2003–04 Derby County F.C. season

With no money for players and the need to slash the club's wage bill, big names such as Fabrizio Ravanelli, Georgi Kinkladze and Craig Burley left the club with the gaps of their departure shored up by free signings; Candido Costa was taken on a season long loan whilst seven others – including Mathias Svensson and Leon Osman – were recruited on short term loans, as Derby used a club record 36 different players in the course of the season.There was also the continued introduction of academy players to the side, with Tom Huddlestone and Marcus Tudgay making significant contributions alongside players such as Lee Grant and Lee Holmes.Burley achieved safety against a background of boardroom uncertainty – Chairman Lionel Pickering, after putting temporary faith in former Coventry City chairman Bryan Richardson and a notional £30m bond, was removed from the chair after the club temporarily entered receivership by The Co-operative Bank, who instantly installed a new board composed of John Sleightholme, Jeremy Keith and Steve Harding, for the cost of £1 each.Derby County's score comes first[1] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Derby CountyLionel PickeringJohn SleightholmeGeorge BurleyPride Park StadiumFirst DivisionFA CupCarling CupIan Taylor2002–032004–05Derby County F.C.MillwallFabrizio RavanelliGeorgi KinkladzeCraig BurleyCandido CostaMathias SvenssonLeon OsmanTom HuddlestoneMarcus TudgayCoventry CityreceivershipThe Co-operative BankJeremy Keith2003–04 Football LeagueCrewe AlexandraBurnleyGillinghamWalsallFootball League OneStoke CityReadingTaylorSvenssonCardiff CityWest Bromwich AlbionJúniorWatfordSunderlandNottingham ForestBradford CityMorrisWest Ham UnitedWigan AthleticCrystal PalaceZavagnoNorwich CityHolmesPreston North EndIpswich TownKennedyDichioWimbledonHerzigTudgayRotherham UnitedVincentEdwardsSheffield UnitedMcLeodJohnsonPeschisolidoBolder2003–04 FA Cup2003–04 Football League CupHuddersfield TownAndy OakesRob EdwardsAston VillaJamie VincentDave WaltonJeff KennaPablo MillscaptainCândido CostaMichael JohnsonPaul PeschisolidoLee GrantRichard JacksonAdam BolderYoul MawénéPaul BoertienIzale McLeodNathan DoyleLewis HuntGary TwiggMarco ReichLee CampChris PalmerLee HolmesGianfranco LabartheEvertonJosé JúniorNoel WhelanWarren BartonQueens Park RangersLuciano ZavagnoA.C. AnconaSteve ElliottBlackpoolLee BradburyPortsmouthDanny DichioLee MorrisLeicester CitySimo ValakariFC DallasAdam MurrayBurton AlbionDrogheda UnitedGary CaldwellNewcastle UnitedPeter KennedyCharlton AthleticMadeleyEnglandNottinghamJamaicaNorthern IrelandDerby County Football ClubThe clubHistory1884–19671967–presentSeasonsPlayersPlayer of the YearManagersRecords and statisticsHead to HeadEuropeReserves and AcademyRacecourse GroundBaseball GroundThe Damned UtdThe Damned UnitedNottingham Forest rivalryBrian Clough TrophyLeicester City rivalryDerbyshire FA Centenary CupDerby County WomenDerby County F.C. seasons1888–891945–461952–531967–681968–691969–701970–711971–721972–731973–741974–751986–871989–901990–911991–921992–931993–941994–951995–961996–971997–981998–991999–20002000–012001–022005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–212021–222022–232023–242024–252003–04 in English footballUEFA Euro 2004QualificationGroup BKnockout stageSven-Göran ErikssonPremier LeagueFootball LeagueSecond DivisionThird Divisionplay-offs