SYNOPSIS

A match-by match look at West Bromwich Albion's 2002-2003 Premiership season.

FOREWARD

Albion's Season in the Sun was an unhappy one for their many supporters who had followed them through thick and thin for years in the Nationwide League. For the seven thousand season ticket holders that they gained this year, the experience of seeing Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest must have been a rewarding one, but for dyed-in-the-wool fans, it was a depressing campaign that had echoes of the traumatic '85-86 season. Many regulars felt betrayed by the Albion board's reluctance to spend during the January transfer window; just two or three loan signings - following the example of Bolton and Birmingham - would have been enough to claw back the season without breaking the bank. Certainly, the financial incentives, half a million pounds for each position in the table alone, seem to indicate that the effort, had it been made, would have been worthwhile.

Finally, the 2002-03 season, as well as being Albion's first in the Premiership, was also Bob Taylor's last at the club. Dogged by bad luck from the outset, he deserved better treatment for his ten years' service than he got - but the fans turned out in strength for his Testimonial game, to give him a great send-off. We wish him well in the future.

As usual, I would like to thank everybody who contributed to this book and towards The Baggies newspaper in the past twelve months, especially John Homer, Kevin Grice, Dave Holloway, Dave Hewitt, Colin Mackenzie and Robert Bradley.

Glenn Willmore
July 10 2003

This book is dedicated to the memory of a true footballing gentleman, Alan Ashman 1928-2002