The 2002-03 campaign delivered a year of respectable mid-table consolidation for Preston North End, with The Lilywhites securing 12th place in the First Division under the guidance of manager Craig Brown. Spearheading the attack was the prolific forward Richard Cresswell, whose crucial 16 goals anchored a season that also featured the attacking threat of Ricardo Fuller and David Healy. The campaign, which saw the side reach the Fourth Round of the League Cup, marked a solid chapter for the club as they sought to establish themselves in the division, laying a foundation for the future of The Lilywhites.