The 1929/30 season proved to be a curious affair for the Rovers, wherein their excellent home form - only three defeats, was countered by their appalling away record of only two successes. It was not surprising, therefore, that the team eventually finished no higher than fourteenth in the Third Division (North).

A familiar face was missing from the Rovers ranks as they took the field for their first league game, at home, to Accrington Stanley, with record goalscorer, Tommy Keetley having moved to Notts County a month earlier. However, his brother Frank was still on the Rovers books, and his goal, together with a brace from Wilf Bott, secured the points for Doncaster.

The first away fixture was the Rovers lose heavily at Darlington, and this setback heralded a run of just two wins from the next thirteen fixtures. The Rovers even needed three games to overcome non-league Shildon in the First Round of the FA Cup, with the 'minnows' finally losing out in a replay held at Bootham Crescent, York. Around this time, Frank Keetley was transferred to Bradford City, and the last link with th eKeeley family was severed, four brothers from that family having played league football for the Rovers.

The Christmas game of 1929 provided some cheer for the Rovers followers with a league 'double' over Rochdale, thus providing Doncaster with their first away win of the season. The first game of the New Year was also won - a particularly pleasing win over Darlington - before a further slump saw defeat in three of the next four fixtures.

The Rovers then embarked on a run that certainly eventually saved them from a desperately poor league position. The period between mid-February and mid-April realised just two defeats in thirteen league games. They remained unbeaten at home, and even managed a further success at Wrexham in a run which realised a point a game. Sadly the run ground to an end and the four remaining league fixtures were all lost, with the Rovers failing to score in any of them.

As mentioned earlier, the Rovers eventually dispatched Shