# 2002–03 Reading F.C. season

The 2002–03 season was Reading's first season back in the First Division, since their promotion from the Second Division in 2002.

## Season review

See also Football League First Division 2002–03

## Squad

    As of match played 14 May 2003
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Phil Whitehead | GK | (1969-12-17)17 December 1969 (aged 33) | West Bromwich Albion | 1999 | | 108 | 0 |
| 21 | Jamie Ashdown | GK | (1980-11-30)30 November 1980 (aged 22) | Academy | 1998 | | 5 | 0 |
| 31 | Marcus Hahnemann | GK | (1972-06-15)15 June 1972 (aged 30) | Fulham | 2002 | | 50 | 0 |
| 32 | Jamie Young | GK | (1985-08-25)25 August 1985 (aged 17) | Academy | 2002 | | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Graeme Murty | DF | (1974-11-13)13 November 1974 (aged 28) | York City | 1998 | | 155 | 1 |
| 3 | Nicky Shorey | DF | (1981-02-19)19 February 1981 (aged 22) | Leyton Orient | 2001 | | 86 | 2 |
| 5 | Adi Viveash | DF | (1969-09-30)30 September 1969 (aged 33) | Walsall | 2000 | 2003 | 91 | 4 |
| 6 | John Mackie | DF | (1976-07-05)5 July 1976 (aged 26) | Sutton United | 1999 | | 75 | 2 |
| 8 | Ady Williams | DF | (1971-08-16)16 August 1971 (aged 31) | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2000 | 2003 | | |
| 26 | Alex Smith | DF | (1976-02-15)15 February 1976 (aged 27) | Port Vale | 2001 | | 18 | 3 |
| 29 | Steve Brown | DF | (1972-05-13)13 May 1972 (aged 31) | Charlton Athletic | 2002 | | 25 | 1 |
| 35 | Ahmet Rifat | DF | (1986-01-03)3 January 1986 (aged 17) | Academy | 2003 | | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Peter Castle | DF | (1987-03-12)12 March 1987 (aged 16) | Academy | 2003 | | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 4 | Kevin Watson | MF | (1974-01-03)3 January 1974 (aged 29) | Rotherham United | 2003 | | 45 | 2 |
| 11 | Andy Hughes | MF | (1978-01-02)2 January 1978 (aged 25) | Notts County | 2001 | | 89 | 15 |
| 14 | Sammy Igoe | MF | (1975-09-30)30 September 1975 (aged 27) | Portsmouth | 2000 | | 105 | 7 |
| 15 | James Harper | MF | (1980-11-09)9 November 1980 (aged 22) | Arsenal | 2001 | | 86 | 4 |
| 16 | Glen Little | MF | (1975-10-15)15 October 1975 (aged 27) | on loan from Burnley | 2003 | 2003 | 7 | 1 |
| 17 | John Salako | MF | (1969-02-11)11 February 1969 (aged 34) | Charlton Athletic | 2001 | | 78 | 10 |
| 19 | Joe Gamble | MF | (1982-01-14)14 January 1982 (aged 21) | Cork City | 2000 | | 13 | 0 |
| 23 | Andre Boucaud | MF | (1984-10-10)10 October 1984 (aged 18) | Academy | 2002 | | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Ricky Newman | MF | (1970-08-05)5 August 1970 (aged 32) | Millwall | 2000 | | 83 | 2 |
| 27 | Steve Sidwell | MF | (1982-12-14)14 December 1982 (aged 20) | Arsenal | 2003 | | 15 | 2 |
| 28 | Steve Warren | MF | (1983-09-27)27 September 1983 (aged 19) | Crystal Palace | 2003 | | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Luke Chadwick | MF | (1980-11-18)18 November 1980 (aged 22) | loan from Manchester United | 2003 | 2003 | 17 | 1 |
| 34 | Darren Campbell | MF | (1986-04-16)16 April 1986 (aged 17) | Academy | 2003 | | 1 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Tony Rougier | FW | (1971-07-17)17 July 1971 (aged 31) | Port Vale | 2000 | | 99 | 6 |
| 9 | Martin Butler | FW | (1974-09-15)15 September 1974 (aged 28) | Cambridge United | 2000 | | 115 | 36 |
| 10 | Nicky Forster | FW | (1973-09-08)8 September 1973 (aged 29) | Birmingham City | 1999 | | 147 | 47 |
| 12 | Jamie Cureton | FW | (1975-08-28)28 August 1975 (aged 27) | Bristol Rovers | 2000 | | 127 | 55 |
| 20 | Bas Savage | FW | (1982-01-07)7 January 1982 (aged 21) | Academy | 2001 | | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Nathan Tyson | FW | (1982-05-04)4 May 1982 (aged 21) | Academy | 1999 | | 32 | 1 |
| 24 | Darius Henderson | FW | (1981-09-07)7 September 1981 (aged 21) | Academy | 1999 | | 82 | 15 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 16 | Phil Parkinson | DF | (1967-12-01)1 December 1967 (aged 35) | Bury | 1992 | | | |
| 18 | Adrian Whitbread | DF | (1971-10-22)22 October 1971 (aged 31) | Portsmouth | 2001 | | 37 | 0 |
| 27 | Ricky Allaway | DF | (1983-02-12)12 February 1983 (aged 20) | Academy | 1999 | | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Matthew Upson | DF | (1979-04-18)18 April 1979 (aged 24) | loan from Arsenal | 2002 | 2002 | 15 | 1 |
* ↑ Age as of the end of the season
* ↑ Jamie Young was born in Brisbane, Australia, and but qualified to represent England, represent England at U18, U19 and U20 level.
* ↑ Murty was born in Nunthorpe, England, but qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his parents and made his international debut for Scotland in 2004.
* ↑ Adrian Williams was born in Reading, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally, making his international debut for Wales in 1994.
* ↑ John Salako was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, but also qualified to represent England internationally, making his international debut for England in 1991.
* ↑ Andre Boucaud was born in Enfield, England, and but chose to represent Trinidad and Tobago, qualifying through his parents. Boucaud represented Trinidad and Tobago 13 days after being released by Reading in 2004.
* ↑ Darren Campbell was born in Cambridge, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his parents.Campbell represented the England U-17's in 2002 and then the Scotland U-17 team 2003.

