2002–03 FA Cup

The 2002–03 FA Cup was the 122nd staging of the world's oldest cup competition, the FA Cup. The competition was won by Arsenal with a 1–0 victory in the final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff against Southampton, courtesy of a Robert Pires goal.

2002–03 FA Cup
Country England
 Wales
Defending championsArsenal
ChampionsArsenal (9th title)
Runners-upSouthampton
Top goal scorer(s)Nigel Jemson
(5 goals)

Calendar
RoundDate (weekend of)
Extra Preliminary Round
Preliminary Round
First Round Qualifying
Second Round Qualifying
Third Round QualifyingSaturday 12 October 2002
Fourth Round QualifyingSaturday 26 October 2002
First Round ProperSaturday 16 November 2002
Second RoundSaturday 7 December 2002
Third RoundSaturday 4 January 2003
Fourth RoundSaturday 25 January 2003
Fifth RoundSaturday 15 February 2003
Sixth RoundSaturday 8 March 2003
Semi-finalsSunday 13 April 2003
FinalSaturday 17 May 2003

Early rounds

First Round Proper

At this stage the 48 Second and Third Division clubs joined the 32 non-league clubs who came through the qualifying rounds.

The matches were scheduled to be played on the weekend of Saturday, 16 November 2002, with replays in the week commencing 25 November.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date Attendance Summary
1Chesterfield1–2Morecambe16 November 20023,703
2Bournemouth2–1Doncaster Rovers16 November 20025,371
3Barrow2–0Moor Green16 November 20022,650
4Bury0–3Plymouth Argyle16 November 20022,987
5Rochdale3–2Peterborough United16 November 20022,566
6Yeovil Town0–2Cheltenham Town 16 November 20026,455
7Vauxhall Motors0–0Queen's Park Rangers16 November 20023,507
ReplayQueen's Park Rangers1 – 1Vauxhall Motors26 November 20025,336
Vauxhall Motors won 4 – 3 on penalties
8Northwich Victoria0–3Scunthorpe United16 November 20021,724
9Luton Town4–0Guiseley16 November 20025,248
10Swindon Town1–0Huddersfield Town16 November 20024,210
11Scarborough0–0Cambridge United16 November 20022,084
ReplayCambridge United2 – 1Scarborough26 November 20023,373
12Shrewsbury Town4–0Stafford Rangers16 November 20025,114
13Wrexham0–2Darlington16 November 20023,442
14Tranmere Rovers2–2Cardiff City16 November 20025,592
ReplayCardiff City2 – 1Tranmere Rovers26 November 20026,853
15Stockport County4–1St Albans City16 November 20023,303
16Wycombe Wanderers2–4Brentford16 November 20025,673
17Kidderminster Harriers2–2Rushden & Diamonds16 November 20023,079
ReplayRushden & Diamonds2 – 1Kidderminster Harriers26 November 20023,391
18Barnsley1–4Blackpool16 November 20026,857
19Bristol Rovers0–0Runcorn Halton16 November 20024,135
ReplayRuncorn Halton1 – 3Bristol Rovers26 November 20022,444
20Northampton Town3–2Boston United16 November 20024,373
21Hull City0–3Macclesfield Town16 November 20027,803
22Carlisle United2–1Lincoln City16 November 20024,388
23Oldham Athletic2–2Burton Albion16 November 20025,802
ReplayBurton Albion2 – 2Oldham Athletic27 November 20023,416
Oldham Athletic won 5 – 4 on penalties
24Southend United1–1Hartlepool United16 November 20024,984
ReplayHartlepool United1 – 2Southend United26 November 20024,080
25Port Vale0–1Crewe Alexandra16 November 20025,507
26Southport4–2Notts County16 November 20023,519
27Torquay United5–0Boreham Wood16 November 20022,739
28York City2–1Swansea City26 November 2002[1]2,948
29Hereford United0–1Wigan Athletic16 November 20024,005
30Tiverton Town1–1Crawley Town16 November 20021,840
ReplayCrawley Town3 – 2Tiverton Town26 November 20023,907
31Colchester United0–1Chester City16 November 20022,901
32Leyton Orient1–1Margate16 November 20023,605
ReplayMargate1 – 0Leyton Orient26 November 20022,048
33Slough Town1–2Harrogate Railway Athletic16 November 20021,687
34Farnborough Town5–1Harrogate Town16 November 20021,090
35Forest Green Rovers0–0Exeter City17 November 20022,147
ReplayExeter City2 – 1Forest Green Rovers26 November 20022,951
36Heybridge Swifts0–7Bristol City16 November 20022,046
37Stevenage Borough1–0Hastings United16 November 20021,821
38Dover Athletic0–1Oxford United16 November 20024,186
39Dagenham & Redbridge3–2Havant & Waterlooville16 November 20021,546
40Team Bath2–4Mansfield Town16 November 20025,469

