The 1905–06 season was Manchester United's 14th season in the Football League. United finished second in the Second Division and gained promotion to the Football League First Division for the 1906–07 season. In the FA Cup, United reached the fourth round, where they were defeated by Woolwich Arsenal.
Second Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance2 September 1905Bristol CityH5–1Sagar (3), Beddow, Picken25,0004 September 1905BlackpoolH2–1Peddie (2)7,0009 September 1905Grimsby TownA1–0Sagar6,00016 September 1905GlossopA2–1Bell, Beddow7,00023 September 1905Stockport CountyH3–1Peddie (2), Sagar15,00030 September 1905BlackpoolA1–0Roberts7,0007 October 1905Bradford CityH0–017,00014 October 1905West Bromwich AlbionA0–115,00021 October 1905Leicester FosseH3–2Peddie (2), Sagar12,00025 October 1905Gainsborough TrinityA2–2Bonthron (2)4,00028 October 1905Hull CityA1–0Picken14,0004 November 1905Lincoln CityH2–1Picken, Roberts15,00011 November 1905ChesterfieldA0–115,00018 November 1905Burslem Port ValeH3–0Beddow, Peddie, own goal8,00025 November 1905BarnsleyA3–0Beddow, Picken, own goal3,0002 December 1905Clapton OrientH4–0Peddie (2), Picken (2)12,0009 December 1905BurnleyA3–1Beddow, Peddie, Picken8,00023 December 1905Burton UnitedA2–0Schofield (2)5,00025 December 1905ChelseaH0–035,00030 December 1905Bristol CityA1–1Roberts18,0006 January 1906Grimsby TownH5–0Beddow (3), Picken (2)10,00015 January 1906Leeds CityH0–36,00020 January 1906GlossopH5–2Picken (2), Beddow, Peddie, Williams7,00027 January 1906Stockport CountyA1–0Peddie15,00010 February 1906Bradford CityA5–1Beddow (2), Roberts, Schofield, Wombwell8,00017 February 1906West Bromwich AlbionH0–030,0003 March 1906Hull CityH5–0Picken (2), Peddie, Sagar, Schofield30,00017 March 1906ChesterfieldH4–1Picken (3), Sagar16,00024 March 1906Burslem Port ValeA0–13,00029 March 1906Leicester FosseA5–2Peddie (3), Picken, Sagar5,00031 March 1906BarnsleyH5–1Sagar (3), Bell, Picken15,0007 April 1906Clapton OrientA1–0Wall8,00013 April 1906ChelseaA1–1Sagar60,00014 April 1906BurnleyH1–0Sagar12,00016 April 1906Gainsborough TrinityH2–0Allan (2)20,00021 April 1906Leeds CityA3–1Allan, Peddie, Wombwell15,00025 April 1906Lincoln CityA3–2Allan (2), Wall1,50028 April 1906Burton UnitedH6–0Sagar (2), Picken (2), Peddie, Wall16,000
FA Cup Manchester United entered the 1905–06 FA Cup at the first round proper stage and were drawn at home to Staple Hill on 13 January 1906. United dominated the match, winning 7–2 with a hat-trick from Clem Beddow and two goals from Jack Picken; Jack Allan and Harry Williams scored the other two goals. In the second round, United were drawn at home to Norwich City on 3 February 1906. Harry Moger kept the Canaries off the score sheet, while United saw goals from Alex Downie, Jack Peddie and Charlie Sagar. The Reds then faced Aston Villa at home in the third round stage on 24 February. 35,500 fans watched United defeat Villa 5–1 to reach the fourth round for the first time in their history; Picken scored a hat-trick for United, while Sagar scored two goals. United were drawn at home to Woolwich Arsenal in the fourth round. The match was played on 10 March, but goals by Peddie and Sagar would not be enough, as Arsenal advanced the next round with three goals of their own.
DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance13 January 1906First roundStaple HillH7–2Beddow (3), Picken (2), Allan, Williams7,5603 February 1906Second roundNorwich CityH3–0Downie, Peddie, Sagar10,00024 February 1906Third roundAston VillaH5–1Picken (3), Sagar (2)35,50010 March 1906Fourth roundWoolwich ArsenalH2–3 Peddie, Sagar26,500
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Harry Moger27040310GK Bob Valentine800080GK Archie Montgomery300030FB Tommy Blackstock21000210FB Horace Blew100010FB Bob Bonthron26240302FB Dick Holden27040310HB Alex Bell36240402HB Alex Downie34041381HB Dick Duckworth10000100HB Charlie Roberts (c)34440384FW Jack Allan551166FW Tommy Arkesden700070FW Clem Beddow2111102211FW Bernard Donaghy300030FW Jimmy Dyer100010FW George Lyons200020FW Jack Peddie3418323720FW Jack Picken3320453725FW Alex Robertson100010FW Charlie Sagar2016342320FW Alf Schofield23440274FW George Wall630063FW Harry Williams10121122FW Dick Wombwell25220272
References