2002–03 Northampton Town F.C. season

The 2002–03 season was Northampton Town's 106th season in their history and the third successive season in the Second Division. Alongside competing in Division Two, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and Football League Trophy.

Northampton Town
2002–03 season
ChairmanAndrew Ellis
ManagerKevan Broadhurst
(until January 2003)
Terry Fenwick
(January)
Martin Wilkinson
(from 24 February)
StadiumSixfields Stadium
Division Two24th
FA CupSecond round
Worthington CupFirst round
LDV Vans TrophySecond round (s)
Top goalscorerLeague: Marco Gabbiadini (12)
All: Marco Gabbiadini (14)
Highest home attendance5,906 vs Peterborough United
Lowest home attendance2,336 vs Wigan Athletic

Players

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As of match played 3 May 2003.
No. Name Position Nat. Place of Birth Date of Birth (Age) Apps Goals Previous club Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
1 Lee Harper GK   Chelsea (1971-10-30)30 October 1971 (aged 31) 34 0 Walsall 15 July 2002 Free
13 Nathan Abbey GK   Islington (1978-07-11)11 July 1978 (aged 24) 8 0 Chesterfield 2 August 2002 Free
24 Mark Bunn GK   Kettering (1984-11-16)16 November 1984 (aged 18) 0 0 Apprentice 21 August 2001 N/A
27 Glyn Thompson GK   Telford (1981-02-24)24 February 1981 (aged 22) 12 0 Fulham 27 March 2003 Free
Defenders
2 Chris Marsh RB   Dudley (1970-01-14)14 January 1970 (aged 33) 43 0 Wycombe Wanderers 6 September 2001 £10,000[1]
3 Duncan Spedding LB   Camberley (1977-09-07)7 September 1977 (aged 25) 143 1 Southampton 14 July 1998 Free
4 Ian Sampson CB   Wakefield (1968-11-14)14 November 1968 (aged 34) 401 29 Sunderland 5 August 1994 £30,000
5 Richard Hope CB   Stockton-on-Tees (1978-06-22)22 June 1978 (aged 24) 153 7 Darlington 18 December 1998 Undisclosed
6 John Frain LB   Birmingham (1968-10-08)8 October 1968 (aged 34) 243 7 Birmingham City Summer 1997 Free
16 Daryl Burgess FB   Birmingham (1971-01-24)24 January 1971 (aged 32) 69 2 West Bromwich Albion 27 June 2001 Free
21 Jerry Gill RB   Clevedon (1970-09-08)8 September 1970 (aged 32) 46 0 Birmingham City 11 November 2002 Free
25 Luke Chambers RB   Kettering (1985-09-28)28 September 1985 (aged 17) 1 0 Apprentice 26 April 2003 N/A
28 Paul Reid CB   Carlisle (1982-02-18)18 February 1982 (aged 21) 19 0 Rangers 30 December 2002 Loan
Midfielders
7 Paul McGregor RW   Liverpool (1974-12-17)17 December 1974 (aged 28) 71 7 Plymouth Argyle 8 June 2001 Free
8 Paul Harsley CM   Scunthorpe (1978-05-29)29 May 1978 (aged 24) 51 3 Halifax Town 13 June 2002 Free[2]
11 Chris Carruthers LM   Kettering (1983-08-19)19 August 1983 (aged 19) 55 1 Apprentice 1 August 2000 N/A
14 Paul Rickers RM   Pontefract (1975-05-09)9 May 1975 (aged 27) 15 1 Oldham Athletic 3 July 2002 Free
15 Paul Trollope CM   Swindon (ENG) (1972-06-03)3 June 1972 (aged 30) 48 2 Coventry City 23 July 2002 Free
17 Greg Lincoln CM   Cheshunt (1980-03-23)23 March 1980 (aged 23) 12 0 Margate 6 June 2002 Free
20 Chris Hargreaves CM   Cleethorpes (1972-05-12)12 May 1972 (aged 30) 122 5 Plymouth Argyle 27 June 2000 Free
Forwards
9 Darryn Stamp FW   Beverley (1978-09-21)21 September 1978 (aged 24) 24 5 Scarborough 29 May 2002 £45,000
10 Marco Gabbiadini FW   Nottingham (1968-01-20)20 January 1968 (aged 35) 136 30 Darlington 27 June 2000 Free
19 Derek Asamoah FW   Accra (1981-05-01)1 May 1981 (aged 22) 92 9 Slough Town 25 July 2001 Free
22 Steve Morison FW   Enfield (1983-08-29)29 August 1983 (aged 19) 16 1 Apprentice 27 August 2001 N/A
30 Lawrie Dudfield FW   Southwark (1980-05-07)7 May 1980 (aged 22) 10 1 Hull City 15 March 2003 Loan
31 Tom Youngs FW   Bury St Edmunds (1979-08-31)31 August 1979 (aged 23) 5 0 Cambridge United 15 March 2003 £50,000

