| 1982–83 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Martin Edwards | |||
| Manager | Ron Atkinson | |||
| First Division | 3rd | |||
| FA Cup | Winners | |||
| League Cup | Runners-up | |||
| UEFA Cup | First Round | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Frank Stapleton (14) All: Frank Stapleton (19) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 58,198 vsEverton (12 March 1983) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 22,091 vsBournemouth (6 October 1982) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 41,295 | |||
The 1982–83 season wasManchester United's 81st season inthe Football League, and their 8th consecutive season in the top division ofEnglish football.[1] They finished the season third in the league and won the FA Cup for the fifth time in their history, beating relegated Brighton 4–0 in the replay after drawing the first game 2–2. It was the breakthrough season for teenage strikerNorman Whiteside, who was a regular first team player and scored 14 goals in all competitions, including one in the FA Cup final replay.
Atkinson had also addedDutch wingerArnold Muhren to the club's ranks on a free transfer fromIpswich Town before the start of the season, and the new signing was a success, establishing himself as United's regular left winger and scoring a penalty in the FA Cup final replay.
It was also a good second season at United forFrank Stapleton, who was the club's top scorer with 14 goals in the league and 19 in all competitions.
United reached their firstLeague Cup final, but lost 2-1 toLiverpool.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 August 1982 | Birmingham City | H | 3–0 | Coppell,Moran,Stapleton | 48,673 |
| 1 September 1982 | Nottingham Forest | A | 3–0 | Wilkins,Whiteside,Robson | 23,956 |
| 4 September 1982 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–3 | Robson | 24,928 |
| 8 September 1982 | Everton | H | 2–1 | Robson,Whiteside | 43,186 |
| 11 September 1982 | Ipswich Town | H | 3–1 | Whiteside (2),Coppell | 43,140 |
| 18 September 1982 | Southampton | A | 1–0 | Macari | 21,700 |
| 25 September 1982 | Arsenal | H | 0–0 | 43,198 | |
| 2 October 1982 | Luton Town | A | 1–1 | Grimes | 17,009 |
| 9 October 1982 | Stoke City | H | 1–0 | Robson | 43,132 |
| 16 October 1982 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 40,853 | |
| 23 October 1982 | Manchester City | H | 2–2 | Stapleton (2) | 57,334 |
| 30 October 1982 | West Ham United | A | 1–3 | Moran | 31,684 |
| 6 November 1982 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | 18,379 | |
| 13 November 1982 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | Mühren | 47,869 |
| 20 November 1982 | Aston Villa | A | 1–2 | Stapleton | 35,487 |
| 27 November 1982 | Norwich City | H | 3–0 | Robson (2),Mühren | 34,579 |
| 4 December 1982 | Watford | A | 1–0 | Whiteside | 25,669 |
| 11 December 1982 | Notts County | H | 4–0 | Whiteside,Stapleton,Robson,Duxbury | 33,618 |
| 18 December 1982 | Swansea City | A | 0–0 | 15,748 | |
| 27 December 1982 | Sunderland | H | 0–0 | 47,783 | |
| 28 December 1982 | Coventry City | A | 0–3 | 18,945 | |
| 1 January 1983 | Aston Villa | H | 3–1 | Stapleton (2),Coppell | 41,545 |
| 3 January 1983 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0–0 | 39,123 | |
| 15 January 1983 | Birmingham City | A | 2–1 | Whiteside,Robson | 19,333 |
| 22 January 1983 | Nottingham Forest | H | 2–0 | Coppell (pen.),Mühren | 38,615 |
| 5 February 1983 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–1 | Stapleton | 23,804 |
| 26 February 1983 | Liverpool | H | 1–1 | Mühren | 57,397 |
| 2 March 1983 | Stoke City | A | 0–1 | 21,266 | |
| 5 March 1983 | Manchester City | A | 2–1 | Stapleton (2) | 45,400 |
| 19 March 1983 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–1 | Albiston | 36,264 |
| 22 March 1983 | West Ham United | H | 2–1 | McGarvey,Stapleton | 30,227 |
| 2 April 1983 | Coventry City | H | 3–0 | Stapleton,Gillespie (o.g.),Macari | 36,814 |
| 4 April 1983 | Sunderland | A | 0–0 | 31,486 | |
| 9 April 1983 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | Robson | 37,120 |
| 19 April 1983 | Everton | A | 0–2 | 21,715 | |
| 23 April 1983 | Watford | H | 2–0 | Cunningham,Grimes (pen.) | 43,048 |
| 30 April 1983 | Norwich City | A | 1–1 | Whiteside | 22,233 |
