During the 2003–04 season, Newcastle United participated in the FA Premier League. This season saw the club reach the semi-finals of the 2003–04 UEFA Cup.
Newcastle finished fifth in the Premiership at the end of the season, which ensured qualification for the UEFA Cup once again for the 2004–05 season. Many fans were left disgruntled that Newcastle did not make it into the Champions League.
Season summary Newcastle had finished the 2002–03 season third in the Premier League, entering the qualification rounds for the Champions League.
However, Newcastle did not qualify for the Champions League. They beat Partizan Belgrade 1–0 away from home, but then lost 1–0 at St James' Park and were eliminated via the penalty shootout. This defeat dropped Newcastle into the first round of the UEFA Cup.
Newcastle reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, defeating Breda, Basel,statto.com Vålerenga,statto.com Mallorca and PSVstatto.com in the competition. Newcastle were knocked out by Marseille in the semi-finals 2–0 on aggregate.statto.com
In the league, the team were unable to repeat the success of the previous two seasons as Liverpool pipped them to the fourth Champions League spot in the last week of the season. Newcastle were able to nip in ahead of Aston Villa and Charlton Athletic to take fifth place and qualify for the UEFA Cup.
The club could have finished higher if they hadn't started and ended the season with terrible runs. Newcastle failed to win until October in the league and ended the season by winning only one of their last seven league games. The club's away form was a major Achilles heel, with the club registering only 2 away wins (at Middlesbrough and Fulham in the space of 4 days) and a staggering 12 away draws.
Final league table
Team kit The team kit for the 2003–04 season was produced by Adidas and the main shirt sponsor was Northern Rock.
Club transfers
In Date Pos. Name From Fee 1 July 2003 MF Lee Bowyer West Ham United Free 2 February 2004 CF Michael Bridges Leeds United Three-month loan Total spending: £0
Out Date Pos. Name To Fee 14 October 2003 MF Clarence Acuña Rosario Central Released 1 January 2004 DF Nikos Dabizas Leicester City Free 25 January 2004 FW Carl Cort Wolverhampton Wanderers £2,000,000 30 January 2004 MF Nolberto Solano Aston Villa £1,500,000 30 January 2004 DF Gary Caldwell Hibernian Released Total spending: £3,500,000
First-team squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Appearances, goals and cards (Starting appearances + substitute appearances) No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupChampions LeagueUEFA CupTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GK Shay Given380200020110530102DF Andy Griffin500010101080204MF Nolberto Solano8+402010212+1015+51005DF Andy O'Brien27+1110002010+1040+21527MF Jermaine Jenas26+5220100+2010139+73508MF Kieron Dyer2510222204+1033+13209FW Alan Shearer3722200+102010651+1283010FW Craig Bellamy13+340000106+1520+494011MF Gary Speed37+13200+102011152+246012GK Steve Harper0000100010200014FW Michael Bridges0+600000001+201+801017MF Darren Ambrose10+1420+100+10006+5116+2133018DF Aaron Hughes3402000101004701019DF Titus Bramble27+2010100011340+239020FW Lomana LuaLua2+520+10100+100+103+801023FW Shola Ameobi18+870+10101+107+4327+14102027DF Jonathan Woodgate180200020502703028FW Michael Chopra1+50000000001+500029MF Lee Bowyer17+700000000+1017+826030DF Steven Caldwell3+200010000+104+301032MF Laurent Robert31+4622111+1011+1346+6121135DF Olivier Bernard3512010201105101038DF Steven Taylor100000000+101+100039MF Martin Brittain0+100000000+100+200045MF Hugo Viana5+1100+1010104+4011+16030
Coaching staff
Results
Pre-season
Premier League
Champions League
UEFA Cup
FA Cup
League Cup
References
External links FootballSquads - Newcastle United - 2003/04