2003–04 Football League Trophy

The 2003–04 Football League Trophy, known as the LDV Vans Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 23rd season in the history of the competition. A straight knockout competition for English football clubs in the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system.[1]

2003–04 Football League Trophy
LDV Vans Trophy
Tournament details
Country England
 Wales
Teams60
Final positions
ChampionsBlackpool
Runner-upSouthend United
Tournament statistics
Matches played61

In all, 60 clubs entered the competition, including twelve from the Conference National. It was split into two sections, Northern and Southern, with the winners of each section contesting the final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The competition began on 13 October 2003 and concluded on 21 March 2004.[2]

The winners were Blackpool, who defeated Southend United 2–0 to win the title for a second time.[3]

First round

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Four clubs received a bye into the Second Round. Bury and Huddersfield Town in the Northern section, and Northampton Town and Swansea City in the Southern section.

Second round

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Quarter finals

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Semi finals

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Area Finals

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Northern section

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10 February 2004 First Leg Blackpool 1 – 0 Sheffield Wednesday Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
19:45 GMT Taylor   82' Report Attendance: 7,482
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
25 February 2004 Second Leg Sheffield Wednesday 0 – 2 Blackpool Hillsborough, Sheffield
19:45 GMT Report Sheron   20'
Southern   31'
Attendance: 21,390
Referee: Mike Pike (Lancashire)

Southern Section

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10 February 2004 First Leg Colchester United 2 – 3 Southend United Layer Road, Colchester
19:45 GMT Pinault   7'
Andrews   75'
Report Constantine   17'
Broughton   42'
Bramble   68'
Attendance: 5,401
Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear)
17 February 2004 Second Leg Southend United 1 – 1 Colchester United Roots Hall, Southend
19:45 GMT Broughton   45' Report Izzet   3' Attendance: 9,603
Referee: Michael Ryan (Lancashire)

Final

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Blackpool2 – 0Southend United
Murphy   2'
Coid   55'
Report

References

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  1. ^ "The Football League Trophy". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  2. ^ "2003–04 LDV Vans Trophy". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  3. ^ "Blackpool 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
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