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Phil Parkinson (to Colchester) |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Adrian Whitbread (Retired) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Ricky Allaway (Released) |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Matthew Upson (returned to Arsenal after loan) |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 8 August 2002 | GK | Marcus Hahnemann | Fulham | Free |
| 19 December 2002 | DF | Steve Brown | Charlton Athletic | Free |
| 20 January 2003 | MF | Steve Sidwell | Arsenal | Undisclosed Fee |
| 20 March 2003 | | Mario Noto | Tottenham Hotspur | Free |

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2002 | DF | Matthew Robinson | Oxford United | Free |
| 9 August 2002 | GK | Frank Talia | Wycombe Wanderers | Free |
| 16 August 2002 | DF | Neil Smith | Stevenage | Free |
| 1 November 2002 | DF | Ricky Allaway | Basingstoke Town | Free |
| 25 February 2003 | MF | Phil Parkinson | Colchester United | Free |

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Until |
| 5 September 2002 | DF | Matthew Upson | Arsenal | 8 December 2002 |
| 7 February 2003 | MF | Luke Chadwick | Manchester United | 19 March 2003 |
| 27 March 2003 | MF | Luke Chadwick | Manchester United | 15 May 2003 |
| 1 April 2003 | MF | Glen Little | Burnley | 15 May 2003 |

### Loans out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Until |
| 12 December 2002 | DF | | Alex Smith | Shrewsbury Town | 4 May 2003 |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 9 April 2003 | DF | Adrian Whitbread | Retired | Retired |
| 2 June 2003 | DF | Adi Viveash | Swindon Town | |
| 2 June 2003 | | Steve Warren | | |
| 1 July 2003 | DF | Alex Smith | Chester City | November 2003 |