Second Round Proper

The matches were scheduled to be played on the weekend of Saturday, 7 December 2002, with replays in the week commencing 16 December.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date Attendance Summary
1Blackpool3–1Torquay United7 December 20025,014
2Darlington4–1Stevenage Borough7 December 20023,351
3Macclesfield Town2–0Vauxhall Motors7 December 20022,972
4Crewe Alexandra3–0Mansfield Town7 December 20024,563
5Shrewsbury Town3–1Barrow7 December 20024,210
6Stockport County0–3Plymouth Argyle7 December 20023,571
7Bristol Rovers1–1Rochdale7 December 20024,369
ReplayRochdale3 – 2Bristol Rovers17 December 20022,206
8Oldham Athletic1–2Cheltenham Town7 December 20024,416
9Southend United1–1Bournemouth7 December 20025,721
ReplayBournemouth3 – 2Southend United17 December 20025,456
10Exeter City3–1Rushden & Diamonds7 December 20022,277
11Scunthorpe United0–0Carlisle United7 December 20023,590
ReplayCarlisle United0 – 1Scunthorpe United23 December 2002[2]6,809
12Margate0–3Cardiff City7 December 20021,362
13Southport0–3Farnborough Town7 December 20022,534
14Morecambe3–2Chester City7 December 20024,293
15York City1–2Brentford7 December 20023,517
16Wigan Athletic3–0Luton Town7 December 20024,544
17Cambridge United2–2Northampton Town7 December 20025,076
ReplayNorthampton Town0 – 1Cambridge United17 December 20024,591
18Harrogate Railway Athletic1–3Bristol City8 December 20023,500
19Crawley Town1–2Dagenham & Redbridge7 December 20024,516
20Oxford United1–0Swindon Town8 December 200211,645

Third Round Proper

This round was the first in which Division 1 and Premier League (top-flight) teams entered the competition. The matches were scheduled to be played on the weekend of Saturday, 4 January 2003, with replays in the week commencing 13 January.

Shrewsbury, who ended the season with relegation from the Football League, achieved the biggest upset of the round (if not the whole competition), with a surprise 2–1 win over an Everton side who were pushing for a place in Europe and featuring a 17-year-old striker called Wayne Rooney – one of the most promising young players in the game.

Tie no Home team Score Away team Date Attendance Summary
1Blackpool1–2Crystal Palace4 January 20039,062
2Darlington2–3Farnborough Town4 January 20034,260
3Bournemouth0–0Crewe Alexandra4 January 20037,252
ReplayCrewe Alexandra2 – 2Bournemouth14 January 20034,540
Bournemouth won 3 – 1 on penalties
4Preston North End1–2Rochdale4 January 20038,762
5Southampton4–0Tottenham Hotspur4 January 200325,589
6Walsall0–0Reading4 January 20035,987
ReplayReading1 – 1Walsall14 January 20038,767
Walsall won 4 – 1 on penalties
7Gillingham4–1Sheffield Wednesday7 January 20036,434
8Leicester City2–0Bristol City4 January 200325,868
9Aston Villa1–4Blackburn Rovers4 January 200323,884
10Bolton Wanderers1–1Sunderland4 January 200310,123
ReplaySunderland2 – 0Bolton Wanderers14 January 200314,550
11Grimsby Town2–2Burnley4 January 20035,350
ReplayBurnley4 – 0Grimsby Town14 January 20035,436
12Macclesfield Town0–2Watford4 January 20034,244
13Wolverhampton Wanderers3–2Newcastle United5 January 200327,316
14West Bromwich Albion3–1Bradford City4 January 200319,909
15Shrewsbury Town2–1Everton4 January 20037,800
16Sheffield United4–0Cheltenham Town4 January 20039,166
17Ipswich Town4–0Morecambe4 January 200318,529
18Manchester City0–1Liverpool5 January 200328,586
19Fulham3–1Birmingham City5 January 20039,203
20Brentford1–0Derby County4 January 20038,709
21West Ham United3–2Nottingham Forest4 January 200329,612
22Manchester United4–1Portsmouth4 January 200367,222
23Norwich City3–1Brighton & Hove Albion14 January 2003[3]17,205
24Plymouth Argyle2–2Dagenham & Redbridge4 January 200311,885
ReplayDagenham & Redbridge2 – 0Plymouth Argyle14 January 20034,530
25Chelsea1–0Middlesbrough4 January 200329,796
26Scunthorpe United0–2Leeds United4 January 20038,329
27Cardiff City2–2Coventry City4 January 200316,013
ReplayCoventry City3 – 0Cardiff City15 January 200311,997
28Charlton Athletic3–1Exeter City4 January 200318,107
29Arsenal2–0Oxford United4 January 200335,432
30Stoke City3–0Wigan Athletic4 January 20039,618
31Rotherham United0–3Wimbledon4 January 20034,527
32Cambridge United1–1Millwall4 January 20036,864
ReplayMillwall3 – 2Cambridge United14 January 20037,031

