2003–04 Leeds United A.F.C. season

The 2003–04 season saw Leeds United relegated from the Premier League (known as the Barclaycard Premiership for sponsorship reasons) after fourteen consecutive seasons in the top flight, in the wake of the club's financial crisis.

Leeds United
2003–04 season
ChairmanProfessor John McKenzie
(until 15 December)[1]
Trevor Birch
(until 19 March)[2]
Gerald Krasner
(from 19 March)
ManagerPeter Reid
(until 10 November)[3]
Eddie Gray
(from 10 November)
StadiumElland Road
Premier League19th (relegated)
FA CupThird round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Mark Viduka (11)

All:
Mark Viduka (12)
Highest home attendance40,153 vs Manchester United
(18 October 2003, Premier League)
Lowest home attendance29,211 vs Swindon Town
(24 September 2003, League Cup)
Average home league attendance36,119

Season summary edit

Having narrowly avoided relegation the previous campaign, another season of struggle was on the cards, as the financial crisis at Elland Road saw Leeds United's debts reach the £100 million mark, and consequently the sale of key players continued. Manager Peter Reid was sacked on 10 November after Leeds collected 8 points from their first 12 games, and former player, coach and manager Eddie Gray was brought in on a temporary basis. Some initially improved results saw Leeds climb out of the relegation zone by the end of 2003, but a dreadful run of seven straight defeats after the turn of the year saw them cast adrift at the bottom of the table, and from that point onwards the club had no real hope of surviving in the Premier League.

Some decent results late in the season saw them at least move off the bottom of the table, but a 4–1 defeat at Bolton on 2 May confirmed relegation, and Gray was soon on his way out of the club for good, to be replaced by Kevin Blackwell, who had been brought to the club a year earlier as Reid's assistant. Few observers gave Leeds much hope of an immediate promotion back to the Premiership, with Blackwell's ultimate task being seen as one of avoiding a second successive relegation.

Final league table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
16 Manchester City 38 9 14 15 55 54 +1 41
17 Everton 38 9 12 17 45 57 −12 39
18 Leicester City (R) 38 6 15 17 48 65 −17 33 Relegation to the Football League Championship
19 Leeds United (R) 38 8 9 21 40 79 −39 33
20 Wolverhampton Wanderers (R) 38 7 12 19 38 77 −39 33
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

Kit edit

Leeds United retained the previous season's home kit, manufactured by Nike, although the kit carried a new sponsor, Whyte and Mackay. This marked the end of their previous three-year deal with Strongbow.

Players edit

First-team squad edit

Squad at end of season[4]

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 Paul Robinson
2 DF   IRL Gary Kelly
3 DF   IRL Ian Harte
5 DF   RSA Lucas Radebe
6 DF   FRA Zoumana Camara (on loan from Lens)
7 MF   ENG Nick Barmby
9 FW   AUS Mark Viduka
10 MF   SEN Lamine Sakho (on loan from Marseille)
11 MF   ENG Jermaine Pennant (on loan from Arsenal)
14 MF   IRL Stephen McPhail
16 MF   ENG Jason Wilcox
17 FW   ENG Alan Smith
19 MF   NOR Eirik Bakke
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF   ENG Seth Johnson
21 DF   SCO Dominic Matteo (captain)
22 DF   ENG Michael Duberry
23 MF   ENG David Batty
24 MF   CMR Salomon Olembé (on loan from Marseille)
25 MF   ENG Aaron Lennon
29 DF   FRA Didier Domi (on loan from Paris Saint-Germain)
34 DF   ENG Frazer Richardson
36 DF   ENG Matthew Kilgallon
38 MF   ENG James Milner
39 FW   ENG Simon Johnson
40 GK   ENG Scott Carson
41 GK   ENG Shaun Allaway

