2003β04 season of Leicester City
Leicester City 2003β04 football season
During the 2003β04 English football season, Leicester City competed in the FA
Premier League .
Season summary
Micky Adams had guided Leicester back to the Premiership at the first attempt, despite the club spending part of their Division One campaign in receivership before a takeover safeguarded their future. But he was unable to keep them there, and their relegation was confirmed at the beginning of May. A 4β0 thumping of fellow relegation rivals
Leeds United in September appeared to have set the tone for the rest of the season but it was soon followed by a setback of five straight defeats despite promising displays. A run of three wins in five games in November kept Leicester in close contention of survival, with the 2β0 victory at
Portsmouth seeing them rise to as high as 12th; however, it all went wrong as, after a creditable 1β1 draw with eventual champions
Arsenal , the team went into freefall and endured a dreadful run of only one win in 22 games (though most scorelines were reasonably close and they dropped too many points from 12 games they drew which they could have won). Ultimately, Leicester were relegated in a 2β2 draw at
Charlton Athletic , which left them eight points adrift of
Manchester City with two games remaining. It was a traumatic end to a season which had seen the club plagued with crises on and off the field, including the
La Manga controversy when players
Keith Gillespie ,
Frank Sinclair and
Paul Dickov were accused of
sexual assault following an alleged incident at a hotel in
Spain (all charges were finally dropped).
Final league table
Source:
Premier League Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Results summary
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
38
6
15
17
48
65
β17
33
3
10
6
19
28
β9
3
5
11
29
37
β8
Results by round
Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Ground H A H A H A H A H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H A Result D L D L W L L L L L W W D W D L L D D D L D L L D D D W D D L L L L D D W L Position 7 13 13 16 11 13 15 19 20 20 18 15 15 12 15 16 17 18 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 19 19 17 17 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 18 18
Results
Leicester City's score comes first
[1]
Legend
FA Premier League
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
16 August 2003
Southampton
H
2β2
31,611
Dickov (pen),
Ferdinand
23 August 2003
Chelsea
A
1β2
41,073
Scowcroft
26 August 2003
Middlesbrough
H
0β0
30,823
30 August 2003
Aston Villa
A
1β3
32,274
Izzet
15 September 2003
Leeds United
H
4β0
30,460
Nalis ,
Dickov (2),
Scowcroft
20 September 2003
Liverpool
A
1β2
44,094
Bent
27 September 2003
Manchester United
H
1β4
32,044
Sinclair
4 October 2003
Fulham
A
0β2
14,562
19 October 2003
Tottenham Hotspur
H
1β2
31,521
Dickov
25 October 2003
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
3β4
28,578
Ferdinand (2),
Scimeca
2 November 2003
Blackburn Rovers
H
2β0
30,975
Bent ,
Howey
9 November 2003
Manchester City
A
3β0
46,966
Stewart ,
Dickov (pen),
Bent
22 November 2003
Charlton Athletic
H
1β1
30,242
Ferdinand
29 November 2003
Portsmouth
A
2β0
20,061
Ferdinand ,
Bent
6 December 2003
Arsenal
H
1β1
32,108
Hignett
13 December 2003
Birmingham City
H
0β2
30,639
20 December 2003
Everton
A
2β3
37,007
Ferdinand ,
Scowcroft
26 December 2003
Newcastle United
H
1β1
32,148
Dickov
28 December 2003
Bolton Wanderers
A
2β2
28,353
Bent ,
Ferdinand
7 January 2004
Southampton
A
0β0
31,053
11 January 2004
Chelsea
H
0β4
31,547
17 January 2004
Middlesbrough
A
3β3
27,125
Dickov (2),
Bent
31 January 2004
Aston Villa
H
0β5
31,056
7 February 2004
Newcastle United
A
1β3
52,125
Ferdinand
10 February 2004
Bolton Wanderers
H
1β1
26,674
Ferdinand
22 February 2004
Tottenham Hotspur
A
4β4
35,218
Doherty (own goal),
Ferdinand ,
Thatcher ,
Bent
28 February 2004
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
0β0
31,768
13 March 2004
Birmingham City
A
1β0
29,491
Ferdinand
20 March 2004
Everton
H
1β1
31,650
Bent
28 March 2004
Liverpool
H
0β0
32,013
5 April 2004
Leeds United
A
2β3
34,036
Dickov ,
Izzet
10 April 2004
Fulham
H
0β2
28,392
13 April 2004
Manchester United
A
0β1
67,749
17 April 2004
Blackburn Rovers
A
0β1
22,749
24 April 2004
Manchester City
H
1β1
31,457
Scowcroft
1 May 2004
Charlton Athletic
A
2β2
26,034
Bent ,
Ferdinand
8 May 2004
Portsmouth
H
3β1
31,536
Dickov ,
Scowcroft ,
Taylor (own goal)
15 May 2004
Arsenal
A
1β2
38,419
Dickov
FA Cup
League Cup
Squad
Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under
FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Left club during the season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under
FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under
FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Statistics
Overview
Competition
Record
Premier League
38
6
15
17
48
65
β17
0 15.79
FA Cup
2
0
1
1
3
5
β2
00 0.00
League Cup
2
1
0
1
1
1
+0
0 50.00
Total
42
7
16
19
52
71
β19
0 16.67
Appearances and goals
As of end of season
[7]
Transfers
In
Steve Howey β
Manchester City , 5 June, undisclosed
[8]
Riccardo Scimeca β
Nottingham Forest , 24 June, free
[9]
Paul Brooker β
Brighton and Hove Albion , 24 June, free
[10]
Danny Coyne β
Grimsby Town , 3 July, free
[11]
Keith Gillespie β
Blackburn Rovers , 8 July, free
[12]
Lilian Nalis β
Chievo , 11 July, free
[13]
Les Ferdinand β
West Ham United , 11 July, free
[14]
Ben Thatcher β
Tottenham Hotspur , 17 July, Β£300,000
[15]
Craig Hignett β
Blackburn Rovers , 18 July, free
[16]
Steve Guppy β
Celtic , 13 January, free
Peter Canero β
Kilmarnock , 2 February, Β£250,000
[17]
Lee Morris β
Derby County , 2 February, nominal fee
[18]
Nicolas Priet β
Lyon , free
Out
Tim Flowers β retired, 7 May
Martin Reeves β released, 7 May (later joined
Northampton Town on 9 June
[19] )
Simon Royce β released, 7 May (later joined
Charlton Athletic on 26 June
[20] )
Stefan Oakes β released, 7 May (later joined
