2003–04 Arsenal L.F.C. season

Arsenal Ladies
2003–04 season
ChairmanPeter Hill-Wood
ManagerVic Akers
StadiumClarence Park
Premier LeagueChampions
FA CupWinners
Premier League CupSemi finals
London County CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Jayne Ludlow (18)
All: Jayne Ludlow (29)
Biggest win11-1 (vs Cardiff City, FA Cup, 7 February 2004)
Biggest defeat2-1 (vs Charlton Athletic, Premier League, 16 October 2003)
2-1 (vs Charlton Athletic, Premier League Cup, 14 December 2003)

The 2003–04 season was Arsenal Ladies Football Club's 17th season since forming in 1987. The club participated in the National Division of the FA Women's Premier League, and reclaimed their League Title back from Fulham. They won the FA Cup as well, defeating Charlton Athletic 3–0 in the final to complete a domestic double.[1] However, they missed out on the Premier League Cup once again, losing in the Semi Finals to Charlton Athletic.[2] With no Europe to contend with this season, the only other silverware up for grabs was the London County Cup, which Arsenal also won after beating Fulham 4–0 in the Final.

Following their 2–1 defeat to Charlton Athletic in October, Arsenal went unbeaten in the League for the next 108 League matches, a run that ended in 2009 with a 3–0 defeat at home to Everton.[3]

This was Arsenal's last season using Clarence Park as their home ground, ending their two-season stay at St Albans. The following season, Arsenal returned to Boreham Wood's ground, Meadow Park. This would remain their main home for the next 20 years.

Arsenal's final game of the season against Fulham was played at Highbury. This was the last time the Women's team played at Highbury before the club moved to their new residence at Emirates Stadium in 2006.

Squad information & statistics

First team squad

Squad statistics correct as of May 2004[4]

Squad No. Name Date of Birth (Age) Since Signed From
Goalkeepers
1 Emma Byrne (1979-06-14) 14 June 1979 2000 Fortuna Hjørring
13 Caroline Collie (1986-08-11) 11 August 1986 2002 Arsenal Academy
Jasmine Cripps (1985-11-04) 4 November 1985 1998 Arsenal Academy
Defenders
2 Kirsty Pealling (1975-04-14) 14 April 1975 1987 Arsenal Academy
5 Leanne Champ (1983-08-10) 10 August 1983 2001 Millwall Lionesses
6 Faye White (1978-02-02) 2 February 1978 1996 Three Bridges
11 Clare Wheatley (1971-02-04) 4 February 1971 1995 Chelsea
12 Julie Fletcher (1974-09-28) 28 September 1974 2001 Charlton Athletic
15 Yvonne Tracy (1981-02-27) 27 February 1981 2000 St Patrick's Athletic
17 Hayley Kemp (1987-06-23) 23 June 1987 1998 Hatfield Youth
18 Anita Asante (1985-04-27) 27 April 1985 1998 Arsenal Academy
24 Georgie Adams (1984-11-07) 7 November 1984 1999 Bushey
30 Carol Harwood (1965-12-01) 1 December 1965 2002 Southampton Saints
Cori Daniels (1986-06-04) 4 June 1986 2002 Arsenal Academy
Midfielders
4 Jayne Ludlow (1979-01-07) 7 January 1979 2000 Southampton Saints
7 Sian Williams (captain) (1968-02-02) 2 February 1968 1990 Millwall Lionesses
8 Ciara Grant (1978-05-17) 17 May 1978 1998 St Patrick's Athletic
16 Emma Thomas (1983-10-17) 17 October 1983 1996 Arsenal Academy
21 Lisa Burrows (1985-08-01) 1 August 1985 2002 Bushey Rangers
22 Jo Potter (1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 2003 Birmingham City
23 Eleri Earnshaw (1985-05-17) 17 May 1985 2003 Barnet
Portia Modise (1983-06-20) 20 June 1983 2003 Sowedo
Veronica Phewa 2003
Toni Carelse 2003
Forwards
3 Julie Fleeting (1980-12-18) 18 December 1980 2004 Ross County
9 Alex Scott (1984-10-14) 14 October 1984 2000 Arsenal Academy
10 Ellen Maggs (1983-02-16) 16 February 1983 2000 Arsenal Academy
14 Lianne Sanderson (1988-02-03) 3 February 1988 2003 Arsenal Academy
19 Mihoko Ishida (1982-06-19) 19 June 1982 2003 Musashigaoka
20 Justine Lorton (1974-03-11) 11 March 1974 2003 Charlton Athletic
Mikaela Howell (1988-07-12) 12 July 1988 1999 Southampton Women

