The 1963–64 season was Manchester United's 62nd season in the Football League, and their 19th consecutive season in the top division of English football. United failed to win any major trophies this season, but they made a strong challenge for the three major prizes, finishing second in the league, reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup. A notable debutant this season was 17-year-old Northern Irish forward George Best, whose debut came in the league against West Bromwich Albion on 14 September 1963. The highly promising Best turned out a total of 17 times for United that season, scoring four goals. Striker Denis Law had an outstanding season, scoring 30 goals in the league and a total of 46 in all competitions, which is still the club record.
FA Charity Shield
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance17 August 1963EvertonA0–454,840
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance24 August 1963Sheffield WednesdayA3–3Charlton (2), Moir32,17728 August 1963Ipswich TownH2–0Law (2)39,92131 August 1963EvertonH5–1Chisnall (2), Law (2), Sadler62,9653 September 1963Ipswich TownA7–2Law (3), Chisnall, Moir, Sadler, Setters28,1137 September 1963Birmingham CityA1–1Chisnall36,87411 September 1963BlackpoolH3–0Charlton (2), Law47,40014 September 1963West Bromwich AlbionH1–0Sadler50,45316 September 1963BlackpoolA0–129,80621 September 1963ArsenalA1–2Herd56,77628 September 1963Leicester CityH3–1Herd (2), Setters41,3742 October 1963ChelseaA1–1Setters45,3515 October 1963Bolton WanderersA1–0Herd35,87219 October 1963Nottingham ForestA2–1Chisnall, Quixall41,42626 October 1963West Ham UnitedH0–145,12028 October 1963Blackburn RoversH2–2Quixall (2)41,1692 November 1963Wolverhampton WanderersA0–234,1599 November 1963Tottenham HotspurH4–1Law (3), Herd57,41316 November 1963Aston VillaA0–436,27623 November 1963LiverpoolH0–154,65430 November 1963Sheffield UnitedA2–1Law (2)30,6157 December 1963Stoke CityH5–2Law (4), Herd52,23214 December 1963Sheffield WednesdayH3–1Herd (3)35,13921 December 1963EvertonA0–448,02726 December 1963BurnleyA1–6Herd35,76428 December 1963BurnleyH5–1Herd (2), Moore (2), Best47,83411 January 1964Birmingham CityH1–2Sadler44,69518 January 1964West Bromwich AlbionA4–1Law (2), Best, Charlton25,6241 February 1964ArsenalH3–1Herd, Law, Setters48,3408 February 1964Leicester CityA2–3Herd, Law35,53819 February 1964Bolton WanderersH5–0Best (2), Herd (2), Charlton33,92622 February 1964Blackburn RoversA3–1Law (2), Chisnall36,7267 March 1964West Ham UnitedA2–0Herd, Sadler27,02721 March 1964Tottenham HotspurA3–2Charlton, Law, Moore56,39223 March 1964ChelseaH1–1Law42,93127 March 1964FulhamA2–2Herd, Law41,76928 March 1964Wolverhampton WanderersH2–2Charlton, Herd44,47030 March 1964FulhamH3–0Crerand, Foulkes, Herd42,2794 April 1964LiverpoolA0–352,5596 April 1964Aston VillaH1–0Law25,84813 April 1964Sheffield UnitedH2–1Law, Moir27,58718 April 1964Stoke CityA1–3Charlton45,67025 April 1964Nottingham ForestH3–1Law (2), Moore31,671
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance4 January 1964Round 3SouthamptonA3–2Crerand, Herd, Moore29,16425 January 1964Round 4Bristol RoversH4–1Law (3), Herd55,77215 February 1964Round 5BarnsleyA4–0Law (2), Best, Herd38,07629 February 1964Round 6SunderlandH3–3Best, Charlton, own goal63,7004 March 1964Round 6ReplaySunderlandA2–2Charlton, Law68,0009 March 1964Round 62nd ReplaySunderlandN5–1Law (3), Chisnall, Herd54,95214 March 1964Semi-finalWest Ham UnitedN1–3Law65,000
European Cup Winners' Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance25 September 1963First roundFirst legWillem IIA1–1Herd20,00015 October 1963First roundSecond legWillem IIH6–1Law (3), Charlton, Chisnall, Setters46,2723 December 1963Second roundFirst legTottenham HotspurA0–257,44710 December 1963Second roundSecond legTottenham HotspurH4–1Charlton (2), Herd (2)50,00026 February 1964Quarter-finalFirst legSporting CPH4–1Law (3), Charlton60,00018 March 1964Quarter-finalSecond legSporting CPA0–540,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupCup Winners' CupOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK David Gaskell170704010290GK Harry Gregg250002000270FB Shay Brennan170502000240FB Noel Cantwell280204010350FB Tony Dunne400706010540HB Paddy Crerand411716010552HB Bill Foulkes411706010551HB Maurice Setters324706110465HB Nobby Stiles170202000210HB Wilf Tranter1000000010FW Willie Anderson2010000030FW George Best174722000266FW Bobby Charlton4097264105415FW Phil Chisnall206414100288FW Johnny Giles0000001010FW David Herd30207463104427FW Denis Law303061056104246FW Ian Moir183000000183FW Graham Moore184110000195FW Albert Quixall93003010133FW David Sadler195002000215
References