In the 1902/03 season, the Wearsiders again dominated, and although their Scottish internationals Doig, McCombie and Watson, who played against England that season, were in fine form, the red and whites lost a crucial game 1 v 0 to Sheffield Wednesday at Roker Park.

Once more the Sunderland supporters took that March defeat badly, not only stoning the referee, but the Sheffield players transport in Roker Baths Road.

For this "indiscretion" Sunderland were banned from playing their next home fixture at Roker, and instead went to St James Park to "entertain" Middlesbrough. 2 victories would ensure the title once more, even though they had failed to win their 2 Easter fixtures.

Sunderland defeated The Boro 2 v 1, in the very first "home" Tees/Wear match, and so the last game of the season, again at St James's, against Newcastle United would decide Sunderlands fate.

In front of League representatives Sunderland were confident of victory, having won all 4 of their previous encounters on Tyneside. However, Bob McCall had the last laugh as the black and whites inflicted a crushing 1 v 0 blow on the Wearsiders. In fact Sunderland slipped to 3rd in the table after Aston Villa won 5 matches in the last 15 days of the season, scoring 15 goals in the process.

On 10 January 1903 Sunderland travelled to Merseyside for a fixture with Liverpool at Anfield. With the game nicely poised at 2 v 2, and Sunderland pressing for a winner, the match was abandoned due to bad light. It was replayed 30 March and ended 1 v 1. The game that sealed Sunderlands league fate was probably the defeat inflicted by Sheffield Wednesday, late March; the Owls would become league champions.

By the end of the season Arthur Bridgett formed a lethal left wing partnership with Gemmell, but due to his religious beliefs refused to play on "holy days" and indeed preached on "the Game of Life". At national level he was a star, capped many times. The most famous thing about him was his shot. His previous club side Stoke City could testify to this when he once broke the net with an effort for Sunderland against them. Bridgett played 11 times for England between 1904 and 1909.