Before Manchester United
Crickmer was a club servant before he was a manager. His background was administrative, and he became deeply embedded in Manchester United's daily operations long before his managerial spells.
That history explains why United trusted him during difficult periods. He knew the institution, the staff and the practical demands of keeping the club running, which made him a stabilising figure when a conventional managerial appointment was not in place.
Why He Was Appointed
Crickmer was trusted because he knew the club intimately. His appointments were practical solutions at moments when United needed continuity, administration and someone reliable to hold the football side together.
The Tenure
Across two spells he managed in difficult circumstances rather than from a position of glamour. The first followed Bamlett's exit; the second covered the years before Matt Busby's arrival, including the disruption around the Second World War.
Pressure Points
Crickmer's challenges were institutional: finances, wartime disruption, player availability and the need to keep United operating. He was not a headline-grabbing tactician, but his administrative steadiness mattered.
Exit And Legacy
His managerial record is only one part of his United story. Crickmer remained deeply connected to the club and died at Munich in 1958. His legacy is service, loyalty and continuity during years when United needed people willing to carry the institution.
Players Brought In
Crickmer's role was administrative as much as managerial, so player movement under him should be understood through the club's broader survival needs. He managed during periods when United required continuity rather than glamour.
His second spell was shaped by the approach to wartime football and the years before Matt Busby's arrival. The club needed to keep players registered, available and organised in difficult conditions; later, Busby would bring a much more defined recruitment and youth-development philosophy.
Record At A Glance
Across the recorded Manchester United matches, Walter Crickmer finished with 47 wins, 32 draws and 40 defeats. The goal record was 203 scored and 188 conceded, a goal difference of 15.
Open external biographyTenure Record
| Tenure | Appointment | Matches | Wins | Win rate | Listed honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 November 1931 to 13 July 1932 | Permanent manager | 43 | 17 | 39.53% | None recorded |
| 9 November 1937 to 15 February 1945 | Permanent manager | 76 | 30 | 39.47% | None recorded |
Match totals are the archive's recorded competitive manager totals and exclude friendlies unless separately noted in the source data.
Trophy Count Method
No Manchester United trophies are recorded for Walter Crickmer in this archive. The manager table still keeps the tenure visible so caretaker, interim and trophyless permanent spells are not orphaned.
How Walter Crickmer Compares
This table uses the same common manager metrics as the comparison hub so short, caretaker and older profiles can be read against adjacent tenures without leaving the page.
| Manager | Matches | Wins | Win rate | Listed honours | Tenure / spell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Crickmer | 119 | 47 | 39.50% | 0 listed honours | 7 yr 11 mo |
| Herbert Bamlett | 183 | 57 | 31.15% | 0 listed honours | 4 yr 6 mo |
| Scott Duncan | 235 | 92 | 39.15% | 1 listed honour | 5 yr 3 mo |
Open the interactive comparison for Walter Crickmer and Herbert Bamlett.
Written and researched by John Templeton.
First published: not recorded in this static archive. Last updated: 15 June 2026. Last fact-checked: 15 June 2026. Data version: 2025-26 season complete.