Competitions

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Nationwide Football League Division Two

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Chesterfield 46 14 8 24 43 73 −30 50
21 Cheltenham Town (R) 46 10 18 18 53 68 −15 48 Relegation to Football League Third Division
22 Huddersfield Town (R) 46 11 12 23 39 61 −22 45
23 Mansfield Town (R) 46 12 8 26 66 97 −31 44
24 Northampton Town (R) 46 10 9 27 40 79 −39 39
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
(R) Relegated

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 10 9 27 40 79  −39 39 7 4 12 23 31  −8 3 5 15 17 48  −31

Last updated: 22 April 2020.
Source: 11v11.com

League position by match

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHA
ResultDDWLLWLDWLWDLLLLWWWLLLLDWLLLDLDLLLLWDWLLLLLLDL
Position121589181616181415121114161820161412141617192014151619191921222323232324222323232424242424
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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  Win   Draw   Loss

10 August 2002 (2002-08-10) 1 Northampton Town 1–1 Crewe Alexandra Northampton
15:00 BST M.Gabbiadini   87' Report N.Sorvel   30' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,694
Referee: Trevor Parkes
13 August 2002 (2002-08-13) 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1–1 Northampton Town High Wycombe
19:45 BST D.Currie   48' Report J.Forrester   69' Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 5,993
Referee: Clive Wilkes
17 August 2002 (2002-08-17) 3 Cardiff City 1–2 Northampton Town Cardiff, Wales
15:00 BST G.Kavanagh   15' Report M.Gabbiadini   10', 50' Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 13,321
Referee: Lee Cable
23 August 2002 (2002-08-23) 4 Northampton Town 0–1 Blackpool Northampton
19:45 BST Report J.Murphy   90' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,556
Referee: Phil Joslin
27 August 2002 (2002-08-27) 5 Chesterfield 4–0 Northampton Town Chesterfield
19:45 BST G.Hurst   22', 90'
M.Hudson   28'
C.Brandon   42'
Report Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 3,585
Referee: Scott Mathieson
31 August 2002 (2002-08-31) 6 Northampton Town 1–0 Barnsley Northampton
15:00 BST I.Sampson   42'
P.McGregor   74'
Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,004
Referee: Andy Hall
6 September 2002 (2002-09-06) 7 Bristol City 3–0 Northampton Town Bristol
19:45 BST L.Peacock   7', 76'
S.Clist   87'
Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 11,104
Referee: Paul Rejer
14 September 2002 (2002-09-14) 8 Northampton Town 0–0 Huddersfield Town Northampton
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,679
Referee: Mark Warren
17 September 2002 (2002-09-17) 9 Northampton Town 4–1 Colchester United Northampton
19:45 BST M.Gabbiadini   15', 45', 60'
A.One   23'
Report I.Sampson   36' (o.g.) Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 3,663
Referee: George Cain
21 September 2002 (2002-09-21) 10 Swindon Town 2–0 Northampton Town Swindon
15:00 BST J.Jackson   31'
S.Parkin   79' (pen.)
Report L.Harper   77' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,719
Referee: Phil Prosser
28 September 2002 (2002-09-28) 11 Northampton Town 2–0 Mansfield Town Northampton
15:00 BST M.Gabbiadini   3' (pen.)
P.Trollope   80'
Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,594
Referee: Mick Fletcher
5 October 2002 (2002-10-05) 12 Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Northampton Town Plymouth
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 8,530
Referee: Tony Bates
12 October 2002 (2002-10-12) 13 Northampton Town 1–2 Brentford Northampton
15:00 BST D.Asamoah   90' Report I.Sonko   7'
