It was contested by Burscough and Tamworth on 18 May 2003 at Villa Park in Birmingham.

Burscough won the match 2–1 to win the competition for the first time in their history.

[2] As Tamworth were a Southern Football League club (they won the league in 2003 and secured promotion to the Football Conference),[3] they entered the competition in the second round.

Tamworth's cup run started with a home tie against their league rivals, Accrington Stanley.

In the third round, the team was drawn at home against local rivals Nuneaton Borough, in which they won the game 3–0.