2002–03 Birmingham City F.C. season

Pre-season

Pre-season friendlies

Premier League

Main article: 2002–03 FA Premier League

Season review

Birmingham's first season in the Premiership was a rollercoaster of a ride that resulted in the team finishing in 13th, although they were favourites to be relegated at the start of the season.

Once Birmingham had secured their states in the Premiership after beating Norwich City in the First Division playoff final the year before, manager Steve Bruce started to strengthen the squad. Internationals Robbie Savage of Wales, Kenny Cunningham and Clinton Morrison of Ireland, and Aliou Cissé of Senegal all joined the side.

Stern John's penalty in the 1–1 draw with Everton on 28 August 2002 was Birmingham's first goal in the Premiership, and first in the top flight since Robert Hopkins scored against Newcastle United back in the 1985–86 season. The next match secured Birmingham their first three points in the league, as they beat Leeds United 2–1 thanks to goals from Paul Devlin and Damien Johnson.

A highlight of the season was the 3–0 victory over local rivals Aston Villa. A first-half goal from Clinton Morrison saw Birmingham in control at half time, before a comedy of errors saw a throw-in by Olof Mellberg roll under the foot of Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and into the net to gift the side a 2–0 lead. Geoff Horsfield added a third later in the game thanks to bad defending from defender Alpay.

By the New Year, Birmingham were in 15th position in the table, seven points clear of 18th-placed Sunderland. This did not stop Bruce spending in the winter transfer window, as Stephen Clemence, Jamie Clapham and Matthew Upson all joined the club. These transfers fall into insignificance compared to the impact that French World Cup-winning forward Christophe Dugarry would make.

A bad start to 2003 saw Birmingham fall to 16th in the table, only five points separating themselves and 18th-placed West Bromwich Albion. This was before Liverpool's visit to St Andrew's, when Birmingham took a two-goal lead through Clemence and Morrison before Michael Owen added a late consolation goal. This game was followed by the visit to Aston Villa. The game kicked into life when Villa striker Dion Dublin was sent off in the 51st minute for headbutting Savage. In the 74th minute, Australian Stan Lazaridis scored his first goal of the season, and three minutes later, a poor header back by Jlloyd Samuel allowed Horsfield to run onto the ball, beat Enckelman and score from close range. The game ended with another sending off, as Villa's Joey Guðjónsson lunged at Upson with a two-footed tackle.

Birmingham were not yet assured of safety by the time they played Sunderland on 12 April, but Bryan Hughes and Christophe Dugarry scored to give Birmingham a 2–0 win. Dugarry went on to score four goals in Birmingham's next three games, including a stunning effort against Middlesbrough where he beat the offside trap before calmly taking the ball out of the air with his knee and volleying it into the net.

The last game of the season saw the side entertain West Ham United, who were in real danger of relegation. Birmingham managed a 2–2 draw thanks to goals from Horsfield and John, but it was enough to send the Hammers down.

Match details

Final league table

Results summary

FA Cup

Main article: 2002–03 FA Cup

Birmingham failed to get past the third round of the FA Cup, losing to Premiership side Fulham.

League Cup

Main article: 2002–03 Football League Cup

Birmingham reached the third round of the League Cup before losing to Preston North End of the First Division.

Transfers

In

: Brackets round club names indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.

Out

: Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loan in

Loan out

Appearances and goals

:Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute. :Players marked left the club during the playing season. :Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham. :Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes. :Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

References

General

• Source for match dates, league positions and results:
• Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 440–41.
• Source for goal times:
• Source for transfers:

Specific

References

1. "Barclaycard Premiership 2002–2003 Season Attendance Table". 365 Media Group.
2. "Birmingham City: Kit history". Dave & Matt Moor.
3. (21 December 2002). "Birmingham 1 Charlton 1". Birmingham City F.C.
4. Halford, Brian. (22 August 2002). "Blues home in on big-time". Birmingham Post.
5. Cartlidge, Brian. (17 July 2002). "Exeter 0 – Blues 1".
6. Cartlidge, Brian. (20 July 2002). "Forest Green 0 – Blues 6".
7. Barker, Richard. (22 July 2002). "Livingston 2 – Blues 1".
8. Barker, Richard. (24 July 2002). "Motherwell 2 – Blues 1".
9. Barker, Richard. (27 July 2002). "Partick 1 – Blues 2".
10. Cartlidge, Brian. (31 July 2002). "Tranmere 0 – Blues 7".
11. Cartlidge, Brian. (3 August 2002). "Stoke 0 – Blues 2".
12. Cartlidge, Brian. (10 August 2002). "SBlues 1 – Alavés 1".
13. "Birmingham City Reports – 2002–2003". 365 Media Group.
14. "Birmingham City 2002–2003 : English Premier League Table". Statto Organisation.
15. (30 May 2002). "Savage completes Blues move". BBC Sport.
16. (9 July 2002). "Birmingham land Cisse". BBC Sport.
17. (16 July 2002). "Cunningham seals Blues deal". BBC Sport.
18. (5 September 2002). "Transfers – July, 2002". BBC Sport.
19. (30 July 2002). "Birmingham net Morrison". BBC Sport.
20. (15 August 2002). "Kirovski cleared for Blues". BBC Sport.
21. (13 September 2011). "Blues complete Powell signing". BBC Sport.
22. (10 January 2003). "Blues seal double deal". BBC Sport.
23. (11 February 2003). "Birmingham sign Upson". BBC Sport.
24. (13 March 2003). "Marriott joins Birmingham". BBC Sport.
25. Tattum, Colin. (6 September 2002). "Capital gain for Paul". Birmingham Evening Mail.
26. (21 October 2002). "Wigan seal Eaden deal". BBC Sport.
27. (11 November 2002). "Gill seals Cobblers deal". BBC Sport.
28. (23 September 2002). "Hyde released by Blues". Birmingham Evening Mail.
29. (15 January 2003). "Owls snap up Powell". BBC Sport.
30. (8 May 2003). "Pilgrims sign Capaldi". BBC Sport.
31. Tattum, Colin. (23 May 2003). "Mooney feeling positive". Birmingham Evening Mail.
32. (2 June 2003). "The List: players released by Premiership clubs". The Daily Telegraph.
33. (6 December 2002). "Blues complete Coly deal". BBC Sport.
34. (2 January 2003). "Birmingham land Dugarry". BBC Sport.
35. (21 January 2003). "Birmingham seal Swierczewski switch". UEFA.
36. Tattum, Colin. (9 August 2003). "Blues eye big guns". Birmingham Evening Mail.
37. (8 August 2002). "Cobblers seal Gill deal". BBC Sport.
38. (19 September 2002). "Wigan seek double boost". BBC Sport.
39. Tattum, Colin. (21 September 2002). "Bruce shows faith in Fagan". Birmingham Evening Mail.
40. Tattum, Colin. (15 January 2003). "Hughes – I won't stay at Leicester". Birmingham Evening Mail.
41. Nursey, James. (18 January 2003). "Bruce close to sealing deal". Sky Sports.
42. (19 March 2003). "Stoke swoop for Mooney". BBC Sport.