2003–04 Arsenal L.F.C. season
| 2003–04 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Peter Hill-Wood | ||
| Manager | Vic Akers | ||
| Stadium | Clarence Park | ||
| Premier League | Champions | ||
| FA Cup | Winners | ||
| Premier League Cup | Semi finals | ||
| London County Cup | Winners | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Jayne Ludlow (18) All: Jayne Ludlow (29) | ||
| Biggest win | 11-1 (vs Cardiff City, FA Cup, 7 February 2004) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 2-1 (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, defeating them at Highbury on the final day of the season to do so.[1] They won the FA Cup as well, defeating Charlton Athletic 3–0 in the final to complete a domestic double.[2][3] However, they missed out on the Premier League Cup once again, losing in the Semi Finals to Charlton Athletic.[4] 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.[5]
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[6]
| Squad No. | Name | Date of birth (age) | Since | Signed from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||
| 1 |  Emma Byrne
|
14 June 1979 (aged 25) | 2000 |  Fortuna Hjørring
|
| 13 |  Caroline Collie
|
11 August 1986 (aged 17) | 2002 |  Arsenal Academy
|
| Jasmine Cripps
|
4 November 1985 (aged 18) | 1998 | Arsenal Academy
| |
| Defenders | ||||
| 2 | Kirsty Pealling
|
14 April 1975 (aged 29) | 1987 | Arsenal Academy
|
| 5 | Leanne Champ
|
10 August 1983 (aged 20) | 2001 | Millwall Lionesses
|
| 6 | Faye White
|
2 February 1978 (aged 26) | 1996 | Three Bridges
|
| 11 | Clare Wheatley
|
4 February 1971 (aged 33) | 1995 | Chelsea
|
| 12 | Julie Fletcher
|
28 September 1974 (aged 29) | 2001 | Charlton Athletic
|
| 15 | Yvonne Tracy
|
27 February 1981 (aged 23) | 2000 | St Patrick's Athletic
|
| 17 | Hayley Kemp
|
23 June 1987 (aged 17) | 1998 | Hatfield Youth
|
| 18 | Anita Asante
|
27 April 1985 (aged 19) | 1998 | Arsenal Academy
|
| 24 | Georgie Adams
|
7 November 1984 (aged 19) | 1999 | Bushey
|
| 30 | Carol Harwood
|
1 December 1965 (aged 38) | 2002 | Southampton Saints
|
| Cori Daniels
|
4 June 1986 (aged 18) | 2002 | Charlton Athletic
| |
| Midfielders | ||||
| 4 |  Jayne Ludlow
|
7 January 1979 (aged 25) | 2000 | Southampton Saints
|
| 7 | Sian Williams (captain)
|
2 February 1968 (aged 36) | 1990 | Millwall Lionesses
|
| 8 | Ciara Grant
|
17 May 1978 (aged 26) | 1998 | St Patrick's Athletic
|
| 16 | Emma Thomas
|
17 October 1983 (aged 20) | 1996 | Arsenal Academy
|
| 21 | Lisa Burrows
|
1 August 1985 (aged 18) | 2002 | Bushey Rangers
|
| 22 | Jo Potter
|
13 November 1984 (aged 19) | 2003 | Birmingham City
|
| 23 | Eleri Earnshaw
|
17 May 1985 (aged 19) | 2003 | Barnet
|
 Portia Modise
|
20 June 1983 (aged 21) | 2003 | Sowedo
| |
| Veronica Phewa
|
2003 | |||
| Toni Carelse
|
2003 | |||
| Forwards | ||||
| 3 | Julie Fleeting
|
18 December 1980 (aged 23) | 2004 | Ross County
|
| 9 | Alex Scott
|
14 October 1984 (aged 19) | 2000 | Arsenal Academy
|
| 10 | Ellen Maggs
|
16 February 1983 (aged 21) | 2000 | Arsenal Academy
|
| 14 | Lianne Sanderson
|
3 February 1988 (aged 16) | 2003 | Arsenal Academy
|
| 19 |  Mihoko Ishida
|
19 June 1982 (aged 22) | 2003 | Musashigaoka
|
| 20 | Justine Lorton
|
11 March 1974 (aged 30) | 2003 | Charlton Athletic
|
| Mikaela Howell
|
12 July 1988 (aged 15) | 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[7] | 22 | MF | Jo Potter
|
Birmingham City
|
| 2003[8] | 19 | FW | Mihoko Ishida
|
Musashigaoka
|
| 2003[9] | 20 | FW | Justine Lorton
|
Charlton Athletic
|
| 2003[10] | 23 | MF | Eleri Earnshaw
|
Barnet
|
| 12 August 2003[11] | MF | Veronica Phewa
|
||
| 12 August 2003[11] | MF | Portia Modise
|
Sowedo
| |
| 12 August 2003[11] | MF | Toni Carelse
|
||
| 2004[12] | 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 | DF | Kelley Few
|
Retirement | |
| 2003 | MF |  Alana Livingstone
|
||
| 2003 | FW | Rochelle Shakes
|
||
| 2003 | FW | Coreen Brown | ||
| 9 July 2003[13] | DF | Laura Husselbee
|
Birmingham City
| |
| November 2003[14] | 12 | DF | Julie Fletcher
|
Charlton Athletic
|
Club
Kit
          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 |
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
Matches
| 17 August 2003 1 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–9 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
