1944–45 Manchester United F.C. season

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

Manchester United

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
Home colours Away colours

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:

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:

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.