# 1944–45 Manchester United F.C. season

The 1944–45 season was Manchester United's sixth season in the non-competitive War League during the Second World War.
On 15 February 1945, United manager Walter Crickmer had resigned and four days later on 19 February 1945, the Scottish manager Matt Busby was signed, but it was not until 1 October that Busby officially took over at the club.
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 |
| 26 August 1944 | Everton | A | 2–1 | Mycock, Currier |
| 2 September 1944 | Everton | H | 1–3 | Bryant |
| 9 September 1944 | Stockport County | H | 3–4 | Mycock (2), Bryant |
| 16 September 1944 | Stockport County | A | 4–4 | Mycock (2), Bryant, Smith |
| 23 September 1944 | Bury | H | 2–2 | Mycock, Walton |
| 30 September 1944 | Bury | A | 2–4 | McCock, Woodcock |
| 7 October 1944 | Chester | A | 0–2 | |
| 14 October 1944 | Chester | H | 1–0 | Freer |
| 21 October 1944 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 6–1 | Mycock (2), Bryant, Chadwick, Dougan, Mitten |
| 28 October 1944 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 4–2 | Bryant (2), Mycock, own goal |
| 4 November 1944 | Liverpool | A | 2–3 | Mycock, Woodcock |
| 11 November 1944 | Liverpool | H | 2–5 | Mitten, Mycock |
| 18 November 1944 | Manchester City | H | 3–2 | Morris (2), Mycock |
| 25 November 1944 | Manchester City | A | 0–4 | |
| 2 December 1944 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 4–1 | Bryant (2), Chadwick, Mycock |
| 9 December 1944 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | Bowden, Morris |
| 16 December 1944 | Wrexham | H | 1–0 | Ireland |
| 23 December 1944 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | Morris |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 29 | Blackburn Rovers | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 29 | 1.034 | 18 |
| 30 | Manchester United | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 40 | 40 | 1.000 | 18 |
| 31 | Preston North End | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 28 | 0.929 | 18 |

## War League North Regional League Second Championship

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers |
| 26 December 1944 | Sheffield United | A | 4–3 | Morris (2), Bainbridge, Chadwick |
| 30 December 1944 | Oldham Athletic | A | 4–3 | Mycock (2), Chadwick, Smith |
| 6 January 1945 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–0 | Smith |
| 13 January 1945 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–2 | Cockburn, Smith |
| 3 February 1945 | Manchester City | H | 1–3 | Mitten |
| 10 February 1945 | Manchester City | A | 0–2 | |
| 17 February 1945 | Bury | H | 2–0 | Mitten, Whalley |
| 24 February 1945 | Bury | A | 1–3 | Bainbridge |
| 3 March 1945 | Oldham Athletic | H | 3–2 | Chadwick, Rowley, Whalley |
| 10 March 1945 | Halifax Town | A | 0–1 | |
| 17 March 1945 | Halifax Town | H | 2–0 | Chadwick, Roach |
| 24 March 1945 | Burnley | A | 3–2 | Rowley (2), Chadwick |
| 31 March 1945 | Burnley | H | 4–0 | Smith (3), Bryant |
| 2 April 1945 | Blackpool | A | 1–4 | |
| 7 April 1945 | Stoke City | H | 6–1 | Rowley (2), Wrigglesworth (2), Bryant, Smith |
| 14 April 1945 | Stoke City | A | 4–1 | Bryant (2), McCulloch, own goal |
| 21 April 1945 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–1 | Bellis, Smith |
| 28 April 1945 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 3–1 | Wrigglesworth (3) |
| 5 May 1945 | Chesterfield | H | 1–1 | Bellis |
| 12 May 1945 | Chesterfield | A | 1–0 | McDowell |
| 19 May 1945 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 0–1 | |
| 26 May 1945 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | Bryant, Wrigglesworth |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 31 | 1.452 | 29 |
| 9 | Manchester United | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 47 | 33 | 1.424 | 29 |
| 10 | Darlington | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 61 | 45 | 1.356 | 29 |