1945–46 Manchester United F.C. season

Manchester United
1945–46 season
ChairmanJames W. Gibson
ManagerMatt Busby
(unofficial until 1 October 1945, and officially since)
StadiumMaine Road
War League North Regional League4th
FA CupFourth Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
n/a
All:
Jimmy Hanlon (2)
Jack Rowley (2)
Billy Wrigglesworth (2)
Highest home attendance36,237 vs Preston North End (26 January 1946)
Lowest home attendance15,339 vs Accrington Stanley (9 January 1946)
Average home league attendance25,788

The 1945–46 season was Manchester United's seventh and last season in the non-competitive War League during the Second World War.[1][2][3] With the ending of the war, the FA Cup returned in January 1946, with Manchester United losing 3–2 on aggregate to Preston North End in the Fourth Round.[4]

Matt Busby had been appointed as the successor to Walter Crickmer as manager in February 1945, and officially took over the position on 1 October, following his demobilisation from the British Army. He was joined by head coach Jimmy Murphy in early 1946.

War League North Regional League

Main article: Football League North and South
Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A 		Scorers Attendance
25 August 1945 Huddersfield Town A 2–3 Smith (2)
1 September 1945 Huddersfield Town H 2–3 Koffman, Rowley
8 September 1945 Chesterfield H 0–2
12 September 1945 Middlesbrough A 1–2 Davie
15 September 1945 Chesterfield A 1–1 Bryant
20 September 1945 Stoke City A 2–1 Hullett, Reid
22 September 1945 Barnsley A 2–2 Cockburn, Hullett
29 September 1945 Barnsley H 1–1 Smith
6 October 1945 Everton H 0–0
13 October 1945 Everton A 0–3
20 October 1945 Bolton Wanderers A 1–1 Wrigglesworth
27 October 1945 Bolton Wanderers H 2–1 Carey, Worrall
3 November 1945 Preston North End H 6–1 Rowley (2), Smith, Warner, Worrall
10 November 1945 Preston North End A 2–2 Bainbridge, Smith
17 November 1945 Leeds United A 3–3 Hanlon (2), Buckle
24 November 1945 Leeds United H 6–1 Buckle (2), Wrigglesworth (2), Hanlon, Rowley
1 December 1945 Burnley H 3–3 Hullett (3)
8 December 1945 Burnley A 2–2 Hanlon, Smith
15 December 1945 Sunderland H 2–1 Smith (2)
22 December 1945 Sunderland A 2–4 Smith, Wrigglesworth
25 December 1945 Sheffield United A 0–1
26 December 1945 Sheffield United H 2–3 Carey, Hullett
29 December 1945 Middlesbrough H 4–1 Rowley (2), Smith (2)
12 January 1946 Grimsby Town H 5–0 Rowley (3), Bainbridge, Smith
19 January 1946 Grimsby Town A 0–1
2 February 1946 Blackpool H 4–2 Rowley (2), Bainbridge, Wrigglesworth
9 February 1946 Liverpool H 2–1 Smith (2)
16 February 1946 Liverpool A 5–0 Hanlon (2), Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth
23 February 1946 Bury A 1–1 Hanlon
2 March 1946 Bury H 1–1 Hanlon
9 March 1946 Blackburn Rovers H 6–2 Rowley (3), Hanlon (2), Delaney
16 March 1946 Blackburn Rovers A 3–1 Smith (2), Pearson
23 March 1946 Bradford A 1–2 Carey
27 March 1946 Blackpool A 5–1 Pearson (3), Carey, Wrigglesworth
30 March 1946 Bradford H 4–0 Aston, Delaney, Rowley, Wrigglesworth
6 April 1946 Manchester City H 1–4 Aston
13 April 1946 Manchester City A 3–1 Hanlon, Pearson, Rowley
19 April 1946 Newcastle United A 1–0 Pearson
20 April 1946 Sheffield Wednesday H 4–0 Pearson (2), Delaney, Rowley
22 April 1946 Newcastle United H 4–1 Delaney, Mitten, Rowley, Wrigglesworth
27 April 1946 Sheffield Wednesday A 0–1
4 May 1946 Stoke City H 2–1 Buckle, Pearson

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
2 Everton 42 23 9 10 88 54 1.630 55
3 Bolton Wanderers 42 20 11 11 67 45 1.489 51
4 Manchester United 42 19 11 12 98 62 1.581 49
5 Sheffield Wednesday 42 20 8 14 67 60 1.117 48
6 Newcastle United 42 21 5 16 106 70 1.514 47
Source: rsssf.com

FA Cup

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A 		Scorers Attendance
5 January 1946 Round 3
First leg 		Accrington Stanley A 2–2 Smith, Wrigglesworth 9,968
9 January 1946 Round 3
Second leg 		Accrington Stanley H 5–1 Rowley (2), Bainbridge, Wrigglesworth, own goal 15,339
26 January 1946 Round 4
First leg 		Preston North End H 1–0 Hanlon 36,237
30 January 1946 Round 4
Second leg 		Preston North End A 1–3 Hanlon 21,000

Squad statistics

Pos. Name FA Cup
Apps Goals
GK England Jack Crompton 4 0
FB Republic of Ireland Johnny Carey 4 0
FB Republic of Ireland John Roach 2 0
FB England Joe Walton 2 0
HB England Allenby Chilton 3 0
HB England Henry Cockburn 4 0
HB Wales Jack Warner 4 0
HB England Bert Whalley 4 0
FW England Bill Bainbridge 1 1
FW England Jimmy Hanlon 4 2
FW England Jack Rowley 4 2
FW England Jack Smith 4 1
FW England Billy Wrigglesworth 4 2
– Own goals – 1

References

  1. ^ "Manchester United In War League 1945/46". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack (2005). Soccer at War: 1939 - 45. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7553-1431-7.
  3. ^ "England 1945/46". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Manchester United Season 1945–46". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2012.