2002–03 Stoke City F.C. season
The 2002–03 season was Stoke City's 96th season in the Football League and the 36th in the second tier.
| 2002–03 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Gunnar Gíslason | |
| Manager | Steve Cotterill, Dave Kevan, Tony Pulis | |
| Stadium | Britannia Stadium | |
| Football League First Division | 21st (50 Points) | |
| FA Cup | Fifth Round | |
| League Cup | First Round | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Andy Cooke (6) All: Chris Iwelumo (7) | |
| Highest home attendance | 21,023 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (5 March 2003) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 10,406 vs Walsall (26 February 2003) | |
| Average home league attendance | 14,532 | |
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Stoke now back in the First Division appointed young manager Steve Cotterill prior to the start of the season. Cotterill had got an impressive reputation following his success with Cheltenham Town but after just 13 matches in charge he shocked the club by quitting in favour of becoming assistant manager at Sunderland. Dave Kevan took over as caretaker until Tony Pulis was appointed in November. His task was to ensure Stoke survived which looked a tough ask as Stoke went 16 matches without a win and when Stoke did manage to get a positive result they lost 6–0 at Nottingham Forest. Following that defeat Pulis improved his defence and results were slowly being ground out and it went to the final day of the season against Reading, with Stoke knowing that if they win they will stay up and thanks to Ade Akinbiyi they won 1–0 and finished four points above the relegation zone.