# 2002–03 Bradford City A.F.C. season

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 17 | Walsall | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 57 | 69 | −12 | 54 |
| 18 | Derby County | 46 | 15 | 7 | 24 | 55 | 74 | −19 | 52 |
| 19 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 51 | 73 | −22 | 52 |
| 20 | Coventry City | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 46 | 62 | −16 | 50 |
| 21 | Stoke City | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 45 | 69 | −24 | 50 |

## Results

Bradford City's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 11 August 2002 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 13,223 | |
| 13 August 2002 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 15,205 | Tod |
| 17 August 2002 | Stoke City | A | 1–2 | 12,424 | Gray |
| 24 August 2002 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–0 | 10,914 | |
| 26 August 2002 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–1 | 25,457 | Evans, Proctor |
| 31 August 2002 | Rotherham United | H | 4–2 | 12,385 | Ward (2), Uhlenbeek, Proctor |
| 14 September 2002 | Walsall | A | 1–0 | 4,678 | Gray |
| 17 September 2002 | Leicester City | A | 0–4 | 24,651 | |
| 21 September 2002 | Burnley | H | 2–2 | 14,561 | Gray, Proctor |
| 24 September 2002 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 11,655 | Evans |
| 28 September 2002 | Portsmouth | A | 0–3 | 18,459 | |
| 5 October 2002 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | 13,215 | Proctor |
| 12 October 2002 | Derby County | H | 0–0 | 13,385 | |
| 19 October 2002 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–2 | 17,191 | Warnock |
| 26 October 2002 | Norwich City | H | 2–1 | 12,888 | Reid (2) |
| 29 October 2002 | Reading | A | 0–1 | 12,110 | |
| 2 November 2002 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–3 | 6,319 | Gray (2, 1 pen) |
| 9 November 2002 | Wimbledon | H | 3–5 | 10,615 | Facey, Standing (2) |
| 16 November 2002 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–3 | 19,653 | |
| 23 November 2002 | Sheffield United | H | 0–5 | 13,364 | |
| 30 November 2002 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 8,510 | |
| 7 December 2002 | Gillingham | H | 1–3 | 10,711 | Gray |
| 14 December 2002 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–0 | 12,245 | Molenaar |
| 21 December 2002 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 12,579 | |
| 26 December 2002 | Stoke City | H | 4–2 | 14,575 | Gray (2, 1 pen), Handyside (own goal), Jørgensen |
| 28 December 2002 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–1 | 25,812 | Jørgensen, Gray |
| 18 January 2003 | Rotherham United | A | 2–3 | 6,939 | Jørgensen, Gray (pen) |
| 25 January 2003 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–1 | 5,582 | Gray, Jørgensen |
| 1 February 2003 | Ipswich Town | H | 2–0 | 12,080 | Jørgensen, Forrest |
| 8 February 2003 | Wimbledon | A | 2–2 | 1,178 | Jørgensen, Ward |
| 15 February 2003 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–1 | 11,520 | |
| 22 February 2003 | Coventry City | A | 2–0 | 12,525 | Gray, Jørgensen |
| 1 March 2003 | Walsall | H | 1–2 | 10,893 | Forrest |
| 4 March 2003 | Leicester City | H | 0–0 | 11,531 | |
| 8 March 2003 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–1 | 11,016 | Atherton, Francis |
| 15 March 2003 | Derby County | A | 2–1 | 23,735 | Jørgensen, Lawrence |
| 18 March 2003 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–1 | 14,452 | Gray (pen) |
| 22 March 2003 | Reading | H | 0–1 | 11,385 | |
| 25 March 2003 | Burnley | A | 2–0 | 11,095 | Jørgensen, Gray |
| 29 March 2003 | Norwich City | A | 2–3 | 18,536 | Forrest, Jørgensen (pen) |
| 5 April 2003 | Millwall | H | 0–1 | 10,676 | |
| 19 April 2003 | Watford | H | 2–1 | 11,145 | Jørgensen, Gray (pen) |
| 21 April 2003 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 6,281 | |
| 26 April 2003 | Preston North End | A | 0–1 | 13,652 | |
| 29 April 2003 | Sheffield United | A | 0–3 | 18,297 | |
| 4 May 2003 | Portsmouth | H | 0–5 | 19,088 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 4 January 2003 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–3 | 19,909 | Danks |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 10 September 2002 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 2,232 | Cadamarteri |

## First-team squad

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 | Gary Walsh |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Peter Atherton |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Andy Myers |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Tom Kearney |
| 5 | DF | ENG | David Wetherall (captain) |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Mark Bower |
| 8 | FW | ENG | Danny Cadamarteri |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Ashley Ward |
| 10 | MF | WAL | Paul Evans |
| 11 | FW | SCO | Andy Gray |
| 12 | DF | NED | Robert Molenaar |
| 14 | DF | SUR | Gus Uhlenbeek |
| 15 | MF | ESP | Juanjo |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Michael Standing |
| 17 | GK | NIR | Aidan Davison |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Lewis Emanuel |
| 19 | MF | FRO | Claus Bech Jørgensen |
| 20 | DF | SCO | Andy Tod |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Andy Lee |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Wayne Jacobs |
| 24 | MF | AUS | Paul Reid |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Simon Francis |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Mark Danks |
| 38 | FW | ENG | Danny Forrest |
| 39 | FW | ENG | Kevin Sanasy |
| 41 | MF | ENG | Tom Penford |
| 43 | FW | ENG | Ben Muirhead |
| 45 | FW | NED | Laurens ten Heuvel (on loan from Sheffield United) |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 7 | MF | JAM | Jamie Lawrence (to Walsall) |
| 10 | FW | ITA | Benito Carbone (to Como) |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Eoin Jess (to Nottingham Forest) |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Steve Banks (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Gary Locke (to Kilmarnock) |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Michael Proctor (on loan from Sunderland) |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Stephen Warnock (on loan from Liverpool) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | GK | ENG | Dave Beasant (to Wigan Athletic) |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Harpal Singh (on loan from Leeds United) |
| 28 | FW | GRN | Delroy Facey (on loan from Bolton Wanderers) |
| 29 | GK | WAL | Boaz Myhill (on loan from Aston Villa) |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Damian Hatton (retired) |
| 37 | FW | ENG | Graeme Tomlinson (to Bedford Town) |
| 42 | GK | ENG | Neil Bennett (to Rochdale) |

## Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 31 | MF | ENG | Craig Fishlock |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Robert Morgan |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Keith Brodie |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 36 | GK | ENG | Nicky Beach |
| 40 | FW | ENG | Daniel Ekoku |
| 44 | DF | ENG | Frazer McHugh |
| 46 | DF | ENG | Jake Wright |

## 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