R.Vine   25'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,739
Referee: Mark Cowburn
19 October 2002 (2002-10-19) 14 Notts County 2–1 Northampton Town Nottingham
15:00 BST M.Stallard   50'
P.Heffernan   83'
Report D.Asamoah   79' Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 6,009
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
26 October 2002 (2002-10-26) 15 Northampton Town 1–2 Cheltenham Town Northampton
15:00 BST J.Forrester   24' Report J.Alsop   31'
R.Forsyth   62'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,354
Referee: Matt Messias
29 October 2002 (2002-10-29) 16 Oldham Athletic 4–0 Northampton Town Oldham
19:45 GMT W.Andrews   28'
C.Corazzin   61'
D.Eyres   71' (pen.)
J.Eyre   84'
Report Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 5,512
Referee: Roy Pearson
2 November 2002 (2002-11-02) 17 Northampton Town 3–0 Luton Town Northampton
15:00 GMT J.Forrester   9', 19'
M.Gabbiadini   50'
Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,750
Referee: Paul Durkin
9 November 2002 (2002-11-09) 18 Queens Park Rangers 0–1 Northampton Town White City, London
15:00 GMT Report P.Trollope   61' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 11,947
Referee: Mike Thorpe
23 November 2002 (2002-11-23) 19 Northampton Town 3–0 Port Vale Northampton
15:00 GMT M.Gabbiadini   38', 56'
J.Forrester   89'
Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,357
Referee: George Cain
30 November 2002 (2002-11-30) 20 Wigan Athletic 1–0 Northampton Town Wigan
15:00 GMT N.Roberts   37' Report M.Gabbiadini   74' Stadium: JJB Stadium
Attendance: 6,032
Referee: Alan Kaye
14 December 2002 (2002-12-14) 21 Northampton Town 0–4 Tranmere Rovers Northampton
15:00 GMT Report S.Haworth   10', 66'
R.Taylor   71'
A.Hay   76'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,268
Referee: Phil Crossley
20 December 2002 (2002-12-20) 22 Stockport County 4–0 Northampton Town Stockport
15:00 GMT L.Beckett   23', 46', 60'
B.Burgess   77'
Report Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 4,516
Referee: Brian Curson
26 December 2002 (2002-12-26) 23 Northampton Town 0–1 Chesterfield Northampton
15:00 GMT Report S.Bradley   88' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,282
Referee: Grant Hegley
28 December 2002 (2002-12-28) 24 Peterborough United 0–0 Northampton Town Peterborough
12:00 GMT Report Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 7,767
Referee: Michael Jones
1 January 2003 (2003-01-01) 25 Barnsley 1–2 Northampton Town Barnsley
15:00 GMT C.Lumsdon   24' Report C.Lumsdon   45' (o.g.)
D.Stamp   70'
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 9,531
Referee: Lee Mason
4 January 2003 (2003-01-04) 26 Northampton Town 0–5 Wycombe Wanderers Northampton
15:00 GMT Report J.Dixon   8'
M.Simpson   45'
S.Roberts   46', 78', 82'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,679
Referee: Mike Ryan
18 January 2003 (2003-01-18) 27 Blackpool 2–1 Northampton Town Blackpool
15:00 GMT R.Walker   77' (pen.)
J.Murphy   90'
Report D.Stamp   70' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 5,646
Referee: Howard Webb
25 January 2003 (2003-01-25) 28 Northampton Town 0–1 Peterborough United Northampton
12:00 GMT D.Stamp   69' Report A.Clarke   55' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,906
Referee: Paul Robinson
1 February 2003 (2003-02-01) 29 Crewe Alexandra 3–3 Northampton Town Crewe
15:00 GMT S.Jones   39', 70'
D.Vaughan   41'
Report M.Gabbiadini   45' (pen.)
R.Hope   63'
D.Asamoah   81'
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 6,164
Referee: Paul Taylor
4 February 2003 (2003-02-04) 30 Northampton Town 0–1 Cardiff City Northampton
