2002–03_Brentford_F.C._season

2002–03 Brentford F.C. season

2002–03 Brentford F.C. season

2002–03 season of Brentford F.C.


During the 2002–03 English football season, Brentford competed in Football League Second Division. Despite an unbeaten start and topping the table, the club won just four of the final 21 matches of the season and slumped to a 16th-place finish.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Season summary

Previously assistant manager, Wally Downes was named as Brentford manager in June 2002.

After defeat in the 2002 Second Division play-off final, the nucleus of the Brentford starting XI was broken up, with high earners Ívar Ingimarsson, Lloyd Owusu and captain Paul Evans released.[1] Manager Steve Coppell resigned in June 2002 and was replaced by his assistant,[2] Wally Downes.[3] The squad was reinforced with free transfer and non-contract players.[4][5] The loss of forwards Lloyd Owusu and the return of loanee Ben Burgess to Blackburn Rovers led to the loan signing of youngster Rowan Vine from Portsmouth and a chance for Mark McCammon as a first-choice.[6][7] A number of youth products were also promoted to the first team squad.[8]

Throughout the season, a need to balance the books in the wake of the ITV Digital collapse saw no transfer fees paid out and a reduction of the wage bill.[8] The cash crisis heightened in the week leading up to the beginning of the season, when a deadline of 7 August 2002 was set, on which Griffin Park would be sold to developers Wimpey or if the deal fell through, Brentford would be entered into administration.[9] The deal hit a stumbling block, but administration was staved off by the £400,000 sale of central defender Darren Powell on the eve of the season.[9][10] The financial state of affairs left Brentford £4 million in debt and led Managing Director Gary Hargreaves to state that the club would "have to sell the freehold of Griffin Park without any guarantee of a return to the borough in the near future".[8][9] In September 2002, Richard Thompson's £7 million bid to buy the club was turned down by supporters' trust Bees United.[11]

Despite the turmoil, rookie manager Downes had a dream start, going unbeaten for the first seven league matches of the season,[12] topping the table and winning the Manager of the Month award.[13] The rot set in mid-September, with the Bees losing five of six matches, which included heavy successive defeats to Peterborough United in the league and Middlesbrough in the League Cup.[12] The team began to recover in mid-October, losing just four of the following 17 matches, including two wins in the Football League Trophy and three in the FA Cup, with First Division Derby County being beaten at Griffin Park in the FA Cup third round on 4 January 2003.[12]

Brentford limped through the remainder of the season, winning just four and losing 13 of the remaining 24 matches of the season.[12] The goalscoring problem was compounded by the release of Mark McCammon on deadline day in March.[14] Absences due to injuries and international call-ups also mounted, with Martin Rowlands, Leo Roget, Jay Smith, Stephen Evans, Jamie Fullarton and Eddie Hutchinson all spending time on the treatment table.[15] Also in March, Ron Noades resigned as chairman and director,[16] citing that "the death of the transfer market has prevented us from covering our trading losses incurred at Griffin Park" and revealing that the wage bill would be slashed from £706,000 for the 2002–03 season to £476,000 for 2003–04.[17] Eddie Rogers was appointed as chairman in April 2003.[18] Brentford finished the season in 16th place.[12]

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Brentford's goal tally listed first.

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Pre-season

More information Date, Opponent ...

Football League Second Division

More information No., Date ...

FA Cup

More information Round, Date ...

Football League Cup

More information Round, Date ...

Football League Trophy

More information Round, Date ...

Playing squad

Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 2002–03 season.
More information No, Position ...

Coaching staff

More information Name, Role ...

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Substitute appearances in brackets.
More information No, Pos ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: Soccerbase

Goalscorers

More information No, Pos ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: Soccerbase

Discipline

More information No, Pos ...
  • Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
  • Source: ESPN FC

Management

More information Name, Nat ...

Summary

Games played55 (46 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Games won19 (14 Second Division, 3 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Games drawn13 (12 Second Division, 0 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 0 Football League Trophy)
Games lost23 (20 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Goals scored62 (47 Second Division, 7 FA Cup, 4 League Cup, 4 Football League Trophy)
Goals conceded72 (56 Second Division, 6 FA Cup, 7 League Cup, 3 Football League Trophy)
Clean sheets17 (15 Second Division, 1 FA Cup, 0 League Cup, 1 Football League Trophy)
Biggest league win5–0 versus Blackpool, 2 November 2002
Worst league defeat4–0 versus Wycombe Wanderers, 8 March 2003; 5–1 versus Peterborough United, 28 September 2002
Most appearances54, Michael Dobson & Kevin O'Connor (each 46 Second Division, 4 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 2 Football League Trophy)
Top scorer (league)10, Rowan Vine
Top scorer (all competitions)13, Rowan Vine

Transfers & loans

More information Players transferred in, Date ...

Kit

Supplier: TFG
Sponsor(s): GMB

Home
Away

Source: Brentford F.C.

Awards

Notes

  1. Match played as part of the inaugural Kingstonian Trophy at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames. Brentford lost the third place match to Darlington.[19]

References

  1. "Bees Release Six". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. "Steve Departs". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. "Wally Downes Confirmed As New Brentford Manager". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  4. "Transfers – August 2002". BBC. 5 September 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  5. "Brentford sign trio". 9 August 2002. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  6. "Vine Looking To Reap A Harvest". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. TW8: The Official Brentford FC Matchday Programme versus Northampton Town. Charlton, London: The Yellow Printing Company Limited. 29 March 2003. pp. 46–47.
  8. TW8: The Official Brentford FC Matchday Programme versus Bristol City. Charlton, London: The Yellow Printing Company Limited. 13 August 2002. pp. 6–7.
  9. "Administration shelved – thanks to £400,000 Powell". This Is Local London. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  10. "Powelly Departs". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  11. "Brentford's fans turn down £7 million offer". This Is Local London. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  12. "Brentford results for the 2002–2003 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  13. "Wally Gets His Reward". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  14. "McCammon Joins Lions". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  15. TW8 2003, p. 7.
  16. "Ron Steps Down". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  17. TW8 2003, p. 4-5.
  18. "Brentford pay tribute to former chairman Eddie Rogers". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  19. "Penalty anguish for Ks and Brentford". News Shopper. 22 July 2002. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  20. "Bees Sign Three". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  21. "Frampton Signs". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  22. "Ekoku Signs". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  23. "Bees Sign Chorley". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  24. "Antoine-Curier Joins Bees On Loan". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  25. "End Of An Era: Ijah Moves On". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  26. "Ijah Heads West". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  27. "Lovett On Loan". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  28. "Ijah Joins Pirates On Loan". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  29. "Tabb On Loan". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  30. "Lovett Joins 'Fleet". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  31. "Oli Retires". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  32. "Four More To Leave". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  33. "Football: Roddy's Life & Times". Free Online Library. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  34. "Fullarton Offer Withdrawn". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  35. "Marshall Released". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  36. "Willo To Depart". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  37. Wickham, Chris. "Brentford fans invited to vote for the Player of the Year 2014/15". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.

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