The 1958–59 season was Manchester United's 57th season in the Football League, and their 14th consecutive season in the top division of English football. It was the first season of a revamped United side which was being rebuilt following the Munich air disaster in the February of the previous season which had claimed the lives of eight players. The most notable addition to the squad for the new season as forward Albert Quixall, a pre-season signing from Sheffield Wednesday.
The season saw the retirement of centre-half Jackie Blanchflower as a result of the injuries he suffered in the Munich crash.
Munich crash survivor Bobby Charlton was United's top scorer this season with 29 league goals, while fellow survivor Albert Scanlon was also impressive with 16 goals from the left wing.
The new look United side finished second in the league this season.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition23 August 1958ChelseaH5–2Charlton (3), Dawson (2)52,3825th27 August 1958Nottingham ForestA3–0Charlton (2), Scanlon44,9712nd30 August 1958BlackpoolA1–2Viollet26,7196th3 September 1958Nottingham ForestH1–1Charlton 51,8807th6 September 1958Blackburn RoversH6–1 Charlton (2), Viollet (2), Scanlon, Webster65,1872nd8 September 1958West Ham UnitedA2–3 McGuinness, Webster35,6725th13 September 1958Newcastle UnitedA1–1 Charlton60,6707th17 September 1958West Ham UnitedH4–1 Scanlon (3), Webster 53,2767th20 September 1958Tottenham HotspurH2–2 Webster (2) 62,2774th27 September 1958Manchester CityA1–1 Charlton 62,9126th4 October 1958Wolverhampton WanderersA0–4 36,8408th8 October 1958Preston North EndH0–2 46,1638th11 October 1958ArsenalH1–1 Viollet 56,1487th18 October 1958EvertonA2–3 Cope (2) 64,07910th25 October 1958West Bromwich AlbionH1–2 Goodwin 51,72114th1 November 1958Leeds UnitedA2–1 Goodwin, Scanlon 48,57412th8 November 1958BurnleyH1–3 Quixall 48,50914th15 November 1958Bolton WanderersA3–6 Dawson (2), Charlton 33,35815th22 November 1958Luton TownH2–1 Charlton, Viollet 42,42812th29 November 1958Birmingham CityA4–0 Charlton (2), Bradley, Scanlon 28,65810th6 December 1958Leicester CityH4–1 Charlton, Bradley, Scanlon, Viollet 38,4829th13 December 1958Preston North EndA4–3 Charlton, Bradley, Scanlon, Viollet 26,2908th20 December 1958ChelseaA3–2 Charlton, Goodwin, own goal48,5507th26 December 1958Aston VillaH2–1 Quixall, Viollet 63,0987th27 December 1958Aston VillaA2–0 Pearson, Viollet 56,4504th3 January 1959BlackpoolH3–1 Charlton (2), Viollet 61,9613rd31 January 1959Newcastle UnitedH4–4 Charlton, Quixall, Scanlon, Viollet 49,0084th7 February 1959Tottenham HotspurA3–1Charlton (2), Scanlon48,4013rd16 February 1959Manchester CityH4–1Bradley (2), Goodwin, Scanlon59,8463rd21 February 1959Wolverhampton WanderersH2–1Charlton, Viollet62,7942nd28 February 1959ArsenalA2–3Bradley, Viollet67,1623rd2 March 1959Blackburn RoversA3–1Bradley (2), Scanlon40,4013rd7 March 1959EvertonH2–1Goodwin, Scanlon51,2542nd14 March 1959West Bromwich AlbionA3–1Bradley, Scanlon, Viollet35,4632nd21 March 1959Leeds UnitedH4–0Viollet (3), Charlton45,4732nd27 March 1959PortsmouthH6–1Charlton (2), Viollet (2), Bradley, own goal52,0041st28 March 1959BurnleyA2–4Goodwin, Viollet44,5772nd30 March 1959PortsmouthA3–1Charlton (2), Bradley29,3591st4 April 1959Bolton WanderersH3–0Charlton, Scanlon, Viollet61,5282nd11 April 1959Luton TownA0–027,0252nd18 April 1959Birmingham CityH1–0Quixall43,0062nd25 April 1959Leicester CityA1–2Bradley38,4662nd
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance10 January 1959Round 3Norwich CityA0–338,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Harry Gregg41010420GK Ray Wood100010FB Joe Carolan23010240FB Bill Foulkes32010330FB Ian Greaves34000340HB Shay Brennan100010HB Ronnie Cope32210332HB Stan Crowther200020HB Freddie Goodwin42610436HB Bobby Harrop500050HB Wilf McGuinness39110401FW Warren Bradley2412102512FW Bobby Charlton3829103929FW Alex Dawson11400114FW Reg Hunter100010FW Kenny Morgans200020FW Mark Pearson410041FW Albert Quixall33410344FW Albert Scanlon4216104316FW Ernie Taylor11000110FW Dennis Viollet3721103821FW Colin Webster750075–Own goals–2–0–2
References