Bradford City

|team20=COV|name_COV=Coventry City

|team21=STK|name_STK=Stoke City

|team22=SHW|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday

|team23=B&HA|name_B&HA=Brighton & Hove Albion

|team24=GRI|name_GRI=Grimsby Town

|win_POR=29|draw_POR=11|loss_POR=6|gf_POR=97|ga_POR=45|status_POR=C,P

|win_LEI=26|draw_LEI=14|loss_LEI=6|gf_LEI=73|ga_LEI=40|status_LEI=P

|win_SHU=23|draw_SHU=11|loss_SHU=12|gf_SHU=72|ga_SHU=52

|win_REA=25|draw_REA=4|loss_REA=17|gf_REA=61|ga_REA=46

|win_WOL=20|draw_WOL=16|loss_WOL=10|gf_WOL=81|ga_WOL=44|status_WOL=O,P

|win_NOT=20|draw_NOT=14|loss_NOT=12|gf_NOT=82|ga_NOT=50

|win_IPS=19|draw_IPS=13|loss_IPS=14|gf_IPS=80|ga_IPS=64

|win_NWC=19|draw_NWC=12|loss_NWC=15|gf_NWC=60|ga_NWC=49

|win_MIL=19|draw_MIL=9|loss_MIL=18|gf_MIL=59|ga_MIL=69

|win_WIM=18|draw_WIM=11|loss_WIM=17|gf_WIM=76|ga_WIM=73

|win_GIL=16|draw_GIL=14|loss_GIL=16|gf_GIL=56|ga_GIL=65

|win_PNE=16|draw_PNE=13|loss_PNE=17|gf_PNE=68|ga_PNE=70

|win_WAT=17|draw_WAT=9|loss_WAT=20|gf_WAT=54|ga_WAT=70

|win_CRY=14|draw_CRY=17|loss_CRY=15|gf_CRY=59|ga_CRY=52

|win_ROT=15|draw_ROT=14|loss_ROT=17|gf_ROT=62|ga_ROT=62

|win_BUR=15|draw_BUR=10|loss_BUR=21|gf_BUR=65|ga_BUR=89

|win_WAL=15|draw_WAL=9|loss_WAL=22|gf_WAL=57|ga_WAL=69

|win_DER=15|draw_DER=7|loss_DER=24|gf_DER=55|ga_DER=74

|win_BRA=14|draw_BRA=10|loss_BRA=22|gf_BRA=51|ga_BRA=73

|win_COV=12|draw_COV=14|loss_COV=20|gf_COV=46|ga_COV=62

|win_STK=12|draw_STK=14|loss_STK=20|gf_STK=45|ga_STK=69

|win_SHW=10|draw_SHW=16|loss_SHW=20|gf_SHW=56|ga_SHW=73|status_SHW=R

|win_B&HA=11|draw_B&HA=12|loss_B&HA=23|gf_B&HA=49|ga_B&HA=67|status_B&HA=R

|win_GRI=9|draw_GRI=12|loss_GRI=25|gf_GRI=48|ga_GRI=85|status_GRI=R

|col_P=#BBF3BB|text_P=Promotion to 2003–04 FA Premier League

|result1=P|result2=P

|col_PP=#FFFFBB|text_PP=Qualification for First Division Playoffs

|result3=PP|result4=PP|result5=PP|result6=PP

|col_R=#FFBBBB|text_R=Relegation to 2003–04 Second Division

|result22=R|result23=R|result24=R

|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

|update=11 May 2003

|source=[https://int.soccerway.com/national/england/championship/2002-2003/regular-season/r530/tables/ Soccerway]

}}

Play-offs

{{main|2003 Football League play-offs}}

{{4TeamBracket

| sets=2/1 | aggregate=y | nowrap=y

| RD1=Semi-finals

| RD2=Final

| RD1-seed1= 3

| RD1-team1=Sheffield United

| RD1-score1-1=1

| RD1-score1-2=4

| RD1-score1-agg=5

| RD1-seed2=6

| RD1-team2=Nottingham Forest

| RD1-score2-1=1

| RD1-score2-2=3

| RD1-score2-agg=4

| RD1-seed3= 4

| RD1-team3=Reading

| RD1-score3-1=1

| RD1-score3-2=0

| RD1-score3-agg=1

| RD1-seed4= 5

| RD1-team4=Wolverhampton Wanderers

| RD1-score4-1=2

| RD1-score4-2=1

| RD1-score4-agg=3

| RD2-seed1=3

| RD2-team1=Sheffield United

| RD2-score1=0

| RD2-seed2=5

| RD2-team2=Wolverhampton Wanderers

| RD2-score2=3

}}

Awards

class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"|Month

!colspan="2"|Manager of the Month

!rowspan="2"|Notes

width=42%|Manager

!width=42%|Club

August

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Harry Redknapp

|Portsmouth

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: August 2002 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/awards/mom.html?month=8&year=2002&x=14&y=4 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127153634/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/awards/mom.html?month=8&year=2002&x=14&y=4 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

September

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Micky Adams

|Leicester City

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: September 2002 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=9&year=2002&x=10&y=6 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127193647/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=9&year=2002&x=10&y=6 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

October

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ray Lewington

|Watford

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: October 2002 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=10&year=2002&x=17&y=6 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127140952/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=10&year=2002&x=17&y=6 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

November

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Pardew

|Reading

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: November 2002 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=11&year=2002&x=19&y=5 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130128015131/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=11&year=2002&x=19&y=5 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 28 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

December

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary McAllister

|Coventry City

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: December 2002 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=12&year=2002&x=17&y=3 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127143117/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=12&year=2002&x=17&y=3 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

January

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Warnock

|Sheffield United

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: January 2003 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=1&year=2003&x=14&y=6 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130128094739/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=1&year=2003&x=14&y=6 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 28 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

February

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Pardew

|Reading

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: February 2003 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=2&year=2003&x=17&y=9 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127200734/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=2&year=2003&x=17&y=9 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

March

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Joe Royle

|Ipswich Town

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: March 2003 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=3&year=2003&x=9&y=12 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127172313/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=3&year=2003&x=9&y=12 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

April

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Mark McGhee

|Millwall

|align="center"|{{Cite news | title = Manager of the Month: April 2003 | url = http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=4&year=2003&x=9&y=3 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130127140422/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/managers/mom.html?month=4&year=2003&x=9&y=3 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | publisher = League Managers Association }}

;PFA Team of the Year{{Cite book

| editor-first = Barry J.

| editor-last = Hugman

| title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004

| year = 2003

| publisher = Queen Anne Press

| isbn = 1-85291-651-6

| page = 496 }}

class="wikitable"

!Pos.!!Player!!Club

GKwidth="175px" | {{flagicon|TRI}} Shaka Hislopwidth="175px" | Portsmouth
DF{{flagicon|IRE}} Denis IrwinWolverhampton Wanderers
DF{{flagicon|ENG}} Joleon LescottWolverhampton Wanderers
DF{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael DawsonNottingham Forest
DF{{flagicon|ENG}} Matthew TaylorPortsmouth
MF{{flagicon|TUR}} Muzzy IzzetLeicester City
MF{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael BrownSheffield United
MF{{flagicon|ENG}} Paul MersonPortsmouth
MF{{flagicon|ENG}} Michael TongeSheffield United
FW{{flagicon|JAM}} David JohnsonNottingham Forest
FW{{flagicon|SCO}} Paul DickovLeicester City

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{2002–03 in English football}}

{{Football League Championship seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002-03 Football League First Division}}

2002-03

England

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