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
4 MF   ENG Jody Morris (to Rotherham United)
8 FW   ENG Michael Bridges (on loan to Newcastle United)
12 DF   BRA Roque Júnior (on loan from A.C. Milan)
15 GK   ENG Nigel Martyn (to Everton)
15 FW   FRA Cyril Chapuis (on loan from Marseille)
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF   SCO Steven Caldwell (on loan from Newcastle United)
18 DF   ENG Danny Mills (on loan to Middlesbrough)
24 MF   AUS Paul Okon (to Vicenza)
26 GK   AUS Danny Milosevic (to Celtic)
32 MF   ENG Harpal Singh (on loan to Bury)

Reserve squad 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
27 MF   SCO Martin Woods
28 MF   ENG Jamie McMaster
37 MF   IRL Paul Keegan
No. Pos. Nation Player
42 FW   SCO Jamie Winter
DF   NIR Henry McStay
MF   ENG Simon Walton
FW   IRL Barry Corr
FW   IRL Andy Keogh

Youth team 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
DF   ENG Ben Parker
DF   ENG Danny Rose
MF   ENG Fabian Delph
MF   ENG Jonny Howson

Trialists 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
DF   FRA Joël Sami

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
13 GK   ENG Paul Robinson 39 1 36 0 1 0 2 1
40 GK   ENG Scott Carson 3 0 2+1 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 DF   IRL Gary Kelly 40 0 38 0 0 0 2 0
3 DF   IRL Ian Harte 26 2 21+2 1 1 0 2 1
5 DF   RSA Lucas Radebe 15 0 11+3 0 0 0 0+1 0
6 DF   FRA Zoumana Camara 15 1 13 1 0 0 2 0
21 DF   SCO Dominic Matteo 34 2 33 2 1 0 0 0
22 DF   ENG Michael Duberry 20 3 19 3 1 0 0 0
29 DF   FRA Didier Domi 14 0 9+3 0 0 0 0+2 0
34 DF   ENG Frazer Richardson 5 0 2+2 0 1 0 0 0
36 DF   ENG Matthew Kilgallon 9 2 7+1 2 1 0 0 0
Midfielders
7 MF   ENG Nick Barmby 6 0 1+5 0 0 0 0 0
11 MF   ENG Jermaine Pennant 36 2 34+2 2 0 0 0 0
14 MF   IRL Stephen McPhail 12 1 8+4 1 0 0 0 0
16 MF   ENG Jason Wilcox 7 0 3+3 0 0 0 1 0
19 MF   NOR Eirik Bakke 11 1 8+2 1 1 0 0 0
20 MF   ENG Seth Johnson 26 2 24+1 2 0 0 1 0
23 MF   ENG David Batty 14 0 10+2 0 1 0 1 0
24 MF   CMR Salomon Olembé 14 0 8+4 0 0 0 2 0
25 MF   ENG Aaron Lennon 14 0 0+11 0 0+1 0 1+1 0
38 MF   ENG James Milner 32 3 27+3 3 1 0 1 0
Forwards
9 FW   AUS Mark Viduka 31 12 30 11 1 1 0 0
10 FW   SEN Lamine Sakho 19 1 9+8 1 0+1 0 1 0
17 FW   ENG Alan Smith 38 9 35 9 1 0 2 0
39 FW   ENG Simon Johnson 5 0 1+4 0 0 0 0 0
Players transferred out during the season
4 MF   ENG Jody Morris 12 0 11+1 0 0 0 0 0
8 FW   ENG Michael Bridges 12 0 1+9 0 0 0 1+1 0
12 DF   BRA Roque Júnior 7 2 5 0 0 0 2 2
15 FW   FRA Cyril Chapuis 3 0 0+1 0 0 0 1+1 0
15 DF   SCO Steven Caldwell 13 1 13 1 0 0 0 0

Last updated: 30 May 2004
Source: Competitions

Transfers edit

In edit

Date Nat. Name From Fee Ref.
19 July 2003   Jody Morris   Chelsea Free [5]

Out edit

Date Nat. Name To Fee Ref.
27 June 2003   Shane Cansdell-Sherriff   AGF Aarhus Free [6]
30 June 2003   Jacob Burns Released [7]
9 July 2003   Harry Kewell   Liverpool £5,000,000 [8][9]
10 July 2003   Olivier Dacourt   Roma £3,500,000 [10]
30 August 2003   Paul Okon   Vicenza Free [11]
1 September 2003   Nigel Martyn   Everton £500,000 [12]
30 September 2003   Danny Milosevic Released [13]
13 March 2004   Jody Morris   Rotherham United Free [14]

