2002–03 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

During the 2002–03 English football season, Nottingham Forest competed in the Football League First Division.

Nottingham Forest
2002–03 season
ChairmanNigel Doughty
ManagerPaul Hart
StadiumCity Ground
First Division6th
Play-offsSemi-finals
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: David Johnson (25)
All: David Johnson (29)

Season summary edit

Nottingham Forest rebounded from the previous season's disappointment to finish 6th in the First Division, setting up a play-off with third-placed Sheffield United. Forest were beaten 5–4 on aggregate over two epic semi-final legs, consigning the club to another season in English football's second tier.

Final league table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
4 Reading 46 25 4 17 61 46 +15 79 Qualification for First Division Playoffs
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers (O, P) 46 20 16 10 81 44 +37 76
6 Nottingham Forest 46 20 14 12 82 50 +32 74
7 Ipswich Town 46 19 13 14 80 64 +16 70
8 Norwich City 46 19 12 15 60 49 +11 69
Updated to match(es) played on 11 May 2003. Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

First-team squad edit

Squad at end of season[1]

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   WAL Darren Ward
2 DF   FRA Matthieu Louis-Jean
3 DF   CAN Jim Brennan
4 DF   ENG Des Walker
5 DF   NOR Jon Olav Hjelde
6 MF   ENG Riccardo Scimeca
7 MF   ENG Darren Huckerby (on loan from Manchester City)
8 MF   SCO Gareth Williams
9 FW   JAM David Johnson
10 FW   ENG Jack Lester
11 FW   ENG Marlon Harewood
12 GK   IRL Barry Roche
14 DF   SCO Chris Doig
15 DF   IRL John Thompson
16 MF   GER Eugen Bopp
17 DF   ENG Michael Dawson
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF   IRL Brian Cash
19 FW   ENG Craig Westcarr
20 MF   IRL Andy Reid
21 DF   BEL Davy Oyen
22 MF   SCO Eoin Jess
23 MF   FRA Benjamin Gavanon (on loan from Marseille)
27 MF   ENG Matt Bodkin
28 DF   ENG James Biggins
29 FW   ENG Richard Jeffrey
31 GK   GER Pascal Formann
32 DF   ENG Tony Vaughan
33 DF   WAL Christian Edwards
34 FW   FRA Mickael Antoine-Curier
35 DF   SCO Gregor Robertson
36 DF   ENG Wes Morgan

Left club during season edit

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
7 MF   ENG David Prutton (to Southampton)
21 FW   ENG Gary Jones (to Tranmere Rovers)
23 DF   ENG Marcus Hall (to Southampton)
No. Pos. Nation Player
30 MF   ENG Keith Foy (to Doncaster Rovers)
34 FW   IRL David Freeman

Appearances edit

  • Playoff stats are included under Division 1.
No. Pos Nat Player Total Division 1 FA Cup Worthington Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   WAL Darren Ward 50 0 47 0 1 0 2 0
2 DF   FRA Matthieu Louis-Jean 45 1 43 1 1 0 1 0
3 DF   CAN Jim Brennan 49 1 47 1 1 0 1 0
4 DF   ENG Des Walker 33 0 31+2 0 0 0 0 0
5 DF   NOR Jon Olav Hjelde 29 0 19+8 0 1 0 +1 0
6 MF   ENG Riccardo Scimeca 45 4 42 3 1 0 2 1
7 MF   ENG David Prutton 26 1 24 1 1 0 1 0
7 FW   ENG Darren Huckerby 11 5 11 5 0 0 0 0
8 MF   SCO Gareth Williams 43 3 41+1 3 0 0 1 0
9 FW   ENG David Johnson 47 29 42+2 27 1 0 2 2
10 MF   ENG Jack Lester 35 9 20+14 7 0 0 1 2
11 FW   ENG Marlon Harewood 49 21 44+2 20 1 1 2 0
12 GK   IRL Barry Roche 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
14 DF   SCO Chris Doig 13 0 4+6 0 1 0 2 0
15 DF   IRL John Thompson 25 3 19+3 3 1 0 1+1 0
16 MF   GER Eugen Bopp 15 2 10+3 2 0 0 2 0
17 DF   ENG Michael Dawson 42 5 39 5 1 0 2 0
18 MF   IRL Brian Cash 2 0 +1 0 0 0 +1 0
19 FW   ENG Craig Westcarr 13 1 2+9 1 0 0 1+1 0
20 MF   IRL Andy Reid 35 3 24+8 2 1 1 1+1 0
21 DF   BEL Davy Oyen 4 0 +4 0 0 0 0 0
22 MF   SCO Eoin Jess 33 3 17+15 3 0 0 +1 0
23 DF   ENG Marcus Hall 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
23 MF   FRA Benjamin Gavanon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF   ENG Matt Bodkin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 DF   ENG James Biggins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 FW   ENG Richard Jeffrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 DF   IRL Keith Foy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 GK   GER Pascal Formann 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
32 DF   ENG Tony Vaughan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 DF   WAL Christian Edwards 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 FW   FRA Mickael Antoine-Curier 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
35 DF   SCO Gregor Robertson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 DF   ENG Wes Morgan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Results edit

