2003 Football League play-offs

Football league season

Football League play-offsSeason| 2002–03

|

Champions| Wolverhampton Wanderers
(First Division)
Cardiff City
(Second Division)
Bournemouth
(Third Division)
Matches played| 15
Goals scored| 41 (2.73 per match)
Biggest home win| Lincoln 5–3 Scunthorpe
(Third Division)
Biggest away win| Reading 0–1 Wolves
(First Division)
Scunthorpe 0–1 Lincoln
(Third Division)
Highest scoring| Lincoln 5–3 Scunthorpe
(8 goals)
Highest attendance| 69,473 – Sheffield United v Wolves
(First Division final)
Lowest attendance| 5,782 – Bury v Bournemouth
(Third Division semi-final)
Average attendance| 24,964

← 2002

2004 →

The Football League play-offs for the 2002–03 season were held in May 2003, with the finals taking place at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs and will be contested by the teams who finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals will go through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season.

## Background

[edit]

The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places.

In the First Division, Sheffield United, who are aiming to return to the top flight for the first time since 1994, finished 12 points behind second placed Leicester City, who in turn finished 6 points behind champions Portsmouth, who returned to the top flight for the first time since 1988. Reading who are aiming for a place in the top flight for the first time in their history, finished in fourth place in the table. Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are aiming to return to the top flight after nearly 20 years outside the top flight, finished in fifth place. Nottingham Forest finished 2 points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers and were looking for a place back in the Premiership for the first time since 1999.

## First Division

[edit]

Main article: 2002–03 Football League First Division

Pos  | Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3 | Sheffield United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 72 | 52 | +20 | 80
4 | Reading | 46 | 25 | 4 | 17 | 61 | 46 | +15 | 79
5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 81 | 44 | +37 | 76
6 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 82 | 50 | +32 | 74

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

10 May 2003

12:15

Nottingham Forest| 1–1| Sheffield United

|
|

Johnson 55' | Report | Brown 58' (pen.)

City Ground, Nottingham

Attendance: 29,064

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

* * *

10 May 2003

17:30

Wolverhampton Wanderers| 2–1| Reading

|
|

Murty 75' (o.g.)
Naylor 84' | Report | Forster 25'

Molineux, Wolverhampton

Attendance: 27,678

Referee: Alan Kaye

Second leg

14 May 2003

19:45

Reading| 0–1| Wolverhampton Wanderers

|
|

| Report | Rae 81'

Madjeski Stadium, Reading

Attendance: 24,060

Referee: Howard Webb

Wolverhampton Wanderers won 3–1 on aggregate.

* * *

15 May 2003

19:45

Sheffield United| 4–3 (a.e.t.)| Nottingham Forest

|
|

Brown 60'
Kabba 68'
Peschisolido 112'
Walker 117' (o.g.) | Report | Johnson 30'
Reid 58'
Page 119' (o.g.)

Bramall Lane, Sheffield

Attendance: 30,212

Referee: Peter Walton

Sheffield United won 5–4 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 2003 Football League First Division play-off final

26 May 2003

15:00

Sheffield United| 0–3| Wolverhampton Wanderers

|
|

| Report | Kennedy 6'
Blake 22'
Miller 45'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Attendance: 69,473

Referee: Steve Bennett

## Second Division

[edit]

Main article: 2002–03 Football League Second Division

Pos  | Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3 | Bristol City | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 79 | 48 | +31 | 83
4 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 69 | 45 | +24 | 83
5 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 68 | 38 | +30 | 82
6 | Cardiff City | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 68 | 43 | +25 | 81

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

10 May 2003

15:00

Cardiff City| 1–0| Bristol City

|
|

Thorne 74' | Report |

Ninian Park, Cardiff

Attendance: 19,146

Referee: Howard Webb

* * *

10 May 2003

15:00

Oldham Athletic| 1–1| Queens Park Rangers

|
|

Eyres 28' | Report | Langley 47'

Boundary Park, Oldham

Attendance: 12,152

Referee: Steve Bennett

Second leg

13 May 2003

19:45

Bristol City| 0–0| Cardiff City

|
|

| Report |

Ashton Gate, Bristol

Attendance: 16,307

Referee: Jeff Winter

Cardiff City won 1–0 on aggregate.

