The 1961–62 season was Manchester United's 60th season in the Football League, and their 17th consecutive season in the top division of English football. Unlike the previous season, United declined to enter the Football League Cup, which they continue to decline for the next four seasons.
New to the side for the 1961–62 season was David Herd, who had been the First Division's second highest goalscorer the previous season. He joined the United ranks for a fee of £40,000, and finished the season as the club's top scorer with 14 goals in the league and 17 in all competitions, although it was a disappointing season for the club as they finished 15th in the First Division.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance19 August 1961West Ham UnitedA1–1 Stiles32,62823 August 1961ChelseaH3–2Herd, Pearson, Viollet45,84726 August 1961Blackburn RoversH6–1Herd (2), Quixall (2), Charlton, Setters45,30230 August 1961ChelseaA0–2 42,2482 September 1961BlackpoolA3–2 Viollet (2), Charlton28,1569 September 1961Tottenham HotspurH1–0Quixall57,13516 September 1961Cardiff CityA2–1 Dawson, Quixall29,25118 September 1961Aston VillaA1–1 Stiles38,83723 September 1961Manchester CityH3–2Stiles, Viollet, own goal56,34530 September 1961Wolverhampton WanderersH0–239,4577 October 1961West Bromwich AlbionA1–1 Dawson25,64514 October 1961Birmingham CityH0–230,67421 October 1961ArsenalA1–5 Viollet54,24528 October 1961Bolton WanderersH0–331,4424 November 1961Sheffield WednesdayA1–3 Viollet35,99811 November 1961Leicester CityH2–2Giles, Viollet21,56718 November 1961Ipswich TownA1–4 McMillan25,75525 November 1961BurnleyH1–4Herd41,0292 December 1961EvertonA1–5 Herd48,0999 December 1961FulhamH3–0Herd (2), Lawton22,19316 December 1961West Ham UnitedH1–2Herd29,47226 December 1961Nottingham ForestH6–3Lawton (3), Brennan, Charlton, Herd30,82213 January 1962BlackpoolH0–126,99915 January 1962Aston VillaH2–0Charlton, Quixall20,80720 January 1962Tottenham HotspurA2–2 Charlton, Stiles55,2253 February 1962Cardiff CityH3–0Giles, Lawton, Stiles29,20010 February 1962Manchester CityA2–0 Chisnall, Herd49,95924 February 1962West Bromwich AlbionH4–1Charlton (2), Setters, Quixall32,45628 February 1962Wolverhampton WanderersA2–2 Herd, Lawton27,5653 March 1962Birmingham CityA1–1 Herd25,81717 March 1962Bolton WanderersA0–1 34,36620 March 1962Nottingham ForestA0–1 27,83324 March 1962Sheffield WednesdayH1–1Charlton31,3224 April 1962Leicester CityA3–4 McMillan (2), Quixall15,3187 April 1962Ipswich TownH5–0Quixall (3), Setters, Stiles24,97610 April 1962Blackburn RoversA0–3 14,62314 April 1962BurnleyA3–1 Brennan, Cantwell, Herd36,24016 April 1962ArsenalH2–3Cantwell, McMillan24,25821 April 1962EvertonH1–1Herd31,92623 April 1962Sheffield UnitedH0–130,07324 April 1962Sheffield UnitedA3–2 McMillan (2), Stiles25,32428 April 1962FulhamA0–2 40,113
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance6 January 1962Round 3Bolton WanderersH2–1Nicholson, Herd42,20231 January 1962Round 4ArsenalH1–0Setters54,08217 February 1962Round 5Sheffield WednesdayH0–059,55321 February 1962Round 5ReplaySheffield WednesdayA2–0Charlton, Giles62,96910 March 1962Round 6Preston North EndA0–037,52114 March 1962Round 6ReplayPreston North EndH2–1Herd, Charlton63,46831 March 1962Semi-FinalTottenham HotspurN1–3Herd65,000
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Ronnie Briggs800080GK David Gaskell21070280GK Harry Gregg13000130FB Shay Brennan41260472FB Noel Cantwell17220192FB Tony Dunne28070350HB Bill Foulkes40070470HB Frank Haydock100010HB Nobby Lawton20670276HB Jimmy Nicholson17041211HB Maurice Setters38371454HB Nobby Stiles34740387FW Warren Bradley601070FW Bobby Charlton378624310FW Phil Chisnall9140131FW Alex Dawson420042FW Johnny Giles30271373FW David Herd2714533217FW Sammy McMillan11600116FW Ian Moir900090FW Mark Pearson17100171FW Albert Quixall2110302410FW Dennis Viollet13700137–Own goals–1–0–1
References