2003–04 Walsall F.C. season

During the 2003–04 season, Walsall participated in the Football League First Division.

Walsall
2003–04 season
ChairmanJeff Bonser
ManagerColin Lee (until 16 April)
Paul Merson
First Division22nd (relegated)
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerJorge Leitão (7)
Average home league attendance7,853

Season summary

Walsall started the season strongly with 4–1 wins over local rivals West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest, and on Boxing Day were four points off the play-offs. However, the club's form slumped in 2004, with the club not picking up another league win until March. Manager Colin Lee was sacked on 16 April, though the official reason given was that Lee had contacted Plymouth Argyle regarding their managerial vacancy. Paul Merson was appointed temporary player-manager, assisted by fellow player Simon Osborn. Ultimately, Walsall would be relegated on the last day of the season despite a 3–2 win over Rotherham United: an extra two goals scored during the campaign would have been enough for them to climb above Gillingham to safety. Despite the sorry end to the campaign, Paul Merson was handed a permanent contract as manager.

Defender Paul Ritchie was named as the club's Player of the Season, but returned to Scotland to play for Dundee United at the end of the season.

Final league table
Main article: 2003–04 Football League First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
20 Derby County 46 13 13 20 53 67 −14 52
21 Gillingham 46 14 9 23 48 67 −19 51
22 Walsall (R) 46 13 12 21 45 65 −20 51 Relegation to Football League One
23 Bradford City (R) 46 10 6 30 38 69 −31 36
24 Wimbledon (R) 46 8 5 33 41 89 −48 29 Renamed Milton Keynes Dons in Football League One
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

Players

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[1]

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 England ENG Jimmy Walker
2 DF England ENG Darren Bazeley
3 DF Spain ESP Zigor Aranalde
5 DF England ENG Matt Carbon
6 DF England ENG Ian Roper
7 MF England ENG Simon Osborn
8 MF Australia AUS Steve Corica
9 FW Portugal POR Jorge Leitão
10 FW England ENG Paul Merson
11 MF England ENG Darren Wrack
12 MF Spain ESP Pedro Matías
15 MF England ENG Neil Emblen
16 FW England ENG Gary Birch
17 MF England ENG Mark Wright
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF England ENG Vinny Samways
19 MF Scotland SCO Craig Burley
21 MF England ENG Kris Taylor
22 MF England ENG Nick Smith
23 FW England ENG Andy Bishop
24 FW England ENG Matty Fryatt
25 DF England ENG Gavin Caines
26 DF Scotland SCO Paul Ritchie
27 GK Northern Ireland NIR Aaron Kerr
28 FW England ENG Jermaine McSporran
30 DF England ENG Julian Bennett
32 GK Australia AUS Andy Petterson
33 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Keith Andrews (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
34 FW England ENG Lee Bradbury

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
4 DF New Zealand NZL Danny Hay (to Football Kingz)
14 MF Jamaica JAM Jamie Lawrence[notes 1] (to Grimsby Town)
19 MF England ENG Craig Stanley (to Telford United)
20 FW England ENG Karl Hawley (to Hednesford Town)
28 FW Jamaica JAM Deon Burton[notes 2] (on loan from Portsmouth)
28 DF England ENG Jamie Vincent (on loan from Portsmouth)
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 FW Scotland SCO Gary Wales (on loan from Heart of Midlothian)
30 DF Northern Ireland NIR Chris Baird (on loan from Southampton)
31 GK England ENG Shaun Allaway (on loan from Leeds United)
32 MF England ENG Tony Dinning (on loan from Wigan Athletic)
33 MF England ENG Gary O'Neil (on loan from Portsmouth)
50 MF England ENG Stefan Oakes (to Notts County)

Transfers

In

Notes
  1. Lawrence was born in Wandsworth, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 2000.
  2. Burton was born in Reading, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in September 1997.

References
  1. "FootballSquads - Walsall - 2003/04".
  2. "Walsall sign duo". BBC Sport. 3 July 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
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