Appearances and goals

No. Name Premier League FA Cup PL Cup LC Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Emma Byrne 18 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 30 0
13 Caroline Collie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jasmine Cripps 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
2 Kirsty Pealling 18 3 3+1 0 3 0 3 2 27+1 5
5 Leanne Champ 13 0 4 3 4 0 2 0 23 3
6 Faye White 13 0 5 2 3 0 1 0 22 2
11 Clare Wheatley 16+1 0 5 0 1 0 3 0 25+1 0
12 Julie Fletcher 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
15 Yvonne Tracy 10 1 3 1 4 0 2 0 19 2
17 Hayley Kemp 2+2 0 0+1 0 3 1 0+1 0 5+4 1
18 Anita Asante 7+6 0 2 0 2+1 0 2 0 13+7 0
24 Georgie Adams 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 Carol Harwood 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0
Gilly Flaherty 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cori Daniels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
4 Jayne Ludlow 18 18 5 1 3+1 4 3 6 29+1 29
7 Sian Williams (captain) 7+1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 10+1 0
8 Ciara Grant 18 10 5 0 3 4 3 0 29 14
16 Emma Thomas 0 0 0 0 1+1 1 0 0 1+1 1
21 Lisa Burrows 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 Jo Potter 6+10 2 3+2 2 1+2 1 3 4 14+14 9
23 Eleri Earnshaw 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1+1 0
Veronica Phewa 0+1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1+1 0
Portia Modise 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Toni Carelse 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
3 Julie Fleeting 6 7 4 9 0 0 0 0 10 16
9 Alex Scott 9+6 5 0+5 0 2+1 0 2+1 2 13+13 7
10 Ellen Maggs 18 9 5 2 3 0 1+2 1 27+2 12
14 Lianne Sanderson 11+4 6 4 3 3+1 1 2+1 1 20+6 11
19 Mihoko Ishida 0+3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1+3 0
20 Justine Lorton 7+4 1 0+4 2 2+2 1 0+2 1 9+12 5
Mikaela Howell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Goalscorers

Rank No. Position Name Premier League FA Cup PL Cup LC Cup Total
1 4 MF Jayne Ludlow 18 1 4 6 29
2 3 FW Julie Fleeting 7 9 0 0 16
3 8 MF Ciara Grant 10 0 4 0 14
4 10 FW Ellen Maggs 9 2 0 1 12
5 14 FW Lianne Sanderson 6 3 1 1 11
6 22 MF Jo Potter 2 2 1 4 9
7 9 FW Alex Scott 5 0 0 2 7
8 20 FW Justine Lorton 1 2 1 1 5
2 DF Kirsty Pealling 3 0 0 2 5
9 5 DF Leanne Champ 0 3 0 0 3
10 6 DF Faye White 0 2 0 0 2
15 DF Yvonne Tracy 1 1 0 0 2
11 16 MF Emma Thomas 0 0 1 0 1
17 DF Hayley Kemp 0 0 1 0 1
Total 62 25 13 17 117

Clean sheets

Rank No. Name Premier League FA Cup PL Cup LC Cup Total
1 1 Emma Byrne 9 3 2 3 17
Total 9 3 2 3 17

Transfers, loans and other signings

Transfers in

Announcement date No. Position Player From club
2003[5] 22 MF Jo Potter Birmingham City
2003[6] 19 FW Mihoko Ishida Musashigaoka
2003[7] 20 FW Justine Lorton Charlton Athletic
2003[8] 23 MF Eleri Earnshaw Barnet
12 August 2003[9] MF Veronica Phewa
12 August 2003[9] MF Portia Modise Sowedo
12 August 2003[9] MF Toni Carelse
2004[10] 3 FW Julie Fleeting Ross County

Transfers out

Announcement date No. Position Player To club
2003 FW Angela Banks Retired
2003 3 DF Pauline MacDonald Retired
2003 FW Michele O'Brien Long Island Lady Riders
2003 MF Gemma Ritchie Fulham
2003 FW Sheuneen Ta Miami Hurricanes
2003 FW Nicole Emmanuel Leeds United
2003 17 FW Ayshea Martyn Bristol Rovers
2003 13 GK Jo Price Bristol City
2003 Coreen Brown
2003 Rochelle Shakes
9 July 2003[11] Laura Husselbee Birmingham City
November 2003[12] 12 DF Julie Fletcher Charlton Athletic

Club

Kit

Supplier: Nike / Sponsor: O2.

