The 2003 FA Trophy Final was the 34th final of The Football Association's cup competition for levels 5–8 of the English football league system. It was contested by Burscough and Tamworth on 18 May 2003 at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Burscough won the match 2–1 to win the competition for the first time in their history as they are the greatest clubs to ever do this.
Road to Villa Park
Burscough RoundOppositionScore1stReplayMarine (h)Marine (a)0–01–3 (a.e.t.)2ndReplayHarrogate Town (a)Harrogate Town (h)2–23–23rdIlkeston Town (a)0–34thReplayAlfreton Town (a)Alfreton Town (h)1–12–05thWakefield & Emley (h)5–06thYeovil Town (a)2–0SFAylesbury United (a)Aylesbury United (h)1–11–0Key: (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue; (n) = Neutral venue.
Tamworth As Tamworth were a Southern Football League club (they won the league in 2003 and secured promotion to the Football Conference), they entered the competition in the second round. Tamworth's cup run started with a home tie against their league rivals, Accrington Stanley. They went on to win the game 4–1. In the third round, the team was drawn at home against local rivals Nuneaton Borough, in which they won the game 3–0. RoundOppositionScore2ndAccrington Stanley (h)4–13rdNuneaton Borough (h)3–04thStevenage Borough (h)3–05thMargate (a)0–2SFHavant & Waterlooville (h)Havant & Waterlooville (a)1–01–1 (a.e.t.)Key: (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue; (n) = Neutral venue.
Match Details
GK 1 Matt TaylorRB 6 Carl MacAuleyCB 5 Joe TaylorCB 6 Shaun Teale LB 8 Ryan BowenRM 14 Mark Byrne CM 10 John NormanCM 15 Paul BurnsLM 7 John Lawless RF 11 Gary Martindale LF 10 Peter Wright (c)Substitutes:MF 3 John Bluck FW 12 Kris McHale GK 13 Gary MaguireMF 16 Marvin MolyneuxDF 17 Michael White Player-manager: Shaun Teale GK 1 Darren ActonRB 2 Rob WarnerCB 4 Dave Robinson CB 5 Steve Walsh LB 3 Richard FollettRM 7 Nick ColleyCM 11 Brian McGorryCM 6 Mark Cooper (c)LM 8 Steve Evans RF 14 Mark Sale LF 10 Scott Rickards Substitutes:FW 9 Mark Hallam MF 12 Mark Turner DF 15 Darren GrocuttMF 16 Paul Hatton GK 19 Neil BarnesManager: Darron Gee
Match officials Assistant referees: Rob Lewis Mr Steve Tanner Fourth official: Mark Clattenburg
Man of the match Gary Martindale (Burscough)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shootout if scores still level. Five named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions.
Notes A. Clubs competing in the Northern/Southern Football League Premier Division, receive a bye to the second round.
References