ROBERT J WILSON LOOKS BACK AT THE LEGENDARY SIR MATT BUSBY’S EARLY YEARS IN MANAGEMENT WITH MANCHESTER UNITED

Ready for action: Manchester United, left, and Blackpool, walk out ahead of the 1948 FA Cup final at Wembley and, far right, United captain Johnny Carey holds the trophy aloft

THE outbreak of the Second World War would cost most footballers almost seven years of their playing careers. The Football League did not resume playing competitive matches until the 1946-47 season -but by the summer of 1941, the War Office did permit players to make guest appearances for the club...