## Competitions

| Competition | Started round | Final position / round | First match | Last match |
| First Division | — | 4th | 10 August 2002 | 4 May 2003 |
| FL Cup | 1st round | 1st round | 10 September 2002 | 10 September 2002 |
| FA Cup | 3rd round | 3rd round | 4 January 2003 | 14 January 2003 |
Updated to match played match played 4 May 2003 Source: Competitions

### Division One
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |

#### Playoffs
##### Semi-finals

Reading lost 3–1 on aggregate

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 2 | Leicester City (P) | 46 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 92 | Promotion to 2003–04 FA Premier League |
| 3 | Sheffield United | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 72 | 52 | +20 | 80 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 4 | Reading | 46 | 25 | 4 | 17 | 61 | 46 | +15 | 79 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (O, P) | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 81 | 44 | +37 | 76 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |
| 6 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 82 | 50 | +32 | 74 | Qualification for First Division Playoffs |

### FA Cup
## First team statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of match played 14 May 2003
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | First Division | First Division | Play-offs | Play-offs | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Phil Whitehead | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | SCO | Graeme Murty | 48 | 0 | 43+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Nicky Shorey | 48 | 2 | 43 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Kevin Watson | 33 | 1 | 24+8 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Adi Viveash | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | John Mackie | 28 | 0 | 20+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | TRI | Tony Rougier | 22 | 3 | 13+7 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | WAL | Ady Williams | 41 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Martin Butler | 24 | 2 | 12+9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Nicky Forster | 44 | 17 | 35+5 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Andy Hughes | 47 | 9 | 41+2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Jamie Cureton | 32 | 9 | 13+14 | 9 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Sammy Igoe | 18 | 0 | 8+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | ENG | James Harper | 40 | 2 | 34+2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Glenn Little | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | John Salako | 46 | 4 | 33+10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Jamie Ashdown | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Nathan Tyson | 27 | 1 | 9+14 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Darius Henderson | 25 | 4 | 1+21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Ricky Newman | 32 | 0 | 21+7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Alex Smith | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Steve Sidwell | 15 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Steve Brown | 25 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | ENG | Luke Chadwick | 17 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | USA | Marcus Hahnemann | 46 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | SCO | Darren Campbell | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | ENG | Peter Castle | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Reading but left during the season: ||||||||||||||
| 16 | MF | ENG | Phil Parkinson | 7 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Matthew Upson | 15 | 1 | 13+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | First Division | Play Off | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | 10 | Nicky Forster | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2 | FW | 12 | Jamie Cureton | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | MF | 11 | Andy Hughes | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | MF | 17 | John Salako | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | FW | 24 | Darius Henderson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | FW | 7 | Tony Rougier | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | 15 | James Harper | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | DF | 3 | Nicky Shorey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | FW | 9 | Martin Butler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | MF | 27 | Steve Sidwell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | DF | 29 | Steve Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 4 | Kevin Watson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | 22 | Nathan Tyson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 30 | Luke Chadwick | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | 8 | Ady Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 16 | Glen Little | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | DF | 29 | Matthew Upson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | Totals | 58 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 60 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | First Division | First Division | Play Off | Play Off | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| 25 | MF | Ricky Newman | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | John Mackie | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 29 | DF | Steve Brown | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | Ady Williams | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Tony Rougier | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Kevin Watson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Sammy Igoe | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Nicky Forster | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Andy Hughes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Nicky Shorey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Steve Sidwell | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | Matthew Upson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Nathan Tyson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | Martin Butler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Graeme Murty | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | John Salako | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Adi Viveash | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | MF | James Harper | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Darius Henderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | Totals | 62 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70 | 4 |

## Team kit

Reading's kit for the 2002–03 was manufactured by Kit@, and the main sponsor was Westcoast.
| 2002–03 home colours | 2002–03 away colours |