Fourth Round Proper
  • Matches played weekend of 25 January 2003
  • Four replays played week commencing 3 February 2003
Tie no Home team Score Away team Date Attendance Summary
1Rochdale2–0Coventry City25 January 20039,156
2Southampton1–1Millwall25 January 200323,809
ReplayMillwall1 – 2Southampton5 February 200310,197
3Watford1–0West Bromwich Albion25 January 200316,975
4Walsall2–0Wimbledon25 January 20036,693
5Gillingham1–1Leeds United25 January 200311,093
ReplayLeeds United2 – 1Gillingham4 February 200329,359
6Blackburn Rovers3–3Sunderland25 January 200314,315
ReplaySunderland2 – 2Blackburn Rovers5 February 200315,745
Sunderland won 3 – 0 on penalties
7Wolverhampton Wanderers4–1Leicester City25 January 200328,164
8Shrewsbury Town0–4Chelsea26 January 20037,950
9Sheffield United4–3Ipswich Town25 January 200312,757
10Fulham3–0Charlton Athletic26 January 200312,203
11Brentford0–3Burnley25 January 20039,563
12Manchester United6–0West Ham United26 January 200367,181
13Norwich City1–0Dagenham & Redbridge25 January 200321,164
14Crystal Palace0–0Liverpool26 January 200326,054
ReplayLiverpool0 – 2Crystal Palace5 February 200335,109
15Farnborough Town1–5Arsenal25 January 200335,108[4]
16Stoke City3–0Bournemouth26 January 200312,004

Fifth Round Proper
  • Matches played weekend of 15 February 2003
  • One replay played 26 February 2003
Tie no Home team Score Away team Date Attendance Summary
1Southampton2–0Norwich City15 February 200331,103
2Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Rochdale16 February 200323,921
3Sunderland0–1Watford15 February 200326,916
4Sheffield United2–0Walsall15 February 200317,510
5Fulham1–1Burnley16 February 200313,062
ReplayBurnley3–0Fulham26 February 200311,635
6Manchester United0–2Arsenal15 February 200367,209
7Crystal Palace1–2Leeds United16 February 200324,512
8Stoke City0–2Chelsea16 February 200326,615

Final rounds

Holders Arsenal moved closer to retaining the trophy by beating Chelsea 3–1 in a replay that followed a 2–2 draw. They were paired in the semi-finals with Sheffield United, while the other semi-final would be contested between Southampton and Watford.

Sixth Round Proper
Arsenal2–2Chelsea
Jeffers  36'
Henry  45'		 (Summary) Terry  3'
Lampard  83'
Attendance: 38,104
Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset)
Sheffield United1–0Leeds United
Kabba  78' (Summary)
Attendance: 24,633
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Watford2–0Burnley
Smith  74'
Glass  80'		 (Summary)
Attendance: 20,336
Southampton2–0Wolverhampton Wanderers
Marsden  56'
Butler  81' (o.g.)		 (Summary)
Attendance: 31,715
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)

Replay
Chelsea1–3Arsenal
Terry  79' (Summary) Terry  25' (o.g.)
Wiltord  34'
Lauren  82'
Attendance: 41,456

Semi-finals

For the 11th season running, the FA Cup final would be contested by top division clubs – Arsenal and Southampton. However, their opponents (Sheffield United and Watford respectively) were both Division One sides.

Arsenal1–0Sheffield United
Ljungberg  34' Report
Attendance: 59,170
Watford1–2Southampton
Gayle  88' Report Ormerod  43'
Robinson  80' (o.g.)
Attendance: 42,602

Final
Main article: 2003 FA Cup Final

The final took place on Saturday, 17 May 2003 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and ended 1–0 with a goal by Robert Pires separating the sides.

It was the third consecutive year the final was played at the Millennium Stadium, due to the ongoing reconstruction of Wembley Stadium, the final's usual venue. There were 73,726 spectators at the game. Arsenal retained the trophy, winning it for the ninth time in their history – a record second only to that of Manchester United.

It was also Southampton's first FA Cup final since 1976, when they won the trophy for the only time to date.

Arsenal1–0Southampton
Pires  38' Report
Attendance: 73,726

Notes
  1. Postponed due to waterlogged pitch
  2. Match postponed due to frozen pitch
  3. Original match postponed because of power failure
  4. Played at Highbury

Media coverage

In the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters for the second consecutive season while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters for the fifteenth consecutive season.

The matches shown live on the BBC were: Forest Green Rovers 0–0 Exeter City (R1); Oxford United 1–0 Swindon Town (R2); Southampton 4–0 Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City 0–1 Liverpool (R3); Manchester United 6–0 West Ham United and Shrewsbury Town 0–4 Chelsea (R4); Manchester United 0–2 Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Rochdale (R5); Arsenal 2–2 Chelsea and Watford 2–0 Burnley (QF); Arsenal 1–0 Sheffield United (SF); and Arsenal 1–0 Southampton (Final).

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