The 2002–03 season was Arsenal Ladies Football Club's 16th season since forming in 1987. The club participated in the National Division of the FA Women's Premier League, and came into the season as the reigning champions. However, they were only able to finish third this time. behind Doncaster Rovers Belles and newly promoted Fulham, who won the league with an unbeaten campaign.
They were defeated in the Community Shield and the League Cup Final on penalties by Fulham, and lost at the Semi Final stages of the FA Cup and London County Cup to Charlton Athletic.
In Europe, Arsenal reached the semi final stages of the UEFA Cup for the first time, but were thrashed 8–2 on aggregate by Fortuna Hjørring, including a disastrous 5–1 home defeat. It was the first time since 1995-96 that Arsenal finished a season with no major trophies to show for their efforts.
Before the season began, Arsenal declared that they had gone semi-professional.
Squad information & statistics
First team squad Squad statistics correct as of May 2003 Squad No. Name Date of birth (age) Since Signed from Goalkeepers1 Emma Byrne 2000 Fortuna Hjørring13 Jo Price 2001 Arsenal Academy Caroline Collie 2002 Arsenal Academy Jasmine Cripps 1998 Arsenal Academy Defenders2 Kirsty Pealling 1987 Arsenal Academy3 Pauline MacDonald 1999 Cumbernauld United5 Leanne Champ 2001 Millwall Lionesses6 Faye White 1996 Three Bridges11 Clare Wheatley 1995 Chelsea12 Julie Fletcher 2001 Charlton Athletic15 Yvonne Tracy 2000 St Patrick's Athletic17 Hayley Kemp 1998 Hatfield Youth18 Anita Asante 1998 Arsenal Academy24 Georgie Adams 1999 Bushey30 Carol Harwood 2002 Southampton Saints Kelley Few 1991 Romford Eartha Pond 2002 Chelsea Cori Daniels 2002 Charlton Athletic Laura Husselbee2002 Wolverhampton Wanderers Midfielders4 Jayne Ludlow 2000 Southampton Saints7 Sian Williams (c) 1990 Millwall Lionesses10 Ciara Grant 1998 St Patrick's Athletic14 Gemma Ritchie 2002 Southampton Saints21 Emma Thomas 1996 Arsenal Academy Carol Conlon1998 St Patrick's Athletic Alana Livingstone 2001 Arsenal Academy Lisa Burrows 2002 Bushey Rangers Leanne Small2000 Watford Forwards8 Angela Banks 1999 Whitehawk9 Ellen Maggs 1997 Arsenal Academy16 Alex Scott 2000 Arsenal Academy17 Ayshea Martyn 2002 Bangor City20 Sheuneen Ta 1997 Arsenal Academy22 Lianne Sanderson 2003 Arsenal Academy24 Michele O'Brien 2003 Long Island Lady Riders Mikaela Howell 1999 Southampton Women Nicole Emmanuel 2002 Arsenal Academy Rochelle Shakes2003 Arsenal AcademyCoreen Brown2003 Arsenal Academy Appearances and goals No.NameGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalsGoalkeepers1 Emma Byrne1804050 0 0106034013 Jo Price000000 0 0000000 Caroline Collie000000 1 0000010 Jasmine Cripps000000 0+1 000000+10Defenders2 Kirsty Pealling1524040 0 010502923 Pauline MacDonald1024030 0 0103+1121+135 Leanne Champ1804040 0 0104+1031+106 Faye White4+110000 0 010318+1211 Clare Wheatley1804050 0 0106234212 Julie Fletcher14+304030 0 00+106027+4015 Yvonne Tracy12+104050 0 0003+2024+3017 Hayley Kemp0+100000 1 000001+1018 Anita Asante1+400+101+10 1 000205+6024 Georgie Adams000000 0 000000030 Carol Harwood000000 0 0000000 Eartha Pond00000000000000 Kelley Few00000000000000 Cori Daniels000000 1 0000010 Laura Husselbee00000010000010Midfielders4 Jayne Ludlow18154656 0 0106434317 Sian Williams (c)14+301+203+20 0 0105015+3010 Ciara Grant1673152 0 01062311221 Emma Thomas000000 1 2000012 Carol Conlon00000000000000 Alana Livingstone00000000000000 Lisa Burrows000+100+10 1 200001+22 Gemma Ritchie0+100011 0 0000+101+21Forwards8 Angela Banks18144253 0 0005432239 Ellen Maggs16+152033 0 0126328+11314 Lianne Sanderson2+34000010000+103+4416 Alex Scott1+1000+311+30 1 0000+313+19217 Ayshea Martyn2+812+211+31 0 0100+206+15324 Michele O'Brien1+510000 1 1000+102+62 Sheuneen Ta00000+10 1 000001+10 Mikaela Howell00000000000000 Nicole Emmanuel00000000000000 Rochelle Shakes0000000+1100000+11Coreen Brown0000000+1000000+10
Goalscorers Rank Position Name 14MF Jayne Ludlow15660043128FW Angela Banks14230042339FW Ellen Maggs50302313410MF Ciara Grant71200212514FW Lianne Sanderson4000004617FW Ayshea Martyn11100033DF Pauline MacDonald2000013816FW Alex Scott01000122DF Kirsty Pealling20000026DF Faye White100001211DF Clare Wheatley000002224FW Michele O'Brien100100221MF Emma Thomas0002002MF Lisa Burrows000200215MF Gemma Ritchie0010001FW Rochelle Shakes00011001Own goal1121005Total5312187218110
Clean sheets Rank No. Name 11 Emma Byrne533003142 Caroline Collie0001001Total53310315
Transfers, loans and other signings
Transfers in No.PositionPlayerFrom club200217FW Ayshea Martyn Bangor City2002MF Gemma Ritchie Southampton Saints2002MF Lisa Burrows Bushey Rangers2002DF Laura Husselbee Wolverhampton Wanderers2002DF Cori Daniels Charlton Athletic200324FW Michele O'Brien Long Island Lady Riders
Transfers out No.PositionPlayerTo club2 July 2002N/AFW Marieanne Spacey Fulham10 July 2002N/ADF Casey Stoney Charlton AthleticJuly 2002N/ADF Jessica Wright Fulham2002N/AGK Aman Dosanj Lee University2002N/AMF Nicky Grant Glasgow City2002N/ADF Eartha Pond Charlton Athletic2002N/AGK Toni-Anne Wayne Southampton Saints2002N/AMF Emma Coss Charlton Athletic2002N/AFW Megumi Ogawa2002N/AFW Emma Moore2002N/AMF Jo Gardiner
Club
Kit Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: O2.
Non-competitive
Pre-season
Charity match
Competitions
Overall record
FA Women's Community Shield
FA Women's Premier League National Division
Partial league table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches
FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Premier League Cup
London County Cup
UEFA Women's Cup
Qualifying round
Knockout phase
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
See also
List of Arsenal W.F.C. seasons 2002–03 in English football
References
External links