19:45 GMT Report R.Earnshaw   58' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,553
Referee: Ray Olivier
Note: Fixture was previously postponed on January 11, 2003 due to a frozen pitch.[3]
8 February 2003 (2003-02-08) 31 Northampton Town 1–1 Queens Park Rangers Northampton
15:00 GMT B.Rahim   16' Report P.Furlong   60' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,859
Referee: Ray Olivier
15 February 2003 (2003-02-15) 32 Luton Town 3–2 Northampton Town Luton
15:00 GMT P.Hughes   26', 84'
K.Nicholls   58'
Report D.Burgess   23'
R.Johnson   71' (pen.)
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 7,048
Referee: Keith Hill
22 February 2003 (2003-02-22) 33 Northampton Town 1–2 Bristol City Northampton
15:00 GMT P.McGregor   45' Report M.Robins   12'
B.Tinnion   35'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,688
Referee: Alan Butler
1 March 2003 (2003-03-01) 34 Huddersfield Town 2–0 Northampton Town Huddersfield
15:00 GMT S.Baldry   44'
M.Smith   45'
Report Stadium: McAlpine Stadium
Attendance: 9,651
Referee: Michael Jones
4 March 2003 (2003-03-04) 35 Colchester United 2–0 Northampton Town Colchester
19:45 GMT G.Williams   28'
S.McGleish   76'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,408
Referee: David Crick
8 March 2003 (2003-03-08) 36 Northampton Town 1–0 Swindon Town Northampton
15:00 GMT P.Harsley   61' Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,566
Referee: Tony Leake
15 March 2003 (2003-03-15) 37 Cheltenham Town 1–1 Northampton Town Cheltenham
15:00 GMT M.Yates   60' Report P.Harsley   75' Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 4,917
Referee: George Cain
18 March 2003 (2003-03-18) 38 Northampton Town 2–0 Notts County Northampton
19:45 GMT D.Asamoah   24'
I.Sampson   82'
Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,254
Referee: Phil Crossley
22 March 2003 (2003-03-22) 39 Northampton Town 0–2 Oldham Athletic Northampton
15:00 GMT Report W.Andrews   67', 89' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,646
Referee: Steve Tomlin
29 March 2003 (2003-03-29) 40 Brentford 3–0 Northampton Town Brentford, London
15:00 GMT M.Somner   52'
M.Rowlands   77'
S.Hunt   90'
Report Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 5,354
Referee: Grant Hegley
4 April 2003 (2003-04-04) 41 Northampton Town 0–2 Wigan Athletic Northampton
19:45 BST Report N.Ellington   9'
A.Liddell   43' (pen.)
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,822
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
12 April 2003 (2003-04-12) 42 Port Vale 3–2 Northampton Town Burslem
15:00 BST M.Walsh   11'
P.Clarke   90'
A.Littlejohn   90'
Report M.Gabbiadini   62'
L.Dudfield   89'
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,209
Referee: Trevor Parkes
18 April 2003 (2003-04-18) 43 Northampton Town 0–3 Stockport County Northampton
19:45 BST Report A.Wilbraham   7', 24'
J.Goodwin   14'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,873
Referee: Alan Kaye
21 April 2003 (2003-04-21) 44 Tranmere Rovers 4–0 Northampton Town Birkenhead
15:00 BST S.Nicholson   59' (pen.)
S.Haworth   60'
I.Anderson   89'
A.Hay   90'
Report Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 7,348
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
26 April 2003 (2003-04-26) 45 Northampton Town 2–2 Plymouth Argyle Northampton
15:00 BST D.Stamp   66'
S.Morison   72'
Report D.Norris   19'
I.Stonebridge   55'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 5,063
Referee: Eddie Evans
3 May 2003 (2003-05-03) 46 Mansfield Town 2–1 Northampton Town Mansfield
15:00 BST A.White   62'
L.Lawrence   77' (pem.)
Report D.Stamp   66' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Phil Prosser

