During the 2002–03 English football season, Derby County competed in the Football League First Division, following relegation from the FA Premier League the previous season.

Season summary Derby were expected to make a bid for an immediate return to the Premiership, but struggled all season which resulted in manager John Gregory being sacked in March and replaced by former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, who led the team to a secure but disappointing 18th-place finish.

Kit Derby retained the previous season's home kit, manufactured by Italian company Erreà and sponsored by Pedigree.

Final league table

Results Derby County's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 10 August 2002 ReadingH3–033,016Lee, Ravanelli, Christie 13 August 2002 GillinghamA0–18,775 17 August 2002 Grimsby TownA2–15,810Bolder (2) 24 August 2002 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–429,954Christie 26 August 2002 Rotherham UnitedA1–28,408Strupar 31 August 2002 Stoke CityH2–021,723Christie (2) 7 September 2002 BurnleyH1–222,343Bolder 14 September 2002 Leicester CityA1–331,049Riggott 17 September 2002 Crystal PalaceA1–014,948Kinkladze 21 September 2002 Preston North EndH0–229,257 28 September 2002 Ipswich TownA1–024,439Carbonari 5 October 2002 WalsallH2–225,247Christie (2) 12 October 2002 Bradford CityA0–013,385 20 October 2002 Nottingham ForestH0–030,547 26 October 2002 MillwallA0–38,116 30 October 2002 Sheffield UnitedH2–123,525McLeod, Burton 2 November 2002 Sheffield WednesdayA3–119,747Morris (2), McLeod 9 November 2002 PortsmouthH1–226,587Higginbotham (pen) 16 November 2002 Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–16,845 25 November 2002 WimbledonH3–225,597Elliott, Burton, Morris 30 November 2002 Norwich CityA0–120,522 7 December 2002 WatfordH3–021,653Morris, Riggott, Burton 14 December 2002 Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–025,786Higginbotham (pen) 21 December 2002 Coventry CityA0–313,185 26 December 2002 Grimsby TownH1–327,141Morris 28 December 2002 ReadingA1–216,299Burley (pen) 1 January 2003 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–126,442Christie 11 January 2003 GillinghamH1–122,769Zavagno (pen) 18 January 2003 Stoke CityA3–117,308Christie, Zavagno, Morris 1 February 2003 Rotherham UnitedH3–026,257Kinkladze, Bolder, McLeod 8 February 2003 PortsmouthA2–619,503Morris, Kinkladze (pen) 15 February 2003 Sheffield WednesdayH2–226,311Bolder (2) 22 February 2003 BurnleyA0–215,063 1 March 2003 Leicester CityH1–124,307Burley 5 March 2003 Crystal PalaceH0–122,682 8 March 2003 Preston North EndA2–414,003Ravanelli (2) 15 March 2003 Bradford CityH1–223,735Morris 19 March 2003 Nottingham ForestA0–329,725 22 March 2003 Sheffield UnitedA0–218,401 5 April 2003 Norwich CityH2–123,643Burley, Kenton (own goal) 12 April 2003 WimbledonA2–01,934Valakari, Boertien 16 April 2003 MillwallH1–221,014Kinkladze 19 April 2003 Coventry CityH1–023,921Ravanelli 21 April 2003 WatfordA0–211,909 26 April 2003 WalsallA2–38,416Valakari, Ravanelli 4 May 2003 Ipswich TownH1–428,785Lee

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR34 January 2003 BrentfordA0–18,709

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR110 September 2002 Mansfield TownA3–15,788Morris, Christie, EvattR22 October 2002 Oldham AthleticH1–2 (a.e.t.)9,029Higginbotham (pen)

Players First-team squad Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Transfers

In Paul Ritchie – Manchester City, loan Tommy Mooney – Birmingham City, 19 March, loan Nick Chadwick – Everton, loan

Out Darryl Powell – released (later joined Birmingham City on 12 September) Brian O'Neil – released, 27 November (later joined Preston North End) Fiachra McArdle – released, 27 November Deon Burton – Portsmouth, 11 December, £250,000 Mart Poom – Sunderland, 10 January, £2,500,000 Chris Riggott and Malcolm Christie– Middlesbrough, 31 January, £3,000,000 combined Danny Higginbotham – Southampton, 31 January, £1,500,000 Bjørn Otto Bragstad – released (later joined SW Bregenz) Horacio Carbonari – released (later joined Rosario Central)

Loan out Deon Burton – Portsmouth, 9 August François Grenet – Rennes, 29 August Mart Poom – Sunderland, 15 November Marvin Robinson – Tranmere Rovers, 29 November

References

Notes