| 2 May 1983 | Arsenal | A | 0–3 | 23,602 | |
| 7 May 1983 | Swansea City | H | 2–1 | Robson,Stapleton | 35,724 |
| 9 May 1983 | Luton Town | H | 3–0 | McGrath (2),Stapleton | 34,213 |
| 11 May 1983 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–2 | 32,803 | |
| 14 May 1983 | Notts County | A | 2–3 | McGrath,Mühren | 14,395 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool(C) | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 87 | 37 | +50 | 82 | Qualification for theEuropean Cup first round |
| 2 | Watford | 42 | 22 | 5 | 15 | 74 | 57 | +17 | 71 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Manchester United | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 70 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 50 | +15 | 69 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 62 | 50 | +12 | 69 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 January 1983 | Round 3 | West Ham United | H | 2–0 | Coppell,Stapleton | 44,143 |
| 29 January 1983 | Round 4 | Luton Town | A | 2–0 | Moran,Moses | 20,516 |
| 19 February 1983 | Round 5 | Derby County | A | 1–0 | Whiteside | 33,022 |
| 12 March 1983 | Round 6 | Everton | H | 1–0 | Stapleton | 58,198 |
| 16 April 1983 | Semi-final | Arsenal | N | 2–1 | Robson,Whiteside | 46,535 |
| 21 May 1983 | Final | Brighton & Hove Albion | N | 2–2 | Stapleton,Wilkins | 100,000 |
| 26 May 1983 | Final Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | N | 4–0 | Robson (2),Whiteside,Mühren (pen.) | 92,000 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 October 1982 | Round 2 First leg | Bournemouth | H | 2–0 | Redknapp (o.g.),Stapleton | 22,091 |
| 26 October 1982 | Round 2 Second leg | Bournemouth | A | 2–2 | Coppell (pen.),Mühren | 13,226 |
| 10 November 1982 | Round 3 | Bradford City | A | 0–0 | 15,568 | |
| 24 November 1982 | Round 3 Replay | Bradford City | H | 4–1 | Albiston,Coppell,Moran,Moses | 24,507 |
| 1 December 1982 | Round 4 | Southampton | H | 2–0 | McQueen,Whiteside | 28,378 |
| 19 January 1983 | Round 5 | Nottingham Forest | H | 4–0 | McQueen (2),Coppell,Robson | 44,413 |
| 15 February 1983 | Semi-final First leg | Arsenal | A | 4–2 | Whiteside,Stapleton,Coppell (2) | 43,136 |
| 23 February 1983 | Semi-final Second leg | Arsenal | H | 2–1 | Coppell,Moran | 56,635 |
| 26 March 1983 | Final | Liverpool | N | 1–2 | Whiteside | 100,000 |
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 September 1982 | Round 1 First leg | Valencia | H | 0–0 | 46,588 | |
| 29 September 1982 | Round 1 Second leg | Valencia | A | 1–2 | Robson | 35,000 |
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | UEFA Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK | 37 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 55 | 0 | |
| GK | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| DF | 38 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 2 | |
| DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | 42 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 1 | |
| DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | 14 | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15(1) | 3 | |
| DF | 37 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 3 | |
| DF | 29 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 5 | |
| MF | 29 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 1(1) | 0 | 42(1) | 11 | |
| MF | 3(2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(2) | 1 | |
| MF | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 0 | |
| MF | 15(1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20(1) | 2 | |
| MF | 29 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| MF | 32 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 7 | |
| MF | 33 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 49 | 15 | |
| MF | 26 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35(1) | 2 | |
| FW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | 2(7) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 3(11) | 2 | |
| FW | 3(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(4) | 1 | |
| FW | 41 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 59 | 19 | |
| FW | 39 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 7(2) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 55(2) | 14 | |