Loaned in edit

Date Nat. Name From Length Ref.
22 July 2003   Zoumana Camara   Lens Season-long loan [10]
5 August 2003   Didier Domi   Paris Saint-Germain Season-long loan [15]
12 August 2003   Lamine Sakho   Marseille Season-long loan [15]
20 August 2003   Jermaine Pennant   Arsenal Two-month loan (extended to season-long) [15]
31 August 2003   Salomon Olembé   Marseille Season-long loan [15]
1 September 2003   Roque Júnior   A.C. Milan Season-long loan [16]
1 September 2003   Cyril Chapuis   Marseille Season-long loan [16]
2 February 2004   Steven Caldwell   Newcastle United Four-month loan [17]

Loaned out edit

Date Nat. Name To Length Ref.
31 July 2003   Harpal Singh   Bury [18]
21 August 2003   Matthew Kilgallon   West Ham United [15]
24 August 2003   Danny Mills   Middlesbrough Season-long loan [15]
26 August 2003   Stephen McPhail   Nottingham Forest [15]
3 September 2003   James Milner   Swindon Town [16]
21 October 2003   Paul Keegan   Scunthorpe United [19]
24 October 2003   Shaun Allaway   Walsall [19]
7 November 2003   Frazer Richardson   Stoke City [20]
13 December 2003   Simon Johnson   Blackpool [21]
7 January 2004   Jamie McMaster   Chesterfield [22]
2 February 2004   Michael Bridges   Newcastle United [17]
27 February 2004   Nick Barmby   Nottingham Forest [17]

Results edit

Premier League edit

Results by round edit

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ResultDLDWLLLWLLLLLWDWDDLLLLLLWDDLWLWWDLLLDL
Position913141214161816171920202020191919191919192020201920202019191918181818192019
Source: https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/leeds-united/2004/3/
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Manager: Peter Reid

18 August 2003 1 Leeds United 2–2 Newcastle United Leeds, West Yorkshire
19:30 Viduka   24'
Smith   57'
Report Shearer   20' (pen.), 88' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,766
Referee: Alan Wiley
23 August 2003 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 Leeds United Haringey, London
15:00 Taricco   41'
Kanouté   71'
Report Smith   5' Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 34,354
Referee: Steve Dunn
26 August 2003 3 Leeds United 0–0 Southampton Leeds, West Yorkshire
19:30 Report Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 34,721
Referee: Paul Durkin
30 August 2003 4 Middlesbrough 2–3 Leeds United Middlesbrough, Teesside
15:00 Németh   60'
Paulista   63'
Report Sakho   16'
Camara   77'
Viduka   89'
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 30,414
Referee: Neale Barry
15 September 2003 5 Leicester City 4–0 Leeds United Leicester, Leicestershire
19:30 BST (UTC+01) Nalis   20'
Dickov   23', 83'
Scowcroft   90'
Report Stadium: The Walkers Stadium
Attendance: 30,460
Referee: Jeff Winter
20 September 2003 6 Leeds United 0–2 Birmingham City Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 BST (UTC+01) Roque Junior   77' Report Savage   78' (pen.)
Forssell   84'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 34,305
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
28 September 2003 7 Everton 4–0 Leeds United Liverpool, Merseyside
15:00 BST (UTC+01) Watson   27', 37', 52'
Ferguson   39'
Report Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 39,151
Referee: Paul Durkin
4 October 2003 8 Leeds United 2–1 Blackburn Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 BST (UTC+01) Johnson   11', 27' Report Baggio   86' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 35,039
Referee: Uriah Rennie
18 October 2003 9 Leeds United 0–1 Manchester United Leeds, West Yorkshire
12:00 BST (UTC+01) Report Keane   81' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 40,153
Referee: Graham Poll
25 October 2003 10 Liverpool 3–1 Leeds United Liverpool, Merseyside
BST Owen   35'
Murphy   57'
Sinama Pongolle   84'
Report Smith   42' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,599
Referee: Jeff Winter
1 November 2003 11 Leeds United 1–4 Arsenal Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 GMT (UTC) Smith   64' Report Henry   8', 33'
Pires  17'
Gilberto Silva   50'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,491
Referee: Mike Dean
8 November 2003 12 Portsmouth 6–1 Leeds United Portsmouth, Hampshire
15:30 GMT (UTC) Stefanovic   16'
O'Neil   45', 71'
Foxe   62'
Berger   75'
Yakubu   86'
Report Smith   18' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,112
Referee: Chris Foy

