Over the past week we have been asking our contributors here at TheFA.com to make their personal awards for the season just gone. Here is who and what TheFA.com's Alex Stone will remember from the 2002-2003 season...


Goal - Gavin Williams (Yeovil Town)

 

Gavin Williams... who? A former Welsh semi-professional who plays for Nationwide Conference Champions Yeovil Town.

At home to Doncaster Rovers, already a championship rival back in October, Yeovil were a goal down within the first minute in front of over 6,500 fans. However, Williams took the ball from his own half and blasted a thirty-yard rocket into the top right hand corner to restore parity, and deliver a psychological blow at a telling point of the season.


Hat-Trick - Kirk Jackson (Yeovil Town)

 

Having already secured promotion into The Football League for the first time in their 108 year history, the Glovers want to fellow high-flyers Dagenham & Redbridge.

Displaying the form that took him within a whisker of the Golden Boot, and made him such a valuable signing, Jackson scored a delightful hat-trick in front of almost 2,000 travelling fans to make it a perfect Easter Bank Holiday Monday.


Save - Matt Murray (Wolves)

 

The England Under-21 international had seen his mental strength questioned but rose to the occasion in the First Division play-off final. After taking a 2-0 lead over Sheffield United, Neil Warnock's side staged a second-half cavalry charge.

Michael Brown stepped up to take a penalty that could have changed the course of the game, Murray saved, and Wolves were promoted to The Premier League and an estimated £20million jackpot.


Manager


Premiership - Sam Allardyce (Bolton)

 

'Big Sam' accumulated a foreign legion of players at the Reebok including the 'flawed geniuses' that were Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff.

Against the odds and with over half his squad in danger of disappearing, he kept his side in The Premier League, and also claimed some notable scalps, including a 2-2 draw that effectively ended Arsenal's tilt at defending their title.



Nationwide - Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth)

 

Sacked by West Ham, Harry arrived on the South Coast at Portsmouth. He changed the entire first team during pre-season, combing ageing England stars such as Merson, Stone and Sherwood with promising young talents Matthew Taylor and Gary O'Neill. Add in former West Ham 'rejects' Svetoslav Todorov, Hayden Foxe and Shaka Hislop, and Pompey stormed into the Premier League at the expense of West Ham.


One to Watch - Brian Talbot (Rushden & Diamonds)

 

Won the FA Cup in 1978 and 1979 with two different teams as a player, and now experiencing considerable success as a manager. After getting Rushden & Diamonds into the Third Division, Rushden won the Third Division title last season with a final-day victory over Hartlepool United.

With millionaire Dr Martens owner Max Briggs behind him, watch the small Northamptonshire side next season in Division Two.


Goalkeeper - John Filan (Wigan)

The Aussie 'keeper signed from Blackburn Rovers to replace Roy Carroll after Carroll's move to Manchester United.

Quickly established himself as a firm fans favourite and kept an astonishing 29 clean sheets for the Latics, playing a massive part in their promotion to the First Division.

 


Most Improved - Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle Utd)

 

Had a lot to live up to after being bought from Nottingham Forest for £5million. Not only did he make a midfield starting position his own at St James's Park, he scored some fantastic goals for the Magpies as they seriously challenged for the Premier League title, made his senior debut for the England team , and was voted as the Young Player of the Year' - some season.

 


More to Come - Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal)

 

Whilst JJ rose to national prominence last season, Arsenal's Jermaine Pennant had a more frustrating season. Struggling to win a place in the Arsenal first team and missing a crucial England Under-21 game against Turkey for disciplinary reasons, the flying winger could have easily given up on his season.

However, he was given a place in the first eleven for Arsenal's penultimate league fixture and scored a rapid-fire hat-trick against Southampton to show what talent he has.


Mistake


Chris Turner

Seemingly destined for promotion at Hartlepool United and looking to take the North-East team from out of the shadows of more illustrious neighbours into, Turner plumped for the vacant hot-seat at Sheffield Wednesday mid-way through the season.

Hartlepool still went up, Wednesday went down, and the two sides will meet in Division 2 next season; one as a big club on the wane, the other as a small club on the rise.


Bargain - Kevin Gall (Yeovil Town)

 

The only Welsh Under-21 player outside The Football League, Gall was signed by Yeovil Town, after Bristol Rovers released him at the beginning of February.

Whilst Rovers struggled to stay in The Football League, the diminutive striker who started his career at Newcastle United hit fourteen goals in fourteen league games to take Yeovil into the Football League - definitely one of the bargains of the season.

 

Newcomer - James Milner (Leeds United)

 

Whilst all the headlines were taken by Wayne Rooney, another young England star in the making made an equally impressive impact.
Whilst established Leeds United players were sold off in bulk as the club's financial position became ever-more precarious, England Under-17 midfielder James Milner entered the fray with a series of eye-catching performances.

He even had the temerity to take Rooney's record as the youngest-ever goalscorer in the Premier League with an exquisite goal against Chelsea.

 

Unsung Hero - Shaun Teale (Burscough) 

 

The rugged former Aston Villa centre-back now manages little-known Lancashire non-league side Burscough.

Hotly tipped to bow out in the early stages of The FA Trophy, Teale's inspirational performances, tactical nous, and nerves of steel with an injury-time penalty in the semi-final took him and his team to Villa Park for a fairytale final. His side then defeated all the odds to lift the trophy - how many of you knew that?

 

Premiership Player - Thierry Henry (Arsenal)

 

In full flow, his pace, control and finishing are worth the admission fee alone, and his goals took Arsenal to within touching distance of retaining the Double.

Hard to believe that critics and Arsenal fans alike doubted Arsene Wenger's judgement when the man with the va-va-voom first arrived from Juventus.

 

Nationwide - Nathan Ellington (Wigan) 

 

'Duke' impressed fans and football reporters alike with another sparkling season of goalscoring with Wigan Athletic. Already revered for his giant-killing display against Everton in The FA Cup the previous season, the young striker's 22 goals took Wigan into Division One, where surely his talent will be monitored by some of the 'big boys'.

 

European - Clarence Seedorf (Milan)

 

Seems to have been around for years, but still not even thirty, AC Milan's Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf made history when he became the only player to win the UEFA Champions League with three clubs.

His solid displays sometimes go unnoticed, but alongside Gennaro Gattuso in the rossoneri's midfield, he provided the platform for their march to the final and Champions League glory over Juventus.

 

One to Watch - Michael McIndoe (Yeovil Town)

 

The flying Scottish winger at Yeovil Town was voted Conference Player of the Season by every single Manager in the league, and was reported to be interesting Gordon Strachan at Southampton.

His direct running, close control, cultured left foot and 110% commitment make him a firm fans favourite, and he has already issued a "come and watch me" plea to Berti Vogts. The beleaguered Scotland manager could do worse.

 

Game - Yeovil Town 1 Chester City 1

 

It has to be. After a childhood brought up on some rather at times un-cultured football, the current Yeovil Town team play football as it is meant to be played.

At the final game of the season, and having already been crowned champions, a 1-1 home draw against Chester in front of 8,111 delirious fans meant that my home team were into The Football League - not even a first-half monsoon could dampen the spirits!

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