Home
Away

Competitions

FA Women's Premier League National Division

Partial league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Arsenal (C) 18 15 2 1 65 11 +54 47 Qualification for the UEFA Cup qualifying round
2 Charlton Athletic 18 15 1 2 52 17 +35 46
3 Fulham 18 14 2 2 60 20 +40 44
4 Leeds United 18 8 4 6 32 28 +4 28
5 Doncaster Rovers Belles 18 8 3 7 41 40 +1 27
Source: FA WPL
(C) Champions

Results Summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
18 15 2 1 65 11  +54 47 8 1 0 34 3  +31 7 1 1 31 8  +23

Results by matchday

Matchday123456789101112131415161718
GroundAHAAHAAAHHAAHHAHHH
ResultWDWWWLDWWWWWWWWWWW
Position122233333533332221
Source: FA WPL
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
17 August 2003 1 Tranmere Rovers 2–9 Arsenal
  • Holden
  • Carubia
Report
24 August 2003 2 Arsenal 0–0 Everton St Albans
Report Stadium: Clarence Park
16 October 2003 6 Charlton Athletic 2–1 Arsenal Charlton
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: The Valley
26 October 2003 7 Fulham 1–1 Arsenal Motspur Park
Report Grant 90+6' Stadium: Motspur Park
23 November 2003 8 Bristol Rovers 0–3 Arsenal
Report
22 February 2004 10 Arsenal 3–1 Bristol Rovers St Albans
Report
  • Williams 35'
Stadium: Clarence Park
7 March 2004 12 Leeds United 1–2 Arsenal
Report
21 March 2004 13 Arsenal 4–0 Leeds United Borehamwood
14:00 GMT
Report Stadium: Meadow Park
28 March 2004 14 Arsenal 2–1 Birmingham City St Albans
Report
  • Gallagher 6'
Stadium: Clarence Park
4 April 2003 15 Everton 1–3 Arsenal
Report
18 April 2004 17 Arsenal 8–0 Aston Villa St Albans
Report Stadium: Clarence Park
15 May 2004 18 Arsenal 3–1 Fulham Highbury
19:00 BST
Report McArthur 85' Stadium: Highbury

FA Women's Cup

14 March 2004 Semi-finals Bristol Rovers 0–2 Arsenal Bristol
15:00 GMT Report
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 1,382
3 May 2004 Final Arsenal 3–0 Charlton Athletic Shepherd's Bush
13:00 BST
Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,244
Referee: Amy Rayner

FA Women's Premier League Cup

12 October 2003 Second round Arsenal 4–2 Sunderland St Albans
Report
Stadium: Clarence Park

London County Cup

18 January 2004 Round One Arsenal 4–0 Millwall Lionesses St Albans
Report Stadium: Clarence Park
15 February 2004 Semi Final AFC Wimbledon 0–9 Arsenal Kingston upon Thames
10:30 GMT Report Stadium: Kingsmeadow

See also

References

  1. ^ Cocozza, Paula (2004-05-04). "Arsenal enjoy Fleeting moment". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  2. ^ "Fulham and Charlton book places". 2003-12-14. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  3. ^ "Ladies: Arsenal 0-3 Everton - Match report". Ladies: Arsenal 0-3 Everton - Match report. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  4. ^ "Arsenal Ladies". 2004-05 Arsenal Handbook: Pages 80-81.
  5. ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2004-02-21. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  6. ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2003-12-14. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  7. ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2003-10-11. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  8. ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2003-10-11. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  9. ^ a b c "Gunners try SA women". 2003-08-12. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  10. ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2004-04-05. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  11. ^ "Blues make new signings". Worcester News. 2003-07-09. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
  12. ^ "Charlton Athletic 8 Aston Villa 2". Archived from the original on 13 August 2011.