Caretaker Manager: Eddie Gray

22 November 2003 13 Leeds United 0–2 Bolton Wanderers Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 Report Davies   16'
Giannakopoulos   17'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,558
Referee: Graham Poll
29 November 2003 14 Charlton Athletic 0–1 Leeds United Greenwich, London
15:00 Report Milner   9' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 26,445
Referee: Mark Halsey
6 December 2003 15 Leeds United 1–1 Chelsea Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 Pennant   18' Report Duff   70' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,305
Referee: Mike Dean
14 December 2003 16 Leeds United 3–2 Fulham Leeds, West Yorkshire
16:00 Duberry   41'
Viduka   46'
Matteo   88'
Report Saha   47', 86' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 30,544
Referee: Neale Barry
26 December 2003 18 Leeds United 0–0 Aston Villa Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 Report Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 38,513
Referee: Steve Bennett
28 December 2003 19 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Leeds United Wolverhampton, West Midlands
15:00 GMT Smith   18' (o.g.)
Iversen   48', 90'
Report Duberry   3' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 29,139 (1,500 away)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
10 January 2004 21 Leeds United 0–1 Tottenham Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 Report Keane   56' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 35,365
Referee: Mark Halsey
17 January 2004 22 Southampton 2–1 Leeds United Southampton, Hampshire
15:00 Ormerod   36'
Phillips   43'
Report Kilgallon   75' Stadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 31,976
Referee: Alan Wiley
31 January 2004 23 Leeds United 0–3 Middlesbrough Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 Robinson   88' Report Zenden   53'
Job   77'
Ricketts   89' (pen.)
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 35,970
Referee: Graham Poll
7 February 2004 24 Aston Villa 2–0 Leeds United Birmingham, West Midlands
15:00 Ángel   45' (pen.)
Johnsen   59'
Report Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,171
Referee: Uriah Rennie
10 February 2004 25 Leeds United 4–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds, West Yorkshire
19:45 GMT Smith   14'
Matteo   41'
Milner   62'
Viduka   90'
Report Ganea   21' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,867 (1,644 away)
Referee: Mike Dean
21 February 2004 26 Manchester United 1–1 Leeds United Manchester, Greater Manchester
Scholes   64' Report Smith   67' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 67,744
Referee: Mark Halsey
29 February 2004 27 Leeds United 2–2 Liverpool Leeds, West Yorkshire
14:00 Bakke   29'
Viduka   34'
Report Kewell   21'
Baroš   42'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 39,932
Referee: Paul Durkin
13 March 2004 28 Fulham 2–0 Leeds United Fulham, London
15:00 Davis   71'
Boa Morte   83'
Report Stadium: Craven Cottage
Referee: Steve Dunn
22 March 2004 29 Leeds United 2–1 Manchester City Leeds, West Yorkshire
19:45 McPhail   23'
Viduka   76' (pen.)
Report Anelka   44'
Van Buyten   75'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,998
Referee: Alan Wiley
27 March 2004 30 Birmingham City 4–1 Leeds United Birmingham
12:30 GMT (UTC) Hughes   12', 67'
Forssell   69', 82' (pen.)
Report Viduka   3' Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 29,069
Referee: Mark Halsey
5 April 2004 31 Leeds United 3–2 Leicester City Leeds, West Yorkshire
19:45 Duberry   11'
Viduka   13'     90'
Smith   86'
Report Dickov   77'
Izzet   79'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 34,036
Referee: Alan Wiley
10 April 2004 32 Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Leeds United Blackburn, Lancashire
15:00 Short   90' Report Caldwell   2'
Viduka   89'
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 26,611
Referee: Steve Dunn (referee)
13 April 2004 33 Leeds United 1–1 Everton Leeds, West Yorkshire
19:30 Milner   50' Report Rooney   13' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 39,835
Referee: Paul Durkin
16 April 2004 34 Arsenal 5–0 Leeds United Holloway, London
20:00 BST Pires   6'
Henry   27', 33' (pen.), 50', 67'
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,094
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
24 April 2004 35 Leeds United 1–2 Portsmouth Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 Harte   83' (pen.) Report Yakubu   9'
LuaLua   51'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 39,273
Referee: Uriah Rennie
2 May 2004 36 Bolton Wanderers 4–1 Leeds United Bolton, Greater Manchester
14:00 Djorkaeff   47', 53'
Harte   55' (o.g.)
Nolan   78'
Report Viduka   27' (pen.)     33' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 38,094
Referee: Steve Bennett
8 May 2004 37 Leeds United 3–3 Charlton Athletic Leeds, West Yorkshire
15:00 BST Kilgallon   29'
Pennant   41'
Smith   69' (pen.)
Report Holland   11'
Euell   76' (pen.), 79'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 38,986
Referee: Mark Halsey
15 May 2004 38 Chelsea 1–0 Leeds United Fulham, London
15:00 BST Grønkjær   20' Report Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 41,276
Referee: Mike Dean

