2002–03 Watford F.C. season
Introduction The 2002–03 season marked Watford Football Club's third consecutive season in the Football League First Division, following relegation from the Premier League in the 1999–2000 season. The club was managed by its former reserve team manager Ray Lewington, following the dismissal of Gianluca Vialli at the end of 2001–02.The club finished 13th in the First Division, reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, and were eliminated in the first round of the League Cup. Watford were operating under severe financial constraints following the collapse of ITV Digital, and at the end of the season were forced to offload several first-team players, including Tommy Smith, Gifton Noel-Williams, Stephen Glass, and record signing Allan Nielsen.
Season review Over the summer many of the Vialli's signings left the club. Lewington had few funds to strengthen the side. The extent of Watford's financial difficulties was exposed in the autumn, along with many League clubs, following the collapse of ITV Digital. The club was facing administration when the players and staff agreed a 12% wage deferral. Exacerbating the club's difficulties were the large payoffs they had had to make to Vialli and several players on terminating their contracts, and Vialli's decision to sue the club early in 2003.The club started the season well, however, despite the players having to agree to a pay-cut during October, and finished in mid-table. An unexpected run to the FA Cup semi-final, where Watford lost to Premiership Southampton, also generated vital cash.
Final league table
Results ''Watford's score comes first''===Legend===WinDrawLoss===Football League First Division===DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 10 August 2002 Leicester CityA0–231,022 13 August 2002 MillwallH0–011,187 17 August 2002 WimbledonH3–210,292Webber, Robinson, Nielsen 24 August 2002 PortsmouthA0–317,901 26 August 2002 Coventry CityH5–211,136Glass, T Smith, Webber, Nielsen, Robinson 31 August 2002 Norwich CityA0–420,563 7 September 2002 WalsallH2–010,528T Smith, Foley 14 September 2002 Nottingham ForestA1–017,865Cox 17 September 2002 Preston North EndA1–112,408Robinson 21 September 2002 Crystal PalaceH3–312,153Ardley, Hyde, Helguson 28 September 2002 Sheffield UnitedA2–116,301Cox (pen), Helguson 5 October 2002 Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–015,305Helguson 12 October 2002 Grimsby TownH2–013,821Foley, T Smith 19 October 2002 GillinghamA0–38,728 26 October 2002 Sheffield WednesdayH1–015,058Helguson 30 October 2002 Stoke CityA2–111,215Helguson, Cox 2 November 2002 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–116,524Cox 9 November 2002 Rotherham UnitedA1–26,790Foley 17 November 2002 Ipswich TownH0–216,184 23 November 2002 ReadingA0–117,465 30 November 2002 BurnleyH2–113,977Helguson, T Smith (pen) 7 December 2002 Derby CountyA0–321,653 14 December 2002 Ipswich TownA2–422,985T Smith, Cox 21 December 2002 Bradford CityH1–012,579Cox (pen) 26 December 2002 WimbledonA0–02,643 28 December 2002 Leicester CityH1–216,017Helguson 1 January 2003 PortsmouthH2–215,048Hyde, Cox 11 January 2003 MillwallA0–49,030 19 January 2003 Norwich CityH2–113,338Nielsen, Helguson 1 February 2003 Coventry CityA1–017,393Hyde 8 February 2003 Rotherham UnitedH1–215,025T Smith 22 February 2003 WalsallA0–27,705 25 February 2003 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–024,591 1 March 2003 Nottingham ForestH1–117,934Helguson 4 March 2003 Preston North EndH0–111,101 15 March 2003 Grimsby TownA0–14,847 18 March 2003 GillinghamH0–110,492 22 March 2003 Stoke CityH1–212,570Helguson 29 March 2003 Sheffield WednesdayA2–217,086T Smith, Norville 5 April 2003 BurnleyA7–410,208Brown, Hyde, Cox, Chopra (4) 8 April 2003 Crystal PalaceA1–014,051Hunt (own goal) 19 April 2003 Bradford CityA1–211,145Helguson 21 April 2003 Derby CountyH2–011,909Chopra, Ardley 26 April 2003 Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–46,841 30 April 2003 ReadingH0–311,814 4 May 2003 Sheffield UnitedH2–014,320Cox, Fitzgerald===FA Cup===+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR34 January 2003 Macclesfield TownA2–04,244Helguson, PennantR425 January 2003 West Bromwich AlbionH1–016,975HelgusonR515 February 2003 SunderlandA1–026,916T SmithQF9 March 2003 BurnleyH2–020,336T Smith, GlassSF13 April 2003 SouthamptonN1–242,602Gayle===League Cup===+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR110 September 2002 Luton TownH1–214,171Foley
Players ===First-team squad===:''Squad at end of season''===Left club during season======Reserve squad===
See also * Luton Town F.C. and Watford F.C. rivalry* List of Watford F.C. seasons
References
Notes