FA Cup

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16 November 2002 (2002-11-16) First round Northampton Town 3–2 Boston United Northampton
15:00 GMT P.Harsley   10'
M.Gabbiadini   35'
D.Asamoah   68'
Report T.Battersby   56' (pen.)
A.Higgins   82'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,373
Referee: Steve Baines
7 December 2002 (2002-12-07) Second round Cambridge United 2–2 Northampton Town Cambridge
15:00 GMT A.Tann   5', 45' Report D.Stamp   55'
C.Hargreaves   83'
Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 5,076
Referee: Paul Rejer
17 December 2002 (2002-12-17) Second round (r) Northampton Town 0–1 Cambridge United Northampton
19:45 GMT Report O.Riza   79' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,591
Referee: Paul Rejer

Worthington Cup

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10 September 2002 (2002-09-10) First round Northampton Town 0–1 Wigan Athletic Northampton
19:45 BST Report J.Jarrett   31' Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,336
Referee: Steve Baines

LDV Vans Trophy

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22 October 2002 (2002-10-22) First round (s) Hereford United 3–4 (a.e.t.) Northampton Town Hereford
19:45 BST C.Eribenne   6', 32'
P.Parry   82'
Report J.Forrester   1'   96' (pen.)
P.Rickers   11'
D.Asamoah   89'
Stadium: Edgar Street
Attendance: 1,087
Referee: Scott Mathieson
Note: Northampton Town won on the Golden Goal rule.
12 November 2002 (2002-11-12) Second round (s) Northampton Town 2–4 Cambridge United Northampton
19:45 GMT C.Hargreaves   17'
M.Gabbiadini   27'
Report D.Burgess   37' (o.g.)
O.Riza   45', 50'
T.Youngs   72'
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,497
Referee: Mark Cooper

Appearances, goals and cards

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No. Pos Player Division Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total Discipline
Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals    
1 GK Lee Harper 31 2 1 33 1 1
2 RB Chris Marsh 15 15 2
3 LB Duncan Spedding 9 2 1 1 10 3 2
4 CB Ian Sampson 31 2 1 3 2 36 2 1 9 1
5 CB Richard Hope 17 6 1 1 2 1 1 19 9 1 5
6 LB John Frain 13 1 1 14 1
7 RM Paul McGregor 17 6 2 2 1 18 8 2 1
8 CM Paul Harsley 41 4 2 3 1 1 1 1 46 5 3 1
9 ST Darryn Stamp 12 10 4 1 1 1 13 11 5 2 1
10 ST Marco Gabbiadini 33 8 12 3 1 1 2 1 39 8 14 7 1
11 LM Chris Carruthers 26 7 3 1 1 30 8 1
13 GK Nathan Abbey 4 1 1 2 7 1 1
14 RM Paul Rickers 8 3 1 1 2 1 11 4 1 1
15 CM Paul Trollope 41 2 3 1 2 47 2 7
16 RB Daryl Burgess 24 1 1 2 1 1 28 1 1 6 1
17 CM Greg Lincoln 5 7 5 7
19 ST Derek Asamoah 20 22 4 2 1 1 1 2 1 24 24 6 2
20 CM Chris Hargreaves 36 3 3 1 1 2 1 42 3 2 8
21 RB Jerry Gill 41 2 1 2 46 5
22 ST Steve Morison 4 9 1 2 4 11 1
23 MF Danny Lowe
24 GK Mark Bunn
25 RB Luke Chambers 1 1
26 CM Aaran Cavill
27 GK Glyn Thompson 11 1 12
28 CB Paul Reid 19 19 3
29 DF Adam Barradell
30 ST Lawrie Dudfield 8 2 1 8 2 1
31 ST Tom Youngs 5 5
Players no longer at the club:
18 ST Jamie Forrester 18 7 5 3 1 2 2 24 7 7
18 CM Brent Rahim 6 1 6 1 1
23 ST Armand One 6 1 1 6 1 1
29 LM Andy Turner 3 3
30 CM Richard Johnson 5 1 1 5 1 1 2

References

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  1. ^ "Marsh to join Cobblers". BBC Sport. 5 September 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  2. ^ "Northampton sign Harsley". BBC Sport. 12 June 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  3. ^ "2002/03 Division 2". ntfcmemorabilia.weebly.com. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.