Win Draw Loss

Football League First Division edit

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
10 August 2002 Portsmouth A 0–2 18,910
14 August 2002 Preston North End H 2-2 18,065 Johnson, Jess
17 August 2002 Sheffield Wednesday H 4–0 21,129 Harewood, Lester, Scimeca (2)
24 August 2002 Walsall A 1–2 5,096 Prutton
28 August 2002 Wimbledon H 2–0 16,431 Johnson (2)
31 August 2002 Coventry City A 1–0 13,732 Scimeca
14 September 2002 Watford H 0–1 17,865
18 September 2002 Gillingham H 4–1 16,073 Harewood (3), Johnson
21 September 2002 Grimsby Town A 3–0 7,072 Johnson (3)
25 September 2002 Stoke City A 2–2 14,554 Dawson, Johnson
28 September 2002 Rotherham United H 3–2 25,089 Johnson (2), Bopp
5 October 2002 Millwall A 2–1 10,521 Johnson (2)
20 October 2002 Derby County A 0–0 30,547
26 October 2002 Leicester City H 2–2 29,497 Johnson, Lester
29 October 2002 Norwich City A 0–0 20,986
2 November 2002 Sheffield United H 3–0 22,579 Lester (2), Johnson
9 November 2002 Crystal Palace A 0–0 18,971
16 November 2002 Bradford City H 3–0 19,653 Lester, Johnson, Louis-Jean
23 November 2002 Wolves A 1–2 27,953 Harewood
27 November 2002 Brighton H 3–2 29,137 Harewood, Johnson, Lester
30 November 2002 Ipswich Town H 2–0 24,898 Johnson (2),
7 December 2002 Burnley A 0–1 13,869
14 December 2002 Bradford City A 0–1 12,245
21 December 2002 Reading H 2–0 25,831 Johnson, Harewood,
26 December 2002 Sheffield Wednesday A 0–2 26,362
28 December 2002 Portsmouth H 1–2 28,165 Dawson
1 January 2003 Walsall H 1–1 28,441 Thompson
18 January 2003 Coventry City H 1–1 24,487 Williams
25 January 2003 Preston North End A 1–1 13,508 Johnson
1 February 2003 Wimbledon A 3–2 3,382 Harewood (2), Johnson,
8 February 2003 Crystal Palace H 2–1 26,012 Dawson, Harewood
22 February 2003 Stoke City H 6–0 24,085 Harewood (4), Johnson, Jess
1 March 2003 Watford A 1–1 17,934 Huckerby
4 March 2003 Gillingham A 4–1 7,277 Huckerby (2), Harewood, Thompson
10 March 2003 Grimsby Town H 2–2 25,507 Reid, Williams
15 March 2003 Brighton A 0–1 6,830
19 March 2003 Derby County H 3–0 29,725 Harewood (2), Huckerby
22 March 2003 Norwich City H 4–0 27,296 Huckerby, Harewood, Williams, Brennan
5 April 2003 Ipswich Town A 4–3 29,503 Harewood (2), Thompson, OG
8 April 2003 Leicester City A 0–1 32,065
11 April 2003 Wolves H 2–2 27,209 Johnson, Dawson
15 April 2003 Sheffield United A 0-1 23,317
18 April 2003 Reading A 0–1 21,612
21 April 2003 Burnley H 2–0 25,403 Dawson, Johnson
26 April 2003 Millwall H 3–3 29,763 Jess, Bopp, Johnson
4 May 2003 Rotherham United A 2–2 9,942 Lester, Westcarr

Play Offs edit

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
10 May 2003 Sheffield United H 1–1 29,064 Johnson
15 May 2003 Sheffield United A 4–3 24,477 Johnson, Reid, OG

FA Cup edit

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 4 January 2003 West Ham United A 2–3 11,843 Reid, Harewood

League Cup edit

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 11 September 2002 Kidderminster Harriers H 4–0 4,950 Lester (2), Johnson, Scimeca
R2 2 October 2002 Walsall A 1–2 4,477 Johnson

References edit

  1. ^ "FootballSquads - Nottingham Forest - 2002/03".