Here what and who TheFA.com's Richard Morgan will remember from the 2002-2003 season...

TheFA.com's Football Awards - 2002/03

Goal - Wayne Rooney (Everton) versus Arsenal

The young England striker pulled a long, hopeful ball down out of the sky with one touch, before sending a dipping, 25-yard screamer over David Seaman's outstretched hand to overcome Arsenal 2-1 in the final minute at Goodison Park, a strike that brought to an end the then Champions' unbeaten start to the League season. It also announced a very special talent to the world.

Hat-trick - Sunderland

The unwanted treble of first-half own goals scored by Sunderland against Charlton Athletic at the Stadium of Light in February, a feat that summed up the Black Cats' miserable Premiership season.

Save - David Seaman (Arsenal)

39-year-old David Seaman's fingertip effort for Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford to deny Sheffield United's Paul Peschisolido an equaliser, reckoned by fellow shot stopper Peter Schmeichel to be the best that he had ever seen.

Miss - Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)

Ryan Giggs' at the 'Theatre of Dreams' in Manchester United's FA Cup Fourth Round summit meeting with Arsenal. Having rounded David Seaman, as well as the covering Martin Keown and Sol Campbell, the Welsh wizard somehow managed to lift the ball over a gaping goal to the utter astonishment of both the Stretford end and the millions watching on televisions around the world. Proved even the very best can succumb to such moments.

Managers

Premiership - David Moyes (Everton)

Having rescued Everton from relegation in the second half of last season, this time around he came within a point of guiding the club into Europe, and what's more, he's done it all with on a shoestring budget. Just edges out Gordon Strachan and the two Knights, Sir Alex and Sir Bobby.

Nationwide - Neil Warnock (Sheffield United)

Third in the First Division with Sheffield United, losing semi-finalists in both cup competitions, as well as defeat in the Play-Off Final to Wolves and all while playing attractive, attacking football. Not bad for a side that pre-season, few expected much of. Youngsters Michael Tonge and Phil Jagielka look to be real finds.



One to watch - Keith Alexander (Lincoln City)

Lincoln were one of the favourites to drop out of the Football League at the start of the season, but instead they made it through to the Third Division play-offs on the final day of the campaign, only to lose to Bournemouth in the final.

Up-and-coming English manager - Micky Adams (Leicester City)

Yet another successful promotion campaign for this young Englishman, this time with a club put into administration halfway through the season, meaning that Adams was always operating with one hand tied behind his back in the transfer market. No wonder Premiership Chairmen are amongst his admirers.

Quote - Sir Bobby Robson (Newcastle United)

When asked whether he would prefer Viana or viagra? "Viana for the game in the afternoon, and viagra for when I get home!" was his cheeky reply.

Players - Sol Campbell (Arsenal) 

The centre-back has been a rock all season for club and country, barely putting a foot wrong and dominating all before him, just as he did during last summers World Cup finals, where he was chosen in the FIFA all-star team of the tournament.




Premiership - Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)

Top scorer in the Premiership with 25 goals, the highest total for three years and 44 in all competitions, only two short of Denis Law's club record of 46 for a season, set in 1964. The Dutch international also scored three League hat-tricks and was the driving force behind Manchester United's charge to the Premiership title.

Nationwide - Michael Brown (Shieffield United)

The playmaker has had his best-ever season to date, scoring a whole host of spectacular goals that took his team to within 90 minutes of a unique treble of a place in both the FA and Worthington Cup finals, as well as in the Premiership. But not even Brown's magic could prevent the Steel-city club from ending the season empty-handed.

One to watch - Glen Johnson (West Ham United)

The England-Under 21 international right-back has matured immensely under trying circumstances this season, while all along impressing everyone at Upton Park with both his skill and temperament. Expect him to continue his rapid development next season in the east end of London, where he is sure to be one of the First Division's star performers.


European - Pavel Nedved (Juventus)

The midfielder has been a shining light on the continent for sometime now. However this season, in the black and white of Juventus, the blond-haired dynamo has really stood out in his clubs charge towards retaining the Serie A title that they won last year and a place in the European Cup Final.

Goalkeeper - Antti Niemi (Southampton) 

Outstanding all season long for Southampton and Finland and spectators will forever remember his assist in the Saints' late equaliser at Loftus Road earlier this year, when the keeper came up for a corner and struck the bar with a sweetly-struck volley, before the rebound was tucked home.



Buy - Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton) 

The Nigeria playmaker and captain had a stop-start World Cup, but still did enough to convince Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain, in hindsight an inspirational move. In the second-half of the season especially, his goals, assists and all-round play lifted Bolton away from the drop zone and his winner against West Ham United in April that effectively kept the club in the top-flight was one of the goals of the season. A joy to watch.

