Editing Matt Busby (section)

=== War years ===

Busby carried on playing football during the war. A few days after helping [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]] defeat [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] 4–3 in a [[benefit match]], Busby signed for Chelsea on 28 October 1939. He made four appearances in total.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/04/07/honoured-guests---part-two---the-story-of-chelsea-s-wartime-play | title=HONOURED GUESTS – PART TWO – THE STORY OF CHELSEA'S WARTIME PLAYERS | publisher=Chelsea FC | date=7 August 2020 | access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> He also turned out for Middlesbrough (13 matches),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/a-sign-of-evidence-3802968.amp | title=A Sign of Evidence | work=Gazette Live | date=23 March 2005 | access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]], and [[AFC Bournemouth|Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic]].

[[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] lured Busby back north in 1941<ref name = "three kings">{{cite web | url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2020/11/the-hibs-connection-to-the-three-kings/ | title=The Hibs' connection to the 'Three Kings' | work=Edinburgh Reporter | date=18 November 2020 | access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> at a time when English clubs did not want their players in [[Football in Scotland|Scottish football]] unless they were insured.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://playupliverpool.com/1941/06/25/matt-busby-for-hibernian/ | title=MATT BUSBY FOR HIBERNIAN? | newspaper=[[Dundee Evening Telegraph]] | publisher=PlayupLiverpool.com | date=25 June 1941 | access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> He played in 37 matches for the club and scored five goals (including one against city rivals [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]]).<ref name = "three kings"/> Busby appeared in back-to-back [[Summer Cup (Scottish football)|Summer Cup]] finals against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] with a 3–2 victory in the [[1940–41 in Scottish football|1941]] competition.<ref>[https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1941/1941071202.htm 1940–41 Summer Cup Final], London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 29 June 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1942/1942070402.htm 1941–42 Summer Cup Final] London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 29 June 2021.</ref>

After returning to Liverpool, he was appointed assistant coach of the club in May 1944.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://playupliverpool.com/1994/01/20/alexander-matthew-busby-matt-busby-playupliverpool-com/ | title=Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE, KCSG (Matt Busby) | publisher=PlayupLiverpool.com |  access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> While based in [[Catterick, North Yorkshire|Catterick]], he also starred for [[Portrack Shamrocks F.C.|Portrack Shamrocks]] in the 1945 Ellis Cup final as a war-time guest.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/amateur-sport/ellis-cup-helped-mould-wealth-3731738.amp | title=The Ellis Cup helped mould a wealth of local talent | work=Gazette Live | date=30 June 2008 | access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref>