1946–47 Manchester United F.C. season

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 undoubtedly their best season since then, finishing runners-up in the First Division behind Liverpool.[1]

Manchester United
1946–47 season
ChairmanJames W. Gibson
ManagerMatt Busby
StadiumMaine Road
First Division2nd
FA CupFourth Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Jack Rowley (26)

All:
Jack Rowley (28)
Highest home attendance65,112 vs Middlesbrough (14 September 1946)
Lowest home attendance8,456 vs Stoke City (5 February 1947)
Average home league attendance43,327

First Division

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Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
31 August 1946 Grimsby Town H 2–1 Mitten, Rowley 41,025
4 September 1946 Chelsea A 3–0 Mitten, Pearson, Rowley 27,750
7 September 1946 Charlton Athletic A 3–1 Hanlon, Rowley, own goal 44,088
11 September 1946 Liverpool H 5–0 Pearson (3), Mitten, Rowley 41,657
14 September 1946 Middlesbrough H 1–0 Rowley 65,112
18 September 1946 Chelsea H 1–1 Chilton 30,275
21 September 1946 Stoke City A 2–3 Delaney, Hanlon 41,699
28 September 1946 Arsenal H 5–2 Hanlon (2), Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth 62,718
5 October 1946 Preston North End H 1–1 Wrigglesworth 55,395
12 October 1946 Sheffield United A 2–2 Rowley (2) 35,543
19 October 1946 Blackpool A 1–3 Delaney 26,307
26 October 1946 Sunderland H 0–3 48,385
2 November 1946 Aston Villa A 0–0 53,668
9 November 1946 Derby County H 4–1 Pearson (2), Mitten, Rowley 57,340
16 November 1946 Everton A 2–2 Pearson, Rowley 45,832
23 November 1946 Huddersfield Town H 5–2 Mitten (2), Morris (2), Rowley 39,216
30 November 1946 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–3 Hanlon, Delaney 46,704
7 December 1946 Brentford H 4–1 Rowley (3), Mitten 31,962
14 December 1946 Blackburn Rovers A 1–2 Morris 21,455
25 December 1946 Bolton Wanderers A 2–2 Rowley (2) 28,505
26 December 1946 Bolton Wanderers H 1–0 Pearson 57,186
28 December 1946 Grimsby Town A 0–0 17,183
4 January 1947 Charlton Athletic H 4–1 Burke (2), Buckle, Pearson 43,406
18 January 1947 Middlesbrough A 4–2 Pearson (2), Buckle, Morris 37,435
1 February 1947 Arsenal A 2–6 Morris, Pearson 29,415
5 February 1947 Stoke City H 1–1 Buckle 8,456
22 February 1947 Blackpool H 3–0 Rowley (2), Hanlon 29,993
1 March 1947 Sunderland A 1–1 Delaney 25,038
8 March 1947 Aston Villa H 2–1 Burke, Pearson 36,965
15 March 1947 Derby County A 3–4 Burke (2), Pearson 19,579
22 March 1947 Everton H 3–0 Burke, Delaney, Warner 43,441
29 March 1947 Huddersfield Town A 2–2 Delaney, Pearson 18,509
5 April 1947 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 3–1 Rowley (2), Hanlon 66,967
7 April 1947 Leeds United H 3–1 Burke (2), Hanlon 41,772
8 April 1947 Leeds United A 2–0 Burke, McGlen 15,528
12 April 1947 Brentford A 0–0 21,714
19 April 1947 Blackburn Rovers H 4–0 Pearson (2), Rowley, own goal 46,196
26 April 1947 Portsmouth A 1–0 Delaney 30,623
3 May 1947 Liverpool A 0–1 48,800
10 May 1947 Preston North End A 1–1 Pearson 23,278
17 May 1947 Portsmouth H 3–0 Mitten, Morris, Rowley 37,614
26 May 1947 Sheffield United H 6–2 Rowley (3), Morris (2), Pearson 34,059

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
1 Liverpool (C) 42 25 7 10 84 52 1.615 57
2 Manchester United 42 22 12 8 95 54 1.759 56
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 25 6 11 98 56 1.750 56
4 Stoke City 42 24 7 11 90 53 1.698 55
5 Blackpool 42 22 6 14 71 70 1.014 50
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions

FA Cup

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Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
11 January 1947 Round 3 Bradford Park Avenue A 3–0 Rowley (2), Buckle 26,990
25 January 1947 Round 4 Nottingham Forest H 0–2 34,059

Squad statistics

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Cliff Collinson 7 0 0 0 7 0
GK   Jack Crompton 29 0 1 0 30 0
GK   Bill Fielding 6 0 1 0 7 0
FB   John Aston, Sr. 21 0 2 0 23 0
FB   Johnny Carey 31 0 2 0 33 0
FB   Joe Walton 15 0 0 0 15 0
FB   Harry Worrall 1 0 0 0 1 0
HB   Allenby Chilton 41 1 2 0 43 1
HB   Henry Cockburn 32 0 0 0 32 0
HB   Billy McGlen 33 1 2 0 35 1
HB   Jack Warner 34 1 2 0 36 1
HB   Bert Whalley 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW   Ted Buckle 5 3 2 1 7 4
FW   Ronnie Burke 13 9 0 0 13 9
FW   Jimmy Delaney 37 8 2 0 39 8
FW   Jimmy Hanlon 27 7 0 0 27 7
FW   Charlie Mitten 20 8 0 0 20 8
FW   Johnny Morris 24 8 2 0 26 8
FW   Stan Pearson 42 19 2 0 44 19
FW   Jack Rowley 37 26 2 2 39 28
FW   Billy Wrigglesworth 4 2 0 0 4 2
Own goals 2 0 2

References

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  1. ^ "Manchester United Season 1946/47". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2009.