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 / AResultF–AScorersAttendance25 August 1945 Huddersfield TownA2–3Smith (2)1 September 1945 Huddersfield TownH2–3Koffman, Rowley8 September 1945 ChesterfieldH0–212 September 1945 MiddlesbroughA1–2Davie15 September 1945 ChesterfieldA1–1Bryant20 September 1945 Stoke CityA2–1Hullett, Reid22 September 1945BarnsleyA2–2Cockburn, Hullett29 September 1945 BarnsleyH1–1Smith6 October 1945 EvertonH0–013 October 1945 EvertonA0–320 October 1945 Bolton WanderersA1–1Wrigglesworth27 October 1945 Bolton WanderersH2–1Carey, Worrall3 November 1945 Preston North EndH6–1Rowley (2), Smith, Warner, Worrall10 November 1945 Preston North EndA2–2Bainbridge, Smith17 November 1945 Leeds UnitedA3–3Hanlon (2), Buckle24 November 1945 Leeds UnitedH6–1Buckle (2), Wrigglesworth (2), Hanlon, Rowley1 December 1945 BurnleyH3–3Hullett (3)8 December 1945 BurnleyA2–2Hanlon, Smith15 December 1945 SunderlandH2–1Smith (2)22 December 1945 SunderlandA2–4Smith, Wrigglesworth25 December 1945 Sheffield UnitedA0–126 December 1945 Sheffield UnitedH2–3Carey, Hullett29 December 1945 MiddlesbroughH4–1Rowley (2), Smith (2)12 January 1946 Grimsby TownH5–0Rowley (3), Bainbridge, Smith19 January 1946 Grimsby TownA0–12 February 1946 BlackpoolH4–2Rowley (2), Bainbridge, Wrigglesworth9 February 1946 LiverpoolH2–1Smith (2)16 February 1946 LiverpoolA5–0Hanlon (2), Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth23 February 1946BuryA1–1Hanlon2 March 1946 BuryH1–1Hanlon9 March 1946 Blackburn RoversH6–2Rowley (3), Hanlon (2), Delaney16 March 1946 Blackburn RoversA3–1Smith (2), Pearson23 March 1946 BradfordA1–2Carey27 March 1946 BlackpoolA5–1Pearson (3), Carey, Wrigglesworth30 March 1946 BradfordH4–0Aston, Delaney, Rowley, Wrigglesworth6 April 1946 Manchester CityH1–4Aston13 April 1946 Manchester CityA3–1Hanlon, Pearson, Rowley19 April 1946 Newcastle UnitedA1–0Pearson20 April 1946 Sheffield WednesdayH4–0Pearson (2), Delaney, Rowley22 April 1946 Newcastle UnitedH4–1Delaney, Mitten, Rowley, Wrigglesworth27 April 1946 Sheffield WednesdayA0–14 May 1946 Stoke CityH2–1Buckle, Pearson
FA Cup All games in the first to sixth rounds were two-legged, due to the absence of League football. DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance5 January 1946 Third roundFirst legAccrington StanleyA2–2Smith, Wrigglesworth9,9689 January 1946 Third roundSecond legAccrington StanleyH5–1Rowley (2), Bainbridge, Wrigglesworth, own goal15,33926 January 1946 Fourth roundFirst legPreston North EndH1–0Hanlon36,23730 January 1946 Fourth roundSecond legPreston North EndA1–3Hanlon21,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameFA CupAppsGoalsGK Jack Crompton40FB Johnny Carey40FB John Roach20FB Joe Walton20HB Allenby Chilton30HB Henry Cockburn40HB Jack Warner40HB Bert Whalley40FW Bill Bainbridge11FW Jimmy Hanlon42FW Jack Rowley42FW Jack Smith41FW Billy Wrigglesworth42–Own goals–1
References