1945–46 Manchester United F.C. season


The 1945–46 season was Manchester United's seventh and last season in the non-competitive War League during the Second World War. 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.
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

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A		ScorersAttendance
25 August 1945Huddersfield TownA2–3Smith
1 September 1945Huddersfield TownH2–3Koffman, Rowley
8 September 1945ChesterfieldH0–2
12 September 1945MiddlesbroughA1–2Davie
15 September 1945ChesterfieldA1–1Bryant
20 September 1945Stoke CityA2–1Hullett, Reid
22 September 1945BarnsleyA2–2Cockburn, Hullett
29 September 1945BarnsleyH1–1Smith
6 October 1945EvertonH0–0
13 October 1945EvertonA0–3
20 October 1945Bolton WanderersA1–1Wrigglesworth
27 October 1945Bolton WanderersH2–1Carey, Worrall
3 November 1945Preston North EndH6–1Rowley, Smith, Warner, Worrall
10 November 1945Preston North EndA2–2Bainbridge, Smith
17 November 1945Leeds UnitedA3–3Hanlon, Buckle
24 November 1945Leeds UnitedH6–1Buckle, Wrigglesworth, Hanlon, Rowley
1 December 1945BurnleyH3–3Hullett
8 December 1945BurnleyA2–2Hanlon, Smith
15 December 1945SunderlandH2–1Smith
22 December 1945SunderlandA2–4Smith, Wrigglesworth
25 December 1945Sheffield UnitedA0–1
26 December 1945Sheffield UnitedH2–3Carey, Hullett
29 December 1945MiddlesbroughH4–1Rowley, Smith
12 January 1946Grimsby TownH5–0Rowley, Bainbridge, Smith
19 January 1946Grimsby TownA0–1
2 February 1946BlackpoolH4–2Rowley, Bainbridge, Wrigglesworth
9 February 1946LiverpoolH2–1Smith
16 February 1946LiverpoolA5–0Hanlon, Rowley, Wrigglesworth
23 February 1946BuryA1–1Hanlon
2 March 1946BuryH1–1Hanlon
9 March 1946Blackburn RoversH6–2Rowley, Hanlon, Delaney
16 March 1946Blackburn RoversA3–1Smith, Pearson
23 March 1946BradfordA1–2Carey
27 March 1946BlackpoolA5–1Pearson, Carey, Wrigglesworth
30 March 1946BradfordH4–0Aston, Delaney, Rowley, Wrigglesworth
6 April 1946Manchester CityH1–4Aston
13 April 1946Manchester CityA3–1Hanlon, Pearson, Rowley
19 April 1946Newcastle UnitedA1–0Pearson
20 April 1946Sheffield WednesdayH4–0Pearson, Delaney, Rowley
22 April 1946Newcastle UnitedH4–1Delaney, Mitten, Rowley, Wrigglesworth
27 April 1946Sheffield WednesdayA0–1
4 May 1946Stoke CityH2–1Buckle, Pearson

Club
3Bolton Wanderers4220111167451.4951
4Manchester United4219111298621.5849
5Sheffield Wednesday422081467601.1248

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points

FA Cup

Squad statistics