Runners-up Carlisle United Dates 22 Oct 2002 – 6 Apr 2003 | Champion Bristol City F.C. Teams 60 | |
Similar 2002 FA Community Shield, 2003 FA Cup Final, 2003 Football League C, 2003 UEFA Champions League F, 1998–99 FA Premier League | ||
The 2002–03 Football League Trophy, known as the 2002–03 LDV Vans Trophy for sponsorship reasons, was the 20th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knock-out competition for English football clubs in Second and Third Division. The winners were Bristol City and the runners-up were Carlisle United.
The competition began on 22 October 2002 and ended with the final on 6 April 2003 at the Millennium Stadium.
In the first round, there were two sections: North and South. In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist. At this point, the two winning finalists face each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy. In addition to the 48 League teams, 12 teams from the Football Conference were also invited to participate in the competition.