2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season
| 2002–03 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Valiant 2001 (March onwards) | ||
| Chairman | Bill Bell (until December) Administrators (December – March) Bill Bratt (from March) | ||
| Manager | Brian Horton | ||
| Stadium | Vale Park | ||
| Football League Second Division | 17th (53 Points) | ||
| FA Cup | First Round (knocked out by Crewe Alexandra) | ||
| League Cup | First Round (knocked out by Crewe Alexandra) | ||
| Football League Trophy | Area Quarter-finalists (knocked out by Shrewsbury Town) | ||
| Player of the Year | Sam Collins | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9) All: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 6,395 vs. Wigan Athletic, 26 December 2002 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 2,222 vs. Chesterfield, 12 November 2002 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 4,436 | ||
| Biggest win | 5–1 vs. Huddersfield Town, 26 April 2003 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 15 February 2003 | ||
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The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's 91st season of football in the English Football League and third-successive season (40th overall) in the Second Division. Another poor season, Brian Horton's side avoided relegation with a 17th-place finish. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup in the First Round with defeats to Crewe Alexandra and reached the Area Quarter-finals of the Football League Trophy. Financial issues were at the forefront of Vale fans' minds as the club entered administration in December. After a successful bid, Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 group won control of the club, taking the club out of administration.