This was the fourteenth season for the League Cup, which was again known as the John Player Special Trophy for sponsorship purposes.
Hull Kingston Rovers claimed the trophy by beating their local rivals Hull F.C. by the score of 12–0 in the final. The match was played at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull on 26 January 1985 and the attendance was 25,326. Gate receipts were £69,355 ().
Background This season saw several changes in the entrants: Cardiff City Blue Dragons were renamed Bridgend Blue Dragons and Kent Invicta were renamed Southend Invicta Mansfield Marksman and Sheffield Eagles joined the league and also the competition Huyton changed their name to Runcorn Highfield and moved from Alt Park, Huyton to Canal Street, Runcorn and the re-introduction of the invitation to two junior clubs. This involved an increase in entrants to thirty-eight, in turn resulting in a six-match, 12-club preliminary round to reduce the number of clubs taking part in the first round proper to thirty-two.
Competition and results
Preliminary round Involved six matches and 12 clubs Game No.Fixture dateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendRecNotesRef 1Fri 2 Nov 1984Myson (Hull)2-8DewsburyBoulevard2Sun 4 Nov 1984Bramley20-6Southend InvictaMcLaren Field5723Sun 4 Nov 1984Keighley24-10Bradford Dudley HillLawkholme Lane1570, 4Sun 4 Nov 1984Sheffield Eagles17-6Wakefield TrinityOwlerton Stadium12795Wed 7 Nov 1984Carlisle8-26Bradford NorthernBrunton Park12156Wed 7 Nov 1984Hunslet2-6Workington TownElland Road719
Round 1 – First round
Involved 16 matches and 32 clubs Game NoFixture dateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 17 Nov 1984Hull Kingston Rovers32-5LeighCraven Park (1)45412Sun 18 Nov 1984Bradford Northern22-1SwintonOdsal37123Sun 18 Nov 1984Bramley12-10Blackpool BoroughMcLaren Field6534Sun 18 Nov 1984Bridgend Blue Dragons4-42CastlefordCoychurch Road, Bridgend18035Sun 18 Nov 1984Dewsbury14-8SalfordCrown Flatt11766Sun 18 Nov 1984Featherstone Rovers17-12BarrowPost Office Road16517Sun 18 Nov 1984Fulham14-36Hull F.C.Polytechnic of Central London23248Sun 18 Nov 1984Leeds50-2Sheffield EaglesHeadingley48819Sun 18 Nov 1984Rochdale Hornets10-8Mansfield MarksmanAthletic Grounds62010Sun 18 Nov 1984Runcorn Highfield18-5BatleyAlt Park, Huyton76011Sun 18 Nov 1984St. Helens60-8KeighleyKnowsley Road514512Sun 18 Nov 1984Warrington5-17HalifaxWilderspool417113Sun 18 Nov 1984Whitehaven64-0DoncasterRecreation Ground171714Sun 18 Nov 1984Wigan50-6Huddersfield BarracudasCentral Park737515Sun 18 Nov 1984Workington Town12-22WidnesDerwent Park101016Sun 18 Nov 1984York6-22OldhamClarence Street2504
Round 2 – Second round
Involved 8 matches and 16 clubs Game NoFixture dateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 1 Dec 1984Leeds10-4WiganHeadingley92612Sun 2 Dec 1984Bradford Northern12-12St. HelensOdsal94193Sun 2 Dec 1984Bramley33-5WhitehavenMcLaren Field13584Sun 2 Dec 1984Dewsbury31-16Runcorn HighfieldCrown Flatt12425Sun 2 Dec 1984Halifax20-18CastlefordThrum Hall47846Sun 2 Dec 1984Hull F.C.26-14OldhamBoulevard115007Sun 2 Dec 1984Hull Kingston Rovers34-12Rochdale HornetsCraven Park (1)48358Sun 2 Dec 1984Widnes28-10Featherstone RoversNaughton Park3850
Round 2 – Second round replays Involved one match and two clubs Game NoFixture dateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendRecNotesRef 1Wed 5 Dec 1984St. Helens24–10Bradford NorthernKnowsley Road10156
Round 3 – Quarter-finals Involved 4 matches with 8 clubs:
Game NoFixture dateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttRecNotesRef1Sat 22 Dec 1984St. Helens8–14HalifaxKnowsley Road5,7682Sun 23 Dec 1984Dewsbury8–22Hull F.C.Crown Flatt7,197 3Sun 23 Dec 1984Hull Kingston Rovers14–6WidnesCraven Park7,710 4Sun 23 Dec 1984Leeds28–14BramleyHeadingley6,404
Round 4 – Semi-finals Involved two matches and four clubs: Game NoFixture dateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendRecNotesRef1Sat 29 Dec 1984Hull Kingston Rovers14–8HalifaxHeadingley6,390 2Sat 5 Jan 1985Hull F.C.18–6LeedsBoothferry Park13,214
Final
Hull F.C.PositionHull Kingston Rovers1 122 334 4 5566778899101011111212 131314Interchange141515 Arthur BuntingHead coach
Prize money As part of the sponsorship deal and funds, the prize money awarded to the competing teams for this season is as follows :- Finish positionCash prizeNo. receiving prizeTotal cash Winner?1?Runner-up?1?semi-finalist?2?loser in Rd 3?4?loser in Rd 2?8?Loser in Rd 1?16?Loser in prelim round???Grand total
The road to success This tree excludes any preliminary round fixtures
Notes
See also 1984–85 Rugby Football League season 1984 Lancashire Cup 1984 Yorkshire Cup John Player Special Trophy Rugby league county cups
References