2002–03 Ipswich Town F.C. season

Ipswich Town
2002–03 season
Chairman England David Sheepshanks
Manager Scotland George Burley
England Tony Mowbray
England Joe Royle
Stadium Portman Road
First Division 7th
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Fourth round
UEFA Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League: Pablo Couñago (17)
All: Pablo Couñago (21)

During the 2002–03 English football season, Ipswich Town competed in the First Division, following relegation from the FA Premier League the previous season. Despite being relegated, Ipswich Town had achieved UEFA Cup qualification for the second season running, this time through UEFA's fair play rankings.

Season summary

The financial cost of relegation the previous season saw Ipswich enter administration on 10 February.[1] The financial problems had caused the sale of both key players like Marcus Stewart and promising young players like Titus Bramble and Darren Ambrose, leading to poor results on the pitch that left Ipswich struggling near the relegation zone. A 3-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Grimsby Town proved to be the final straw and manager George Burley was sacked in October. First team coach and former Ipswich player Tony Mowbray took charge of the next four games, winning one, before being replaced by Joe Royle - a former player for Town's archrivals Norwich City. Royle turned Town's fortunes around considerably and they finished in 7th place, 4 points off the playoff places.

In the League Cup, Ipswich reached the fourth round before being knocked out by eventual winners Liverpool 5-4 on penalties, after Tommy Miller's strike in the fourteenth minute was cancelled out by El Hadji Diouf's 54th-minute penalty.

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[2]

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

No. Position Player
1 England GK Andy Marshall
2 Netherlands DF Fabian Wilnis
4 England DF John McGreal
6 England DF Mark Venus
7 Northern Ireland MF Jim Magilton
8 Republic of Ireland MF Matt Holland
9 Spain FW Pablo Couñago
10 England FW Alun Armstrong
12 England DF Richard Naylor
14 England MF Jermaine Wright
15 England DF Chris Makin
16 England FW Marcus Bent
17 England FW Dean Bowditch
No. Position Player
18 England FW Darren Bent
19 Nigeria MF Finidi George
20 England DF Aidan Collins
21 England MF Tommy Miller
23 Denmark DF Thomas Gaardsoe
24 Netherlands MF Nabil Abidallah
25 France MF Ulrich Le Pen
26 England GK James Pullen
29 England MF Antonio Murray
30 Netherlands MF Martijn Reuser
32 England DF Matt Richards
33 England MF Ian Westlake

Left club during season

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

No. Position Player
3 England MF Jamie Clapham (to Birmingham City)
5 Iceland DF Hermann Hreidarsson (to Charlton Athletic)
11 England FW Marcus Stewart (to Sunderland)
13 Republic of Ireland GK Keith Branagan (retired)
17 England DF Wayne Brown (to Watford)
No. Position Player
20 England MF Richard Logan (to Boston United)
22 England MF Darren Ambrose (to Newcastle United)
29 South Africa DF Justin Miller (to Leyton Orient)
31 England GK Paul Gerrard (on loan from Everton)

Reserve squad

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

No. Position Player
27 England MF Matthew Bloomfield
28 England DF Lee Beavers
No. Position Player
35 Wales GK Lewis Price

References

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