1944–45 Manchester United F.C. season
| 1944–45 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | James W. Gibson | ||
| Manager | Walter 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
- ^ "Manchester United In War League 1944/45". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ Rollin, Jack (2005). Soccer at War: 1939 - 45. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1431-X.
- ^ "England 1944/45". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 31 December 2011.