The 1946–47 season was Manchester United's 45th season in the Football League and second back in the First Division since their promotion from the Second Division in 1938. It was the first season of Football League action following the end of World War II, and the club's first in the league under the management of Matt Busby. United failed to end their wait for a major trophy which began in 1911, but they had their best season since then, finishing runners-up in the First Division behind Liverpool.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance31 August 1946Grimsby TownH2–1 Mitten, Rowley41,0254 September 1946ChelseaA3–0 Mitten, Pearson, Rowley27,7507 September 1946Charlton AthleticA3–1 Hanlon, Rowley, own goal44,08811 September 1946LiverpoolH5–0 Pearson (3), Mitten, Rowley41,65714 September 1946MiddlesbroughH1–0 Rowley65,11218 September 1946ChelseaH1–1 Chilton30,27521 September 1946Stoke CityA2–3 Delaney, Hanlon41,69928 September 1946ArsenalH5–2 Hanlon (2), Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth62,7185 October 1946Preston North EndH1–1 Wrigglesworth55,39512 October 1946Sheffield UnitedA2–2 Rowley (2)35,54319 October 1946BlackpoolA1–3 Delaney26,30726 October 1946SunderlandH0–3 48,3852 November 1946Aston VillaA0–0 53,6689 November 1946Derby CountyH4–1 Pearson (2), Mitten, Rowley57,34016 November 1946EvertonA2–2 Pearson, Rowley45,83223 November 1946Huddersfield TownH5–2 Mitten (2), Morris (2), Rowley39,21630 November 1946Wolverhampton WanderersA2–3 Hanlon, Delaney46,7047 December 1946BrentfordH4–1 Rowley (3), Mitten31,96214 December 1946Blackburn RoversA1–2 Morris21,45525 December 1946Bolton WanderersA2–2 Rowley (2)28,50526 December 1946Bolton WanderersH1–0 Pearson57,18628 December 1946Grimsby TownA0–0 17,1834 January 1947Charlton AthleticH4–1 Burke (2), Buckle, Pearson43,40618 January 1947MiddlesbroughA4–2 Pearson (2), Buckle, Morris37,4351 February 1947ArsenalA2–6 Morris, Pearson29,4155 February 1947Stoke CityH1–1 Buckle8,45622 February 1947BlackpoolH3–0 Rowley (2), Hanlon29,9931 March 1947SunderlandA1–1 Delaney25,0388 March 1947Aston VillaH2–1 Burke, Pearson36,96515 March 1947Derby CountyA3–4 Burke (2), Pearson19,57922 March 1947EvertonH3–0 Burke, Delaney, Warner43,44129 March 1947Huddersfield TownA2–2 Delaney, Pearson18,5095 April 1947Wolverhampton WanderersH3–1 Rowley (2), Hanlon66,9677 April 1947Leeds UnitedH3–1 Burke (2), Hanlon41,7728 April 1947Leeds UnitedA2–0 Burke, McGlen15,52812 April 1947BrentfordA0–0 21,71419 April 1947Blackburn RoversH4–0 Pearson (2), Rowley, own goal46,19626 April 1947PortsmouthA1–0 Delaney30,6233 May 1947LiverpoolA0–1 48,80010 May 1947Preston North EndA1–1 Pearson23,27817 May 1947PortsmouthH3–0 Mitten, Morris, Rowley37,61426 May 1947Sheffield UnitedH6–2 Rowley (3), Morris (2), Pearson34,059
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance11 January 1947Round 3Bradford Park AvenueA3–0Rowley (2), Buckle26,99025 January 1947Round 4Nottingham ForestH0–234,059
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Cliff Collinson700070GK Jack Crompton29010300GK Bill Fielding601070FB John Aston, Sr.21020230FB Johnny Carey31020330FB Joe Walton15000150FB Harry Worrall100010HB Allenby Chilton41120431HB Henry Cockburn32000320HB Billy McGlen33120351HB Jack Warner34120361HB Bert Whalley300030FW Ted Buckle532174FW Ronnie Burke13900139FW Jimmy Delaney37820398FW Jimmy Hanlon27700277FW Charlie Mitten20800208FW Johnny Morris24820268FW Stan Pearson4219204419FW Jack Rowley3726223928FW Billy Wrigglesworth420042–Own goals–2–0–2
References