* * *

14 May 2003

19:45

Queens Park Rangers| 1–0| Oldham Athletic

|
|

Furlong 82' | Report |

Loftus Road, London

Attendance: 17,201

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Queens Park Rangers won 2–1 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 2003 Football League Second Division play-off final

25 May 2003

15:00

Cardiff City| 1–0 (a.e.t.)| Queens Park Rangers

|
|

Campbell 114' | Report |

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Attendance: 66,096

Referee: Howard Webb

## Third Division

[edit]

Main article: 2002–03 Football League Third Division

Pos  | Team  |  Pld  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD  |  Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

4 | Bournemouth | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 60 | 48 | +12 | 74
5 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 68 | 49 | +19 | 72
6 | Lincoln City | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 46 | 37 | 0+9 | 70
7 | Bury | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 57 | 56 | 0+1 | 70

### Semi-finals

[edit]

First leg

10 May 2003

15:00

Bury| 0–0| Bournemouth

|
|

| Report |

Gigg Lane, Bury

Attendance: 5,782

Referee: Jeff Winter

* * *

10 May 2003

15:00

Lincoln City| 5–3| Scunthorpe United

|
|

Weaver 15'
Mayo 18'
Smith 55'
Yeo 82', 90' | Report | Calvo García 26', 69'
Stanton 70'

Sincil Bank, Lincoln

Attendance: 8,902

Referee: Peter Walton

Second leg

13 May 2003

19:45

Bournemouth| 3–1| Bury

|
|

O'Connor 21'
Hayter 38', 60' | Report | Preece 67'

Fitness First Stadium, Bournemouth

Attendance: 7,945

Referee: Mick Fletcher

Bournemouth won 3–1 on aggregate.

* * *

14 May 2003

19:45

Scunthorpe United| 0–1| Lincoln City

|
|

| Report | Yeo 88'

Glanford Park, Scunthorpe

Attendance: 8,295

Referee: Steve Bennett

Lincoln City won 6–3 on aggregate.

### Final

[edit]

Main article: 2003 Football League Third Division play-off final

24 May 2003

15:00

Bournemouth| 5–2| Lincoln City

|
|

S. Fletcher 29'
C. Fletcher 45', 77'
Purches 56'
O'Connor 60' | Report | Futcher 35'
Bailey 75'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Attendance: 32,148

Referee: Alan Kaye

## External links

[edit]

* Football League website

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* EFL League Two play-offs

Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

| Championship|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

|

League One|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

League Two|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* EFL League Two play-offs

Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

| Championship|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

|

League One|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

League Two|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

English Football League play-offs

Competitions|

* EFL Championship play-offs
* EFL League One play-offs
* EFL League Two play-offs

Play-offs|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

| Championship|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

|

League One|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

League Two|

* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

2002–03 in English football

« 2001–02

2003–04 »

National teams|

* UEFA Euro 2004 qualification (Group 7)
* Sven-Göran Eriksson

League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, play-offs)

Level 5|

* Football Conference

Levels 6–7|

* Isthmian League (Premier, One North, One South)
* Northern Premier League (Premier, One)
* Southern League (Premier, Eastern, Western)

Levels 8–9|

* Isthmian League (Two)
* Combined Counties League (level 8 only)
* Eastern Counties League (Premier, One)
* Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One East, One West)
* Kent League (level 8 only)
* Midland Alliance (level 8 only)
* Midland Football Combination (level 9 only)
* North West Counties League (One, Two)
* Northern Counties East League (Premier, One)
* Northern League (One, Two)
* Spartan South Midlands League (Premier, One)
* Sussex County League (One, Two)
* United Counties League (Premier, One)
* Wessex League (level 8 only)
* West Midlands (Regional) League (level 9 only)
* Western League (Premier, One)

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* Community Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)

|

Football League cups|

* League Cup (Final)
* Football League Trophy (Final)

European competitions|

* Champions League
* UEFA Cup

Club seasons

Premier League|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bolton Wanderers
* Charlton Athletic
* Chelsea
* Everton
* Fulham
* Leeds United
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Middlesbrough
* Newcastle United
* Southampton
* Sunderland
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Bromwich Albion
* West Ham United

First Division|

* Bradford City
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Burnley
* Coventry City
* Crystal Palace
* Derby County
* Grimsby Town
* Gillingham
* Ipswich Town
* Leicester City
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Nottingham Forest
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Reading
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Stoke City
* Walsall
* Watford
* Wimbledon
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Barnsley
* Blackpool
* Brentford
* Bristol City
* Cardiff City
* Cheltenham Town
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* Crewe Alexandra
* Huddersfield Town
* Luton Town
* Mansfield Town
* Northampton Town
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Port Vale
* Queens Park Rangers
* Stockport County
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Wigan Athletic
* Wycombe Wanderers

Third Division|

* Boston United
* Bournemouth
* Bristol Rovers
* Bury
* Cambridge United
* Carlisle United
* Darlington
* Exeter City
* Hartlepool United
* Hull City
* Kidderminster Harriers
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Macclesfield Town
* Oxford United
* Rochdale
* Rushden & Diamonds
* Scunthorpe United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Southend United
* Swansea City
* Torquay United
* Wrexham
* York City

Non-League|

* Yeovil Town

* Summer 2002 transfers
* Winter 2002–03 transfers
* Summer 2003 transfers

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