2002–03 Rushden & Diamonds F.C. season

During the 2002–03 English football season, Rushden & Diamonds competed in the Third Division.

Rushden & Diamonds
2002–03 season
ManagerBrian Talbot
StadiumNene Park
Third Division1st (promoted)
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
Football League TrophyFirst round

Season summary

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Rushden & Diamonds finished the season as Third Division champions, ensuring their first ever season in the Second Division.

Rushden & Diamonds retained the previous season's kit, which was manufactured by Fila and sponsored by Dr. Martens.[1]

First-team squad

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Squad at end of season[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ENG Billy Turley
3 DF   ENG Paul Underwood
4 DF   NIR Barry Hunter
5 DF   WAL Mark Peters
6 DF   ENG Andy Edwards
7 MF   ENG Stuart Wardley
8 MF   ENG Ritchie Hanlon
9 FW   ENG Dean Holdsworth
10 FW   ENG Duane Darby
11 MF   ENG Andy Burgess
12 DF   SCO Stuart Gray[notes 1]
13 GK   ENG Stuart Naylor
14 DF   ENG Marcus Bignot
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF   ENG Gary Mills
16 GK   ENG Adam Sollitt
17 DF   ENG Gary Setchell
18 MF   ENG David Bell[notes 2]
19 MF   ENG Daniel Talbot
20 DF   ENG Andrew Sambrook
21 FW   WAL Robert Duffy
22 FW   JAM Paul Hall[notes 3]
24 DF   ENG John Dempster
31 FW   JAM Onandi Lowe
33 DF   IRL David Bell
36 MF   ENG Owen Story
40 DF   NGA Magnus Okuonghae[notes 4]

Left club during season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   ENG Tarkan Mustafa (on loan to Doncaster Rovers; sold to Dagenham & Redbridge)
6 DF   ENG Andy Tillson (retired)
9 FW   ENG Scott Partridge (on loan to Exeter City; sold to Shrewsbury Town)
14 MF   IRL Michael McElhatton (retired)
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK   WAL Tony Pennock (to Farnborough Town)
23 DF   ENG Brett Solkhon (on loan to Canvey Island; sold to Kettering Town)
25 FW   ENG Tony Battersby (released)

References

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  1. ^ "Rushden & Diamonds - Historical Football Kits".
  2. ^ "FootballSquads - Rushden & Diamonds - 2002/03".

Notes

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  1. ^ Gray was born in Harrogate, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and represented Scotland at U-21 level.
  2. ^ Bell was born in Wellingborough, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented the Republic of Ireland at U-21 and B level.
  3. ^ Hall was born in Manchester, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1997.
  4. ^ Okuonghae was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but also qualified to represent England internationally and represented England at C level.