2003–04 Walsall F.C. season

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

Walsall
2003–04 season
Chairman Jeff Bonser
Manager Colin 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
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.

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  ENG Jimmy Walker
2 DF  ENG Darren Bazeley
3 DF  ESP Zigor Aranalde
5 DF  ENG Matt Carbon
6 DF  ENG Ian Roper
7 MF  ENG Simon Osborn
8 MF  AUS Steve Corica
9 FW  POR Jorge Leitão
10 FW  ENG Paul Merson
11 MF  ENG Darren Wrack
12 MF  ESP Pedro Matías
15 MF  ENG Neil Emblen
16 FW  ENG Gary Birch
17 MF  ENG Mark Wright
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF  ENG Vinny Samways
19 MF  SCO Craig Burley
21 MF  ENG Kris Taylor
22 MF  ENG Nick Smith
23 FW  ENG Andy Bishop
24 FW  ENG Matty Fryatt
25 DF  ENG Gavin Caines
26 DF  SCO Paul Ritchie
27 GK  NIR Aaron Kerr
28 FW  ENG Jermaine McSporran
30 DF  ENG Julian Bennett
32 GK  AUS Andy Petterson
33 MF  IRL Keith Andrews (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
34 FW  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  NZL Danny Hay (to Football Kingz)
14 MF  JAM Jamie Lawrence (to Grimsby Town)
19 MF  ENG Craig Stanley (to Telford United)
20 FW  ENG Karl Hawley (to Hednesford Town)
28 FW  JAM Deon Burton (on loan from Portsmouth)
28 DF  ENG Jamie Vincent (on loan from Portsmouth)
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 FW  SCO Gary Wales (on loan from Heart of Midlothian)
30 DF  NIR Chris Baird (on loan from Southampton)
31 GK  ENG Shaun Allaway (on loan from Leeds United)
32 MF  ENG Tony Dinning (on loan from Wigan Athletic)
33 MF  ENG Gary O'Neil (on loan from Portsmouth)
50 MF  ENG Stefan Oakes (to Notts County)

Transfers

In

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