1943–44 Manchester United F.C. season

The 1943–44 season was Manchester United's fifth season in the non-competitive War League during the Second World War.[1][2][3]

Manchester United

1943–44 season
Chairman	James W. Gibson
Manager	Walter Crickmer
War League North Regional League First Championship	2nd
War League North Regional League Second Championship	9th
Home colours Away colours

Many of Manchester United's players went off to fight in the war, but for those who remained, the Football League organised a special War League.

War League North Regional League First Championship

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
28 August 1943	Stockport County	H	6–0	Bellis (2), Smith (2), McDonald, McKay
4 September 1943	Stockport County	A	3–3	McDonald (2), Bryant
11 September 1943	Everton	H	4–1	McDonald (2), Broadis, Smith
18 September 1943	Everton	A	1–6	Bellis
25 September 1943	Blackburn Rovers	H	2–1	Bryant (2)
2 October 1943	Blackburn Rovers	A	1–2	Roughton
9 October 1943	Chester	H	3–1	Bellis (3)
16 October 1943	Chester	A	4–5	Smith (2), McKay, own goal
23 October 1943	Liverpool	A	4–3	Pearson (2), McDonald, Smith
30 October 1943	Liverpool	H	1–0	McKay
6 November 1943	Manchester City	A	2–2	S. Pearson, Smith
13 November 1943	Manchester City	H	3–0	Bryant, Morris, Smith
20 November 1943	Tranmere Rovers	H	6–3	Mitten (4), Smith (2)
27 November 1943	Tranmere Rovers	A	1–0	McKay
4 December 1943	Wrexham	A	4–1	Morris (2), Bryant, Smith
11 December 1943	Wrexham	H	5–0	S. Pearson (3), Smith (2)
18 December 1943	Bolton Wanderers	H	3–1	Morris, Smith, Warner
25 December 1943	Bolton Wanderers	A	3–1[4]	Smith (2), Bryant

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
1	Blackpool	18	12	4	2	56	20	2.800	28
2	Manchester United	18	13	2	3	56	30	1.867	28
3	Liverpool	18	13	1	4	72	26	2.769	27

Source:

War League North Regional League Second Championship

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
27 December 1943	Halifax Town	H	6–2	S. Pearson (3), Smith (2), A. Rowley
1 January 1944	Halifax Town	A	1–1	Smith
8 January 1944	Stockport County	A	3–2	Brook (2), Bryant
15 January 1944	Stockport County	H	4–2	Smith (3), Brook
22 January 1944	Manchester City	H	1–3	Smith
29 January 1944	Manchester City	A	3–2	J. Rowley (2), Smith
5 February 1944	Bury	A	3–0	S. Pearson (2), Smith
12 February 1944	Bury	H	3–3	Brook, Bryant, McKay
19 February 1944	Oldham Athletic	H	3–2	Smith (3)
26 February 1944	Oldham Athletic	A	1–1	Bryant
4 March 1944	Wrexham	A	4–1	Bryant, Morris, J. Rowley, Smith
11 March 1944	Wrexham	H	2–2	Pearson, Smith
18 March 1944	Birmingham City	A	1–3	Smith
25 March 1944	Birmingham City	H	1–1	J. Rowley
1 April 1944	Bolton Wanderers	A	0–3
8 April 1944	Bolton Wanderers	H	3–2	Bryant (2), Morris
10 April 1944	Manchester City	A	1–4	Bryant
15 April 1944	Burnley	H	9–0	Smith (3), Brook (2), Bryant (2), J. Rowley (2)
22 April 1944	Burnley	A	3–3	Brook (2), Smith
29 April 1944	Oldham Athletic	H	0–0
6 May 1944	Oldham Athletic	A	3–1	Morris, Sloan, own goal

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
8	Cardiff City	21	13	1	7	53	28	27
9	Manchester United	21	10	7	4	55	38	27
10	Bradford Park Avenue	20	11	4	5	50	30	26

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points

References

1. "Manchester United In War League 1943/44". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
2. Rollin, Jack (2005). Soccer at War: 1939 - 45. London: Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1431-X.
3. "England 1943/44". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 31 December 2011.
4. Match abandoned after 85 minutes of play, however the score stood