Season 1947/48
original illustrations of the kits worn during the season


Home Kit
unitedkits_kit_0565
unitedkits_number_0565
Variant
unitedkits_kit_0566
unitedkits_number_0566
Change Kit
unitedkits_kit_0570
unitedkits_number_0570
Variant
unitedkits_kit_0571
unitedkits_number_0571
Outfield
unitedkits_kit_0572
unitedkits_number_0572
Goalkeeper
unitedkits_gk_kit_0567
unitedkits_gk_number_0567

 
The Season in brief

After somewhat of a shaky start United's title credentials were underlined by a run of twenty six games in which they were beaten just once. They again finished as runners up some seven points behind Arsenal. The two teams drew 1-1 at Maine Road on January 17th in front of a new Football League record crowd of 81,962. In all over a million fans attended United's home games.

Ultimately United's FA Cup run probably distractied them. Drawn against First Division sides in each round of the F.A. Cup, they reached the Final for the first time since 1909. Their third round 6-4 win at Villa Park is still regarded as one of the all-time classic Cup ties. Victories over Liverpool, the reigning Champions, Charlton, Preston and Derby County followed. Surprisingly, in the Final Busby decided to try and restrain Blackpool, with Mortensen, Matthews et al. He released the players from such tactics for the second half, with United 2-1 down, to devastating effect. United ran out 4-2 winners, and the Cup returned to Manchester.

There was no change to either United's home or change kits, although United wore hooped socks in several games.

Heavy woollen green jerseys had been adopted almost universally by League clubs as the standard goalkeeper's kit. The only differences were to the material (coarser or finer, largely depending upon a club's financial state), and the depth of the polo neck. We believe the change shirt, which was seldom used, would have been royal blue although the limitations of black and white photography make it impossible to accurately confirm the shirt's colour.

In keeping with tradition United's Cup Final kit included Manchester's coat of arms on the shirt. Both United and Blackpool played in their change kits. United's choice of blue socks with white tops were probably, ss suggested by Alex Howells, chosen to avoid clashing with Blackpool's black and white hooped socks.