| 24 August 2003 2 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Everton | St Albans |
| Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 31 August 2003 3 | Aston Villa | 1–7 | Arsenal | Sutton Coldfield |
| 14:00 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Central Ground |
| 7 September 2003 4 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 0–2 | Arsenal | |
| Report |
|
| 5 October 2003 5 | Arsenal | 7–0 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 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 |
| 7 December 2003 9 | Arsenal | 6–0 | Tranmere Rovers | St Albans |
| 14:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 22 February 2004 10 | Arsenal | 3–1 | Bristol Rovers | St Albans |
| Report |
|
Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 4 March 2004 11 | Birmingham City | 0–3 | Arsenal | Redditch |
| Report | Stadium: Valley Stadium |
| 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 |
|
Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 4 April 2003 15 | Everton | 1–3 | Arsenal | Crosby |
| Report | Stadium: Rossett Park |
| 15 April 2004 16 | Arsenal | 1–0 | Charlton Athletic | Borehamwood |
| 19:45 BST |
|
Report | Stadium: Meadow Park Referee: Mr M Asplen |
| 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 Referee: Carl Henry |
FA Women's Cup
| 4 January 2004 Fourth round | Arsenal | 3–0 | Stockport County | St Albans |
| 13:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 25 January 2004 Fifth round | Middlesbrough | 1–6 | Arsenal | Stockton-on-Tees |
| 12:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Bishopton Road West |
| 7 February 2004 Quarter-finals | Arsenal | 11–1 | Cardiff City | London Colney |
| 14:15 GMT | Report |
|
Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre |
| 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
| 14 September 2003 First round | Arsenal | 4–0 | Ipswich Town | St Albans |
| Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 12 October 2003 Second round | Arsenal | 4–2 | Sunderland | St Albans |
| Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 2 November 2003 Quarter-finals | Arsenal | 4–0 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | St Albans |
| Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 14 December 2003 Semi-finals | Charlton Athletic | 2–1 | Arsenal | Gravesend |
| 14:00 GMT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stonebridge Road |
London County Cup
| 18 January 2004 First round | Arsenal | 4–0 | Millwall Lionesses | St Albans |
| Report | Stadium: Clarence Park |
| 15 February 2004 Semi-finals | AFC Wimbledon | 0–9 | Arsenal | Kingston upon Thames |
| 10:30 GMT | Report | Stadium: Kingsmeadow |
| 7 April 2004 Final | Arsenal | 4–0 | Fulham | East Molesey |
| 19:30 BST | Report | Stadium: Imber Court |
See also
References
- ^ "Gunners clinch league crown". 2004-05-16. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ Cocozza, Paula (2004-05-04). "Arsenal enjoy Fleeting moment". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ^ "Arsenal 3-0 Charlton". 2004-05-03. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ "Fulham and Charlton book places". 2003-12-14. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ^ "Ladies: Arsenal 0-3 Everton - Match report". Ladies: Arsenal 0-3 Everton - Match report. 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ^ "Arsenal Ladies". 2004-05 Arsenal Handbook: Pages 80-81.
- ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2004-02-21. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2003-12-14. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2003-10-11. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2003-10-11. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ a b c "Gunners try SA women". 2003-08-12. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ^ "Arsenal.com - The Official Arsenal Website". www.arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 2004-04-05. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ "Blues make new signings". Worcester News. 2003-07-09. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "Charlton Athletic 8 Aston Villa 2". Archived from the original on 13 August 2011.