Walsall on 3 July
[21]
Nicky Summerbee β released, 7 May (later joined
Bradford City on 4 September)
Jon Ashton β released, 7 May (later joined
Oxford United on 8 September)
Matt Jones β released, 7 May (later retired on 4 June 2004
[22] )
Michael Price β released, 7 May
Darren Eadie β released, 7 May
Jon Stevenson β released, 7 May (later joined
Swindon Town )
Brian Deane β
West Ham United , 31 October, free
[23]
Steve Howey β
Bolton Wanderers , 29 January, undisclosed
[24]
John Curtis β
Portsmouth , 2 February, free
[25]
Gerry Taggart β
Stoke City , 26 February, free
[26]
Loan in
Loan out
Awards
Club awards
At the end of the season, Leicester's annual award ceremony, including categories voted for by the players and backroom staff, the supporters and the supporters club, saw the following players recognised for their achievements for the club throughout the 2003β04 season.
Player of the Season
Les Ferdinand
[31]
Players' Player of the Season
Les Ferdinand
[31]
Supporters' Club Player of the Season
N/A
Academy Player of the Season
Richard Stearman
[32]
Goal of the Season
Lilian Nalis
[32] (vs.
Leeds United , 15 September 2003)
[33]
References
^
"Leicester City results for the 2003-2004 season - Statto.com" . www.statto.com . Archived from
the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022 .
^ Sinclair was born in
Lambeth ,
England , but qualified to represent
Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for
Jamaica in 1998.
^ Izzet was born in
Tower Hamlets ,
England , but qualified to represent
Turkey internationally and made his international debut for
Turkey in 2000.
^ Elliott was born in
Wandsworth ,
England , but also qualified to represent
Scotland internationally and made his full international debut for
Scotland in November 1997.
^ Benjamin was born in
Kettering ,
England , but qualified to represent
Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for
Jamaica in November 2002.
^ Thatcher was born in
Swindon ,
England , but qualified to represent
Wales internationally and made his international debut for
Wales in March 2004.
^
"All Leicester City players: 2004" .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Foxes move for Howey" . BBC News . 5 June 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Foxes snap up Scimeca" . BBC News . 24 June 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Brooker joins Leicester" . BBC News . 24 June 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Leicester sign Coyne" . BBC News . 3 July 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"Foxes sign Gillespie" . Archived from
the original on 10 August 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Foxes snap up Nalis" . BBC News . 11 July 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Ferdinand signs for Leicester" . BBC News . 11 July 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Foxes sign Thatcher" . BBC News . 17 July 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Leicester swoop for Hignett" . BBC News . 18 July 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"Foxes delight for Canero" . BBC News . 19 January 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2022 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Leicester land Morris" . BBC News . 2 February 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Northampton Town | Reeves pens Cobblers deal" . BBC News . 9 June 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Charlton Athletic | Royce returns to Charlton" . BBC News . 26 June 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"Walsall sign duo" .
BBC Sport . 3 July 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2003 .
^
"Jones forced to retire" . BBC Sport . 4 June 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | West Ham Utd | West Ham sign Deane" . BBC News . 31 October 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Bolton Wanderers | Howey completes Bolton switch" . BBC News . 29 January 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Portsmouth | Pompey land LuaLua" . BBC News . 2 February 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Stoke City | Taggart joins Stoke City" . BBC News . 26 February 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Bent makes Leicester move" . BBC News . 1 September 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Dabizas to join Leicester" . BBC News . 1 January 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leicester City | Leicester land Freund" . BBC News . 30 January 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
"BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Stoke City | Taggart joins Stoke" . BBC News . 9 December 2003. Retrieved 7 September 2012 .
^
a
b
"Leicester City Annual Player Awards" . LCFC.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Archived from
the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2011 .
^
a
b
Awards Ceremony Picture Special , LCFC.com, 17 November 2004, archived from
the original on 5 September 2012, retrieved 19 January 2011
^
"Dickov leaves Leeds reeling" . BBC Sport . 15 September 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011 .
National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2β4 Level 5 Levels 6β7 Levels 8β9
Isthmian League (
Two )
Combined Counties League (
Premier ,
One )
Eastern Counties League (
Premier ,
One )
Essex Senior League (level 9 only )
Hellenic League (
Premier ,
One East ,
One West )
Kent League (level 8 only )
Midland Alliance (level 8 only )
Midland Football Combination (level 9 only )
North West Counties League (
One ,
Two )
Northern Counties East League (
Premier ,
One )
Northern League (
One ,
Two )
Spartan South Midlands League (
Premier ,
One )
Sussex County League (
One ,
Two )
United Counties League (
Premier ,
One )
Wessex League (level 8 only )
West Midlands (Regional) League (level 9 only )
Western League (
Premier ,
One )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions