The winners were Bristol City and the runners-up were Carlisle United.
The competition began on 22 October 2002 and ended with the final on 6 April 2003 at the Millennium Stadium.
In the following rounds each section gradually eliminates teams in knock-out fashion until each has a winning finalist.
At this point, the two winning finalists face each other in the combined final for the honour of the trophy.
Barnsley and Macclesfield Town were given byes to the second round.