2003–04 Rushden & Diamonds F.C. season

During the 2003–04 English football season, Rushden & Diamonds competed in the Second Division.

Rushden & Diamonds
2003–04 season
ChairmanEngland Max Griggs
ManagerEngland Brian Talbot
Northern Ireland Barry Hunter (player-manager)
England Ernie Tippett
StadiumNene Park
Second Division22nd (relegated)
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
Football League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerOnandi Lowe (15)

Season summary

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Despite chairman and owner Max Griggs declaring his intention to sell the club in October, by Christmastime Rushden & Diamonds were two points off the play-off spaces. However, their next 11 games saw a return of only 8 points, leaving the club in relegation peril. This came amidst the background of increasing financial woes, which culminated in four key players leaving on March's transfer deadline day, most notably top scorer Onandi Lowe. Manager Brian Talbot had already departed to take over at Oldham Athletic, leaving Barry Hunter to take over as player-manager. Ernie Tippett took over as permanent manager with 3 games left of the season, but lost all 3, condemning the club to an immediate return to the fourth tier.[1]

Rushden & Diamonds switched kit manufacturers to Errea. Dr. Martens remained kit sponsor.[2]

First-team squad

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Squad at end of season[3]

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 Billy Turley
4 MF   ENG Gary Mills
5 DF   ENG Andy Edwards
6 DF   NIR Barry Hunter
7 MF   ENG Stuart Wardley
8 MF   ENG Ritchie Hanlon
9 FW   VIN Rodney Jack
12 DF   SCO Stuart Gray[notes 1]
14 DF   ENG John Dempster
15 DF   ENG Andrew Sambrook
16 FW   WAL Robert Duffy
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 GK   IRL Stephen Gahan
18 MF   ENG David Bell[notes 2]
19 MF   ENG Daniel Talbot
20 FW   ENG Paul Kitson
21 MF   ENG Owen Story
23 DF   IRL David Bell
24 DF   NGA Magnus Okuonghae[notes 3]
25 FW   COD Eric Manangu
28 MF   ENG Marcus Kelly
35 DF   ENG Leo Roget

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   ENG Marcus Bignot (to Queens Park Rangers)
3 DF   ENG Paul Underwood (to Luton Town)
10 FW   ENG Duane Darby (to Shrewsbury Town)
10 FW   JAM Trevor Benjamin[notes 4] (on loan from Leicester City)
10 DF   IRL Barry Quinn (on loan from Coventry City)
20 DF   WAL Mark Peters (released[4])
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 FW   JAM Paul Hall[notes 5] (to Tranmere Rovers)
31 FW   JAM Onandi Lowe (to Coventry City)
35 GK   AUS Andy Petterson (to Southend United)
35 GK   RSA Paul Evans (released)
35 FW   ENG Adebayo Akinfenwa (released)
36 GK   ENG Jamie Ashdown (on loan from Reading)

References

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  1. ^ https://rdfc1992.com/2018/10/13/rushden-diamonds-football-club-history/
  2. ^ http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Rushden_and_Diamonds/Rushden_and_Diamonds.htm
  3. ^ "FootballSquads - Rushden & Diamonds - 2003/04".
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/3101464.stm

Notes

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  1. ^ Gray was born in Harrogate, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and represented Scotland at U-21 level.
  2. ^ Bell was born in Wellingborough, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented the Republic of Ireland at U-21 and B level.
  3. ^ Okuonghae was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but also qualified to represent England internationally and represented England at C level.
  4. ^ Benjamin was born in Kettering, England, and represented England at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in November 2002.
  5. ^ Hall was born in Manchester, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1997.