During the 2002–03 English football season, Bradford City competed in the Football League First Division.

Season summary Just after the end of the previous season, Bradford had been placed into administration, as a result of the collapse of ITV Digital, "six weeks of madness" in the transfer market in 2000 and the collapse of the sale of Benito Carbone (on weekly wages of £40,000) to Middlesbrough. The only way for Bradford, £13 million into debt, to move forward was to going into administration to try and save the club and find a buyer. Cuts had to be made, the most drastic being the cancelling of the contracts of sixteen members of the professional squad, leaving manager Nicky Law with five professionals with a handful of senior appearances among them and sixteen scholars.

After a summer of uncertainty, on 1 August the administrators managed to get creditors to accept a Creditors Voluntary Agreement, which would reschedule debts and reinstate the players, who had gone unpaid since April. One player not to return was Benito Carbone, who sacrificed a large chunk of the money owed to him on his contract and moved back to Italy. Chairman Richmond resigned from the board of directors on 10 August, after a reign of eight years. He was replaced as chairman by theme park magnate and new co-owner Gordon Gibb, who, along with Julian Rhodes, had completed a take-over of the club at the 11th hour before Bradford were due to lose their Football League status.

On 30 August, agreement was finally reached with the Professional Footballers' Association over payment owed to the players. With agreement having already been made with the creditors, this now allowed the Football League to return Bradford City's share in the League, effectively bringing the club out of administration.

With a transfer embargo in place, manager Nicky Law had to show an eye for a bargain and unearthed some raw talent. Youngsters Danny Forrest and Simon Francis emerged while Law worked the loan system to cope with an horrific list of injuries.

Bradford eventually finished the season in 19th place; given all that had happened off the field, this was to be considered a success.

Claus Jorgensen scored in eight consecutive away matches.

Final league table

Results Bradford City's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 11 August 2002 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–013,223 13 August 2002 Crystal PalaceA1–115,205Tod 17 August 2002 Stoke CityA1–212,424Gray 24 August 2002 Grimsby TownH0–010,914 26 August 2002 Ipswich TownA2–125,457Evans, Proctor 31 August 2002 Rotherham UnitedH4–212,385Ward (2), Uhlenbeek, Proctor 14 September 2002 WalsallA1–04,678Gray 17 September 2002 Leicester CityA0–424,651 21 September 2002 BurnleyH2–214,561Gray, Proctor 24 September 2002 Coventry CityH1–111,655Evans 28 September 2002 PortsmouthA0–318,459 5 October 2002 Preston North EndH1–113,215Proctor 12 October 2002 Derby CountyH0–013,385 19 October 2002 Sheffield WednesdayA1–217,191Warnock 26 October 2002 Norwich CityH2–112,888Reid (2) 29 October 2002 ReadingA0–112,110 2 November 2002 Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–36,319Gray (2, 1 pen) 9 November 2002 WimbledonH3–510,615Facey, Standing (2) 16 November 2002 Nottingham ForestA0–319,653 23 November 2002 Sheffield UnitedH0–513,364 30 November 2002 MillwallA0–18,510 7 December 2002 GillinghamH1–310,711Gray 14 December 2002 Nottingham ForestH1–012,245Molenaar 21 December 2002 WatfordA0–112,579 26 December 2002 Stoke CityH4–214,575Gray (2, 1 pen), Handyside (own goal), Jørgensen 28 December 2002 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–125,812Jørgensen, Gray 18 January 2003 Rotherham UnitedA2–36,939Jørgensen, Gray (pen) 25 January 2003 Grimsby TownA2–15,582Gray, Jørgensen 1 February 2003 Ipswich TownH2–012,080Jørgensen, Forrest 8 February 2003 WimbledonA2–21,178Jørgensen, Ward 15 February 2003 Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–111,520 22 February 2003 Coventry CityA2–012,525Gray, Jørgensen 1 March 2003 WalsallH1–210,893Forrest 4 March 2003 Leicester CityH0–011,531 8 March 2003 Crystal PalaceH2–111,016Atherton, Francis 15 March 2003 Derby CountyA2–123,735Jørgensen, Lawrence 18 March 2003 Sheffield WednesdayH1–114,452Gray (pen) 22 March 2003 ReadingH0–111,385 25 March 2003 BurnleyA2–011,095Jørgensen, Gray 29 March 2003 Norwich CityA2–318,536Forrest, Jørgensen (pen) 5 April 2003 MillwallH0–110,676 19 April 2003 WatfordH2–111,145Jørgensen, Gray (pen) 21 April 2003 GillinghamA0–16,281 26 April 2003 Preston North EndA0–113,652 29 April 2003 Sheffield UnitedA0–318,297 4 May 2003 PortsmouthH0–519,088

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR34 January 2003 West Bromwich AlbionA1–319,909Danks

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR110 September 2002 WrexhamA1–22,232Cadamarteri

First-team squad

Left club during season

Reserve squad

Transfers

In Steve Banks - Bolton Wanderers, loan Andy Gray - Nottingham Forest Michael Proctor - Sunderland, loan Harpal Singh - Leeds United, loan Stephen Warnock - Liverpool, loan Delroy Facey - Bolton Wanderers, loan Boaz Myhill - Aston Villa, loan

Out Jamie Lawrence - Walsall Benito Carbone - Como Eoin Jess - Nottingham Forest Gary Locke - Kilmarnock Dave Beasant - Wigan Athletic Damian Hatton - retired Graeme Tomlinson - Bedford Town Neil Bennett - Rochdale

References