1940–41 Manchester United F.C. season

The 1940–41 season was Manchester United's second season in the non-competitive War League during the Second World War.^[1][2][3]

Manchester United

1940–41 season
Chairman	James W. Gibson
Manager	Walter Crickmer
War League North Regional League	8th
War League Cup	First Round
Home colours Away colours
← 1939–40 1941–42 →

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. It was originally split into two regional divisions (Manchester United were placed in the North Division), with 36 clubs involved and positions were decided on goal average. Home and away games were not recognised as such and no points were awarded for draws or wins. United finished the league season with a record of 14 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses, and a goal average of 1.231, good enough for eighth place. To replace the FA Cup, a War League Cup was also set up, in which United lost to Everton in the First Round.

War League North Regional League

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
31 August 1940	Rochdale	A	3–1	Aston, J. Carey, Smith
7 September 1940	Bury	H	0–0
14 September 1940	Oldham Athletic	A	1–2	Farrow
21 September 1940	Oldham Athletic	H	2–3	Smith (2)
28 September 1940	Manchester City	A	1–4	Smith
5 October 1940	Manchester City	H	0–2
12 October 1940	Burnley	A	1–0	Warner
19 October 1940	Preston North End	H	4–1	Dodds (2), Buchan, J. Carey
26 October 1940	Preston North End	A	1–3	Bryant
2 November 1940	Burnley	H	4–1	Butt (2), J. Carey, Smith
9 November 1940	Everton	A	2–5	Dodds, Smith
16 November 1940	Everton	H	0–0
23 November 1940	Liverpool	A	2–2	Smith, Warner
30 November 1940	Liverpool	H	2–0	Butt, Smith
7 December 1940	Blackburn Rovers	A	5–5	Dodds (2), Aston, Bryant, Mitten
14 December 1940	Rochdale	H	3–4	Smith (2), J. Carey
21 December 1940	Bury	A	1–4	McKay
25 December 1940	Stockport County	A	3–1	Smith (2), Burrows
28 December 1940	Blackburn Rovers	H	9–0	Smith (5), J. Carey (2), Aston, Mitten
4 January 1941	Blackburn Rovers	A	2–0 (a.e.t.)	Smith (2)
11 January 1941	Blackburn Rovers	H	0–0 (a.e.t.)
18 January 1941	Bolton Wanderers	A	2–3 (a.e.t.)	Mears, Smith
25 January 1941	Bolton Wanderers	H	4–1 (a.e.t.)	Pearson (2), J. Carey, Smith
1 March 1941	Chesterfield	A	1–1	Smith
8 March 1941	Bury	H	7–3	J. Carey (3), Rowley (3), Smith
22 March 1941	Oldham Athletic	A	1–0	Smith
29 March 1941	Blackpool	A	0–2
5 April 1941	Blackpool	H	2–3	Mears, Smith
12 April 1941	Everton	A	2–1	Rowley (2)
14 April 1941	Manchester City	A	7–1	Rowley (4), Pearson (2), Smith
19 April 1941	Chester	A	6–4 (a.e.t.)	Rowley (5), J. Carey
26 April 1941	Liverpool	A	1–2	Rowley
3 May 1941	Liverpool	H	1–1	Rowley
10 May 1941	Bury	A	1–5	Rowley
17 May 1941	Burnley	H	1–0	J. Carey

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv
7	Halifax Town	30	10	13	7	64	51	1.255
8	Manchester United	35	14	8	13	80	65	1.231
9	Lincoln City	27	13	7	7	65	53	1.226

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

War League Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
15 February 1941	First Round First leg	Everton	H	2–2	Rowley, Whalley
22 February 1941	First Round Second leg	Everton	A	1–2	Rowley

References

1. "Manchester United In War League 1940/41". 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 1940/41". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 31 December 2011.