Although this particular season did not end with a Championship success, there was much to enjoy. A final league placing of fourth in the old Third Division (North), a league 'double' over the eventual champions, and the seasonal league record for fewest goals conceded nationwide gave them much satisfaction. It had been an excellent season.

Despite losing two of their first three league games, the Roves, under new manager David Menzies, soon settled down, and a tremendous unbeaten run of twelve games shot them to the top of the league. The Keetley brothers, Tom and Frank, were particularly prominent at this time, with Tom already having scored fourteen goals by the end of November.

A slight blip in December cost them the top spot, although three of the six matches played provided full points. Bradford Park Avenue took full advantage here, and edged ahead to a lead which they never eventually relinquished. The New Year opened with a disappointing home draw with Hartlepool, but three consecutive victories nudged the Rovers back up the table, and hopes were high that they could put together another tilt at the title.

However, February went a long way to dismissing those hopes as the Rovers floundered to three away defeats on the trot, conceding nine goals in the process. This was plainly not good enough, and whilst the team rallied on occasion, their form towards the end of the season was a shadow of what it had been. March saw the Rovers beat the leaders, Bradford, for the second time, but this was too little too late.

The last two games provided two fine victories for the Rovers over Nelson (4-2) and Tranmere Rovers (5-2) respectively. A feature of these matches lay in the fact that Tommy Keetley scored four goals in each, bringing his total for the season to thirty-six - a magnificent total where he was the only Rovers 'ever-present'.

However, the Rovers were far from a one-man team, and their defence conceded only forty goals all season - a total unbeaten by any other league club that season. Although Bradford Park Avenue went on to take the Third Division (North) championship, the Rovers could boast a 'league double' over them without conceding a goal to the team which scored over a hundred league goals during the season. As it was, the final gap between the Champions and the Rovers amounted to ten points by the end of the campaign.

The FA Cup proved to be a particularly disappointing affair, with the Rovers going out in the First Round to Carlisle United, who were, at that time, a non-league outfit. Tommy Keetley contrived to miss a penalty against the Cumbrians, who would be voted into the Football League within months at the expense of Durham City.

Leading scorers: Keetley (T) 36, Hall 18

Division Three (North)
 1927-1928
 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Points
Bradford Park Avenue
42
27
9
6
101
45
63
Lincoln City
42
24
7
11
91
64
55
Stockport County
42
23
8
11
89
51
54
DONCASTER ROVERS
42
23
7
12
80
44
53
Tranmere Rovers
42
22
9
11
105
72
53
Bradford City
42
18
12
12
85
60
48
Darlington
42
21
5
16
89
74
47
Southport
42
20
5
17
79
70
45
Accrington Stanley
42
18
8
16
76
67
44
New Brighton
42
14
14
14
72
62
42
Wrexham
42
18
6
18
64
67
42
Halifax Town
42
13
15
14
73
71
41
Rochdale
42
17
7
18
74
77
41
Rotherham United
42
14
11
17
65
69
39
Hartlepool United
42
16
6
20
69
81
38
Chesterfield
42
13
10
19
71
78
36
Crewe Alexandra
42
12
10
20
77
86
34
Ashington
42
11
11
20
77
103
33
Barrow
42
10
11
21
54
102
31
Wigan Borough
42
10
10
22
56
97
30
Durham City
42
11
7
24
53
100
29
Nelson
42
10
6
26
76
136
26