| Club: | Derby County |
| Season: | 2002–03 |
| Manager: | John Gregory (until 21 March) George Burley (from 31 March) |
| Chairman: | Lionel Pickering |
| Stadium: | Pride Park Stadium |
| League: | First Division |
| League Result: | 18th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Third round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Second round |
| League Topscorer: | Christie (8) |
| Season Topscorer: | Christie (9) |
| Highest Attendance: | 33,016 (vs. Reading, 10 August 2002) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 21,014 (vs. Millwall, 16 April 2003) |
| Average Attendance: | 25,469 |
| Prevseason: | 2001–02 |
| Nextseason: | 2003–04 |
During the 2002–03 English football season, Derby County competed in the Football League First Division, following relegation from the FA Premier League the previous season.
Derby were expected to make a bid for an immediate return to the Premiership, but struggled all season which resulted in manager John Gregory being sacked in March and replaced by former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, who led the team to a secure but disappointing 18th-place finish.
Derby retained the previous season's home kit, manufactured by Italian company Erreà and sponsored by Pedigree.
See main article: article and 2002–03 Football League.
Derby County's score comes first[1]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 2002 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 33,016 | Lee, Ravanelli, Christie | |
| 13 August 2002 | Gillingham | A | 0–1 | 8,775 | ||
| 17 August 2002 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–1 | 5,810 | Bolder (2) | |
| 24 August 2002 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–4 | 29,954 | Christie | |
| 26 August 2002 | Rotherham United | A | 1–2 | 8,408 | Strupar | |
| 31 August 2002 | Stoke City | H | 2–0 | 21,723 | Christie (2) | |
| 7 September 2002 | Burnley | H | 1–2 | 22,343 | Bolder | |
| 14 September 2002 | Leicester City | A | 1–3 | 31,049 | Riggott | |
| 17 September 2002 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–0 | 14,948 | Kinkladze | |
| 21 September 2002 | Preston North End | H | 0–2 | 29,257 | ||
| 28 September 2002 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–0 | 24,439 | Carbonari | |
| 5 October 2002 | Walsall | H | 2–2 | 25,247 | Christie (2) | |
| 12 October 2002 | Bradford City | A | 0–0 | 13,385 | ||
| 20 October 2002 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–0 | 30,547 | ||
| 26 October 2002 | Millwall | A | 0–3 | 8,116 | ||
| 30 October 2002 | Sheffield United | H | 2–1 | 23,525 | McLeod, Burton | |
| 2 November 2002 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–1 | 19,747 | Morris (2), McLeod | |
| 9 November 2002 | Portsmouth | H | 1–2 | 26,587 | Higginbotham (pen) | |
| 16 November 2002 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | 6,845 | ||
| 25 November 2002 | Wimbledon | H | 3–2 | 25,597 | Elliott, Burton, Morris | |
| 30 November 2002 | Norwich City | A | 0–1 | 20,522 | ||
| 7 December 2002 | Watford | H | 3–0 | 21,653 | Morris, Riggott, Burton | |
| 14 December 2002 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | 25,786 | Higginbotham (pen) | |
| 21 December 2002 | Coventry City | A | 0–3 | 13,185 | ||
| 26 December 2002 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–3 | 27,141 | Morris | |
| 28 December 2002 | Reading | A | 1–2 | 16,299 | Burley (pen) | |
| 1 January 2003 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 26,442 | Christie | |
| 11 January 2003 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 22,769 | Zavagno (pen) | |
| 18 January 2003 | Stoke City | A | 3–1 | 17,308 | Christie, Zavagno, Morris | |
| 1 February 2003 | Rotherham United | H | 3–0 | 26,257 | Kinkladze, Bolder, McLeod | |
| 8 February 2003 | Portsmouth | A | 2–6 | 19,503 | Morris, Kinkladze (pen) | |
| 15 February 2003 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–2 | 26,311 | Bolder (2) | |
| 22 February 2003 | Burnley | A | 0–2 | 15,063 | ||
| 1 March 2003 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 24,307 | Burley | |
| 5 March 2003 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–1 | 22,682 | ||
| 8 March 2003 | Preston North End | A | 2–4 | 14,003 | Ravanelli (2) | |
| 15 March 2003 | Bradford City | H | 1–2 | 23,735 | Morris | |
| 19 March 2003 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–3 | 29,725 | ||
| 22 March 2003 | Sheffield United | A | 0–2 | 18,401 | ||
| 5 April 2003 | Norwich City | H | 2–1 | 23,643 | Burley, Kenton (own goal) | |
| 12 April 2003 | Wimbledon | A | 2–0 | 1,934 | Valakari, Boertien | |
| 16 April 2003 | Millwall | H | 1–2 | 21,014 | Kinkladze | |
| 19 April 2003 | Coventry City | H | 1–0 | 23,921 | Ravanelli | |
| 21 April 2003 | Watford | A | 0–2 | 11,909 | ||
| 26 April 2003 | Walsall | A | 2–3 | 8,416 | Valakari, Ravanelli | |
| 4 May 2003 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–4 | 28,785 | Lee |
See main article: article and 2002–03 FA Cup.
| R3 | 4 January 2003 | Brentford | A | 0–1 | 8,709 |
See main article: article and 2002–03 Football League Cup.
| R1 | 10 September 2002 | Mansfield Town | A | 3–1 | 5,788 | Morris, Christie, Evatt | |
| R2 | 2 October 2002 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | 9,029 | Higginbotham (pen) |
Squad at end of season[2]