Most improved - Tomasz Radzinski (Everton)

After a difficult debut season in the Premiership last time around, the former Anderlecht striker really hit the ground running this time, scoring eleven League goals before an injury prematurely cut short his fine campaign. And in the run-in, Everton really missed his selfless running, lightening quick pace and, unlike last season, accurate finishing.

More to come - El Hadji-Diouf (Liverpool) 

The Senegal striker looked one of the most dangerous players at the World Cup last summer. His performance against France in the opening game of the tournament was electrifying and the defeat of the holders helped to set the tione for the rest of the tournament. For Liverpool, he has found it harder going though. Tiredness and adapting to the English game as well as a new position on the right of midfield mean that we have yet to see the best of the £10.5m man. A rest over the summer might mean that we see a lot more from the Diouf next term.

Mistake - Peter Enckelman (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa's young Finland keeper must still be wondering just how he managed to let a throw-in from team-mate Olof Melberg roll under his foot and into the back of the net for an own goal in the Midlands derby at St Andrews last September. It was an awful moment but credit Peter for his mental strength in bouncing back to produce some excellent individual performances, particularly against Arsenal in the draw at Villa Park.

Bargain - Joseph Yobo (Everton)

The imposing Nigerian centre-back had a good, although far from eye-catching World Cup, unless your name is David Moyes that is. The Scotsman knew his defence needed tightening up and Yobo's strength, combined with his raw pace and good positional sense, meaning that he can play both in the centre and at right-back, have been the cornerstone behind the Toffees' renaissance this season. And all for just £4.5m from Marseille.

Newcomer - John O'Shea (Man Utd)

The United defender, who can play in any position across the back four, as well as in midfield, has enjoyed a quite fantastic season, culminating in his cheeky nutmeg of former World and European Footballer of the Year Luis Figo at Old Trafford in the recent European Cup quarter-final clash. Indeed after the match, Figo was apparently ribbed in the Real Madrid dressing room by his team-mates, while United's Portuguese assistant coach Carlos Quieroz reminded his compatriot of the moment at the full time whistle.


Unsung hero - Thomas Gravesen (Everton)

The midfielder has had another powerful season in Everton's midfield, breaking up opposition attacks, dictating the pace of play, driving his club forward with his raking cross-field passes and scoring goals with powerful shots from distance. He also scored one of the goals of this or any other season for Denmark in Bucharest, belting a loose ball into a half empty net from the halfway line.

Missing in Premiership action

Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa), Li Weifeng and Niclas Alexandersson (Everton), Marcus Babbel (Liverpool), Vicente Vuoso (Manchester City), Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough), Agustin Delgado and Kleber Chala (Southampton), Julio Arca (Sunderland), Kazuyuki Toda (Tottenham Hotspur) and Gary Breen (West Ham). #

Team - Manchester United

Trailing the then champions Arsenal by a massive eight points in March, Sir Alex Ferguson's side went on a barnstorming run to regain their Premiership title by five points, a remarkable feat and if they could have just managed to see off Real Madrid in the Champions League, then who knows just what a season it could have been for the Red Devils? 

Best Game - Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester United

The two most recognisable clubs in world football battling it out for European hegemony in front of millions watching around the globe, as well as the King of Spain himself at the Santiago Bernabéu. Perhaps the highest level of technical football sustained for a 90-minute period this season, while Zinedine Zidane's individual performance was a joy to behold.

Best Performance - Juventus 

Juventus' semi-final, second leg victory over the supposedly unbeatable Real Madrid. A triumph for organisation over flair and teamwork over individuality.

Celebration - Pascal Nouma's for Besiktas

The Frenchman offended a whole nation of Turks when, having found the back of the net in a recent first division game, he proceeded to celebrate by taking off his shirt and putting his hands down his shorts. After the match Nouma reasoned: "It was not against anybody. It was a private sign of joy," and something he can now practice in the peace and quiet of his own home following the newly-crowned Turkish champions' decision to sack him.

Skill - Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton) 

There were so many audacious moments during the season from the Nigerian showman, but perhaps his most memorable was his backheel flick that left Roy Keane dizzy in the centre of the park during Bolton's 1-1 draw with the Champions in February. Haircut England captain David Beckham has experimented with many during the campaign, but perhaps the most memorable and appropriate though was his braided cut in honour of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, who he and the England met while visiting the Rainbow nation last month.

Most memorable moment

Seeing Sir Jack Hayward's face on the full time whistle at Cardiff's Millennium stadium after Wolves had made it to the Premiership; the chairman has ploughed £60m into the team during the past 13 years in trying to get his club back into the top-flight of English football, and now the waiting is over.

by Richard Morgasn