1917/18 – Manchester United | Manchester United News
1917/18 – Manchester United

The 1917–18 season was Manchester United’s third season in the non-competitive War League.

With the ongoing First World War, once again Manchester United played non-competitive war league football. In the principal tournament they contested the Lancashire Section, in a 30-game season. In the subsidiary tournament they contested Group B of the Lancashire Section, in a group of four teams.

However, none of these were considered to be competitive football, and thus their records are not recognised by the Football League.

On 9 October 1917 while Fighting in France during the First World War, United former playerArthur Beadsworth was killed while serving as a Sergeant in the Seventh Battalion of theRoyal Leicestershire Regiment of the British Army.

Lancashire Section Principal Tournament

Date Opponents H / A ResultF – A Scorers Attendance
1 September 1917 Blackburn Rovers A 5 – 0 Anderson (3), Meehan,Woodcock
8 September 1917 Blackburn Rovers H 6 – 1 Anderson (4), Woodcock (2)
15 September 1917 Rochdale A 0 – 3
22 September 1917 Rochdale H 1 – 1 Woodcock
29 September 1917 Manchester City A 1 – 3 Anderson
6 October 1917 Manchester City H 1 – 1 Woodcock
13 October 1917 Everton A 0 – 3
20 October 1917 Everton H 0 – 0
27 October 1917 Port Vale H 3 – 3 Anderson, Connor, Ellis
3 November 1917 Port Vale A 2 – 2 Anderson, Ellis
10 November 1917 Bolton Wanderers A 1 – 3 Ellis
17 November 1917 Bolton Wanderers H 2 – 4 Anderson, Ellis
24 November 1917 Preston North End A 2 – 1 Anderson (2)
1 December 1917 Preston North End H 0 – 0
8 December 1917 Blackpool H 1 – 0 Ellis
15 December 1917 Blackpool A 3 – 2 Woodcock (2), Meehan
22 December 1917 Burnley A 5 – 0 Anderson (3), Connor,Meehan
29 December 1917 Burnley H 1 – 0 Connor
5 January 1918 Southport Central A 0 – 3
12 January 1918 Southport Central H 0 – 0
19 January 1918 Liverpool A 1 – 5 Woodcock
26 January 1918 Liverpool H 0 – 2
2 February 1918 Stoke H 1 – 5 Woodcock
9 February 1918 Stoke A 2 – 1 Ellis, Woodcock
16 February 1918 Bury A 0 – 0
23 February 1918 Bury H 2 – 1 Massey, Woodcock
2 March 1918 Oldham Athletic A 2 – 1 Ellis, Woodcock
9 March 1918 Oldham Athletic H 0 – 2
16 March 1918 Stockport County A 2 – 0 Buckley (2)
23 March 1918 Stockport County A 1 – 2 Buckley
Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7 Burnley 30 13 4 13 68 70 –2 30
8 Manchester United 30 11 8 11 45 49 –4 30
9 Rochdale 30 11 6 13 50 59 –9 28

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

Lancashire Section Subsidiary Tournament Group B

Date Opponents H / A ResultF – A Scorers Attendance
29 March 1918 Manchester City A 0 – 3
30 March 1918 Stoke H 2 – 1 Stafford, Woodcock
1 April 1918 Manchester City H 2 – 0 Buckley, Woodcock
6 April 1918 Stoke A 0 – 0
13 April 1918 Port Vale H 2 – 0 Bourne (2)
20 April 1918 Port Vale A 0 – 2
Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Manchester City 6 4 1 1 11 4 +7 9
2 Manchester United 6 3 1 2 6 7 +1 7
3 Stoke 6 2 2 2 10 5 +5 6
4 Port Vale 6 1 0 5 4 15 –11 2

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