2002–03 Rushden & Diamonds F.C. season

Rushden & Diamonds

2002–03 season
Manager	Brian Talbot
Stadium	Nene Park
Third Division	1st (promoted)
FA Cup	First round
League Cup	Second round
Football League Trophy	First round

During the 2002–03 English football season, Rushden & Diamonds competed in the Third Division.

Season summary

Rushden & Diamonds finished the season as Third Division champions, ensuring their first ever season in the Second Division.

Kit

Rushden & Diamonds retained the previous season's kit, which was manufactured by Fila and sponsored by Dr. Martens.^[1]

First-team squad

Squad at end of season^[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Billy Turley 3 DF  ENG Paul Underwood 4 DF  NIR Barry Hunter 5 DF  WAL Mark Peters 6 DF  ENG Andy Edwards 7 MF  ENG Stuart Wardley 8 MF  ENG Ritchie Hanlon 9 FW  ENG Dean Holdsworth 10 FW  ENG Duane Darby 11 MF  ENG Andy Burgess 12 DF  SCO Stuart Gray[notes 1] 13 GK  ENG Stuart Naylor 14 DF  ENG Marcus Bignot

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  ENG Gary Mills 16 GK  ENG Adam Sollitt 17 DF  ENG Gary Setchell 18 MF  ENG David Bell[notes 2] 19 MF  ENG Daniel Talbot 20 DF  ENG Andrew Sambrook 21 FW  WAL Robert Duffy 22 FW  JAM Paul Hall[notes 3] 24 DF  ENG John Dempster 31 FW  JAM Onandi Lowe 33 DF  IRL David Bell 36 MF  ENG Owen Story 40 DF  NGA Magnus Okuonghae[notes 4]

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  ENG Tarkan Mustafa (on loan to Doncaster Rovers; sold to Dagenham & Redbridge) 6 DF  ENG Andy Tillson (retired) 9 FW  ENG Scott Partridge (on loan to Exeter City; sold to Shrewsbury Town) 14 MF  IRL Michael McElhatton (retired)

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 GK  WAL Tony Pennock (to Farnborough Town) 23 DF  ENG Brett Solkhon (on loan to Canvey Island; sold to Kettering Town) 25 FW  ENG Tony Battersby (released)

References

1. "Rushden & Diamonds - Historical Football Kits".
2. "FootballSquads - Rushden & Diamonds - 2002/03".

Notes

1. Gray was born in Harrogate, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and represented Scotland at U-21 level.
2. Bell was born in Wellingborough, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented the Republic of Ireland at U-21 and B level.
3. Hall was born in Manchester, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1997.
4. Okuonghae was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but also qualified to represent England internationally and represented England at C level.