1944–45 Manchester United F.C. season

Manchester United
1944–45 season
ChairmanJames W. Gibson
ManagerWalter Crickmer
(until 15 February 1945)
Matt Busby
(from 19 February 1945)
War League North
Regional League
First Championship		30th
War League North
Regional League
Second Championship		9th

The 1944–45 season was Manchester United's sixth season in the non-competitive War League during the Second World War.[1][2][3]

On 15 February 1945, United manager Walter Crickmer had resigned and four days later on 19 February 1945, the Scottish manager Matt Busby was signed, but it was not until 1 October that Busby officially took over at the club.

Many of Manchester United's players went off to fight in the war, but for those who remained, the Football League organised a special War League.

War League North Regional League First Championship

Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A 		Scorers Attendance
26 August 1944 Everton A 2–1 Mycock, Currier
2 September 1944 Everton H 1–3 Bryant
9 September 1944 Stockport County H 3–4 Mycock (2), Bryant
16 September 1944 Stockport County A 4–4 Mycock (2), Bryant, Smith
23 September 1944 Bury H 2–2 Mycock, Walton
30 September 1944 Bury A 2–4 McCock, Woodcock
7 October 1944 Chester A 0–2
14 October 1944 Chester H 1–0 Freer
21 October 1944 Tranmere Rovers H 6–1 Mycock (2), Bryant, Chadwick, Dougan, Mitten
28 October 1944 Tranmere Rovers A 4–2 Bryant (2), Mycock, own goal
4 November 1944 Liverpool A 2–3 Mycock, Woodcock
11 November 1944 Liverpool H 2–5 Mitten, Mycock
18 November 1944 Manchester City H 3–2 Morris (2), Mycock
25 November 1944 Manchester City A 0–4
2 December 1944 Crewe Alexandra A 4–1 Bryant (2), Chadwick, Mycock
9 December 1944 Crewe Alexandra H 2–0 Bowden, Morris
16 December 1944 Wrexham H 1–0 Ireland
23 December 1944 Wrexham A 1–2 Morris
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
29 Blackburn Rovers 18 7 4 7 30 29 1.034 18
30 Manchester United 18 8 2 8 40 40 1.000 18
31 Preston North End 18 7 4 7 26 28 0.929 18
Source: [citation needed]

War League North Regional League Second Championship

Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A 		Scorers Attendance
26 December 1944 Sheffield United A 4–3 Morris (2), Bainbridge, Chadwick
30 December 1944 Oldham Athletic A 4–3 Mycock (2), Chadwick, Smith
6 January 1945 Huddersfield Town H 1–0 Smith
13 January 1945 Huddersfield Town A 2–2 Cockburn, Smith
3 February 1945 Manchester City H 1–3 Mitten
10 February 1945 Manchester City A 0–2
17 February 1945 Bury H 2–0 Mitten, Whalley
24 February 1945 Bury A 1–3 Bainbridge
3 March 1945 Oldham Athletic H 3–2 Chadwick, Rowley, Whalley
10 March 1945 Halifax Town A 0–1
17 March 1945 Halifax Town H 2–0 Chadwick, Roach
24 March 1945 Burnley A 3–2 Rowley (2), Chadwick
31 March 1945 Burnley H 4–0 Smith (3), Bryant
2 April 1945 Blackpool A 1–4
7 April 1945 Stoke City H 6–1 Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth (2), Bryant, Smith
14 April 1945 Stoke City A 4–1 Bryant (2), McCulloch, own goal
21 April 1945 Doncaster Rovers A 2–1 Bellis, Smith
28 April 1945 Doncaster Rovers H 3–1 Wrigglesworth (3)
5 May 1945 Chesterfield H 1–1 Bellis
12 May 1945 Chesterfield A 1–0 McDowell
19 May 1945 Bolton Wanderers A 0–1
26 May 1945 Bolton Wanderers H 2–2 Bryant, Wrigglesworth
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 11 7 6 45 31 1.452 29
9 Manchester United 22 13 3 6 47 33 1.424 29
10 Darlington 24 13 3 8 61 45 1.356 29
Source: [citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Manchester United In War League 1944/45". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack (2005). Soccer at War: 1939 - 45. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1431-X.
  3. ^ "England 1944/45". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 31 December 2011.