1945–46 Manchester United F.C. season

Manchester United
1945–46 season
Chairman	James W. Gibson
Manager	Matt Busby; (unofficial until 1 October 1945, and officially since)
Stadium	Maine Road
War League North Regional League	4th
FA Cup	Fourth Round
Top goalscorer	League: ; n/a; All: ; Jimmy Hanlon (2); Jack Rowley (2); Billy Wrigglesworth (2)
Highest home attendance	36,237 vs Preston North End (26 January 1946)
Lowest home attendance	15,339 vs Accrington Stanley (9 January 1946)
Average home league attendance	25,788
Home colours	Away colours
	← 1944–45 1946–47 →

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

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers
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 v t e	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
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals
GK	Jack Crompton	4	0
FB	Johnny Carey	4	0
FB	John Roach	2	0
FB	Joe Walton	2	0
HB	Allenby Chilton	3	0
HB	Henry Cockburn	4	0
HB	Jack Warner	4	0
HB	Bert Whalley	4	0
FW	Bill Bainbridge	1	1
FW	Jimmy Hanlon	4	2
FW	Jack Rowley	4	2
FW	Jack Smith	4	1
FW	Billy Wrigglesworth	4	2
–	Own goals	–	1

References

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

[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.

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