During the 2002–03 English football season, Wigan Athletic F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.

Season summary

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After considerable investment into the team, Wigan won promotion to the second tier of English football by winning the Second Division with 100 points, 14 clear of runners-up Crewe. It was their highest-ever finish in the Football League.

In the Carling Cup, Wigan reached the quarter-finals with wins over Premiership sides West Bromwich Albion (3–1 at home, second round), Manchester City (1–0 at home, third round) and Fulham (2–1 at home, fourth round) before being knocked out by Blackburn Rovers after a 2–0 home loss.

Squad

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   AUS John Filan 2 DF   ENG Paul Mitchell 3 DF   SCO Stephen McMillan 4 DF   ENG Matt Jackson 5 DF   CAN Jason De Vos 6 DF   ENG Ian Breckin 7 MF   SCO Andy Liddell 8 FW   WAL Neil Roberts 9 FW   ENG Nathan Ellington 10 FW   SCO Lee McCulloch 11 MF   NIR Peter Kennedy 12 MF   WAL Michael Flynn

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 FW   ENG David Moore 16 MF   ENG Tony Dinning 17 MF   ENG Ged Brannan 18 MF   ENG Jason Jarrett 19 DF   ENG Nicky Eaden 20 MF   SCO Gary Teale 21 MF   ENG Jimmy Bullard 25 DF   ENG Chris Lynch 26 DF   ENG Leighton Baines 27 FW   ENG Greg Traynor 30 MF   ENG Paul Santus 33 GK   ENG Ryan Yeomans

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 13 GK   SCO Stewart Kerr (retired) 13 GK   ENG Dave Beasant (to Brighton & Hove Albion) 14 DF   ENG Scott Green (to Wrexham) 15 FW   ENG Lee Ashcroft (to Southport)

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 DF   ENG Richard Edghill (to Sheffield United) 28 DF   ENG Kieran Charnock (to Southport) 29 DF   ENG Ian Pendlebury (to Leigh RMI)

References