FA Cup edit

4 January 2004 (2004-01-04) FA Cup 3rd Round Leeds United 1–4 Arsenal Leeds
Viduka   8' Report Henry   26'
Edu   33'
Pires   87'
Touré   90'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 31,207
Referee: Rob Styles

League Cup edit

24 September 2003 (2003-09-24) League Cup 2nd round Leeds United 2–2
(4–3 p)
Swindon Town Leeds
Harte   77'
Robinson   90'
Report Guerney   44'
Parkin   74'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 29,211
28 October 2003 (2003-10-28) League Cup 3rd Round Leeds United 2–3 (a.e.t.) Manchester United Leeds
Júnior   49', 114' Report Bellion   78'
Forlán   108'
Djemba-Djemba   117'
Stadium: Elland Road

References edit

  1. ^ "McKenzie steps down at Leeds". The Guardian. 15 December 2003.
  2. ^ "Leeds takeover completed". BBC News. 19 March 2004.
  3. ^ "Leeds sack Reid". BBC News. 10 November 2003.
  4. ^ "Leeds United - 2003/04". FootballSquads. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Morris completes Leeds move". BBC News. 19 July 2003.
  6. ^ "Sherriff heads out of Leeds". BBC News. 27 June 2003.
  7. ^ "Premiership ins and outs". BBC News. 1 September 2003.
  8. ^ £2,000,000 was paid to Kewell's agent, so Leeds only received £3,000,000.
  9. ^ "Liverpool sign Kewell". BBC News. 9 July 2003.
  10. ^ a b "Transfers — July 2003". BBC News. 31 July 2003.
  11. ^ "The gossip column". BBC News. 29 August 2003.
  12. ^ "Everton seal Martyn deal". BBC News. 1 September 2003.
  13. ^ "Leeds United Players - 2003-04". Leeds Utd 365. 8 May 2004. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  14. ^ "Leeds stat attack". BBC News. 3 May 2004.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Transfers — August 2003". BBC News. 5 September 2003.
  16. ^ a b c "Transfers — September 2003". BBC News. 23 September 2003.
  17. ^ a b c "February 2004". BBC News. 6 February 2004.
  18. ^ "Bury keen on Singh". BBC News. 31 July 2003.
  19. ^ a b "Transfers — October 2003". BBC News. 16 October 2003.
  20. ^ "Transfers — November 2003". BBC News. 27 November 2003.
  21. ^ "Report: Blackpool v Tranmere Rovers — English League One — ESPNFC". ESPN. 26 December 2003. Archived from the original on 17 March 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  22. ^ "Transfers — January 2004". BBC News. 18 January 2004.