2002–03 Football League Trophy

The 2002–03 Football League Trophy, known as the 2002–03 LDV Vans Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 22nd staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division. The winners were Bristol City and the runners-up were Carlisle United.

The competition began on 22 October 2002 and ended with the final on 6 April 2003 at the Millennium Stadium.

In the first round, there were two sections: North and South. In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists face each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy. In addition to the 48 League teams, 12 teams from the Football Conference were also invited to participate in the competition.

First round

Northern Section Barnsley and Macclesfield Town were given byes to the second round.

DateHome teamScoreAway team22 OctoberChesterfield2–0Halifax Town22 OctoberLincoln City4–3York City22 OctoberMansfield Town0–4Crewe Alexandra22 OctoberNotts County2–3Wigan Athletic22 OctoberOldham Athletic3–4Carlisle United22 OctoberPort Vale3–1Hull City22 OctoberRochdale0–1Bury22 OctoberScarborough1–2Doncaster Rovers22 OctoberScunthorpe United2–3Blackpool22 OctoberShrewsbury Town3–0Morecambe22 OctoberSouthport3–4Leigh RMI22 OctoberStockport County1–0Darlington22 OctoberTranmere Rovers5–0Hartlepool United22 OctoberWrexham2–1Huddersfield Town

Southern Section Cardiff City and Brentford were given byes to the second round.

DateHome teamScoreAway team22 OctoberCambridge United4–0Rushden & Diamonds22 OctoberCheltenham Town4–1Colchester United22 OctoberChester City1–2Plymouth Argyle22 OctoberDagenham & Redbridge1–3Kidderminster Harriers22 OctoberExeter City1–0Bristol Rovers22 OctoberHereford United3–4Northampton Town22 OctoberLeyton Orient3–2Peterborough United22 OctoberOxford United2–3Bournemouth22 OctoberQueens Park Rangers0–0Bristol Cityafter golden goal extra time.Bristol City won 5-4 on penalties22 OctoberStevenage2–1Swansea City22 OctoberSwindon Town6–1Southend United22 OctoberTorquay United0–4Wycombe Wanderers22 OctoberWoking0–2Luton Town23 OctoberBoston United4–2Yeovil Town

Second round

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team12 NovemberBury1–0Barnsley12 NovemberCarlisle United1–0Stockport County12 NovemberCrewe Alexandra2–0Blackpool12 NovemberLeigh RMI3–4Wrexham12 NovemberLincoln City1–2Shrewsbury Town12 NovemberMacclesfield Town1–2Tranmere Rovers12 NovemberPort Vale1–1ChesterfieldPort Vale won 4-3 on penalties12 NovemberWigan Athletic0–1Doncaster Rovers

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team12 NovemberBournemouth1–0Leyton Orient12 NovemberCheltenham Town1–2Wycombe Wanderers12 NovemberExeter City0–3Cardiff City12 NovemberKidderminster Harriers3–2Swindon Town12 NovemberNorthampton Town2–4Cambridge United12 NovemberPlymouth Argyle0–1Brentford12 NovemberStevenage3–4Luton Town13 NovemberBoston United1–2Bristol City

Quarter-finals

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team10 DecemberBury2–0Tranmere Rovers10 DecemberCarlisle United2–0Wrexham10 DecemberCrewe Alexandra8–0Doncaster Rovers10 DecemberShrewsbury Town2–1Port Vale

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team10 DecemberBournemouth2–1Cardiff City10 DecemberBrentford2–1Kidderminster Harriers10 DecemberLuton Town1–2Cambridge United11 DecemberBristol City3–0Wycombe Wanderers

Area semi-finals

Northern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team21 JanuaryCarlisle United3–2Bury29 JanuaryShrewsbury Town4–2Crewe Alexandra

Southern Section DateHome teamScoreAway team21 JanuaryBournemouth1–3Bristol City21 JanuaryBrentford1–2Cambridge United

Area finals

Northern Area final

Southern Area final

Final

GK 1 Steve PhillipsDF 2 Louis Carey DF 5 Tony Butler DF 19 Danny Coles DF 3 Michael Bell MF 7 Scott MurrayMF 8 Joe Burnell MF 4 Tommy Doherty (c)MF 11Brian Tinnion MF 18 Christian Roberts FW 10Lee PeacockSubstitutes:GK 14 Mike StowellDF 6 Matt Hill DF 26 Liam Rosenior MF 12 Aaron Brown FW 9 Peter BeadleManager:Danny Wilson GK 27 Matt GlennonDF 5 Brian Shelley DF 4 Paul RavenDF 15 Darren Kelly DF 7 Peter MurphyMF 24 Jon McCarthy MF 17 Stuart Green MF 25 Mark Summerbell FW 33 Adam Rundle FW 9Richie Foran FW 34Craig Farrell Substitute:DF 3 Lee Maddison DF 13 Willo McDonagh MF 20 Brendan McGillFW 11 Brian Wake FW 26 Craig RussellManager:Roddy Collins MATCH RULES 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Maximum of 3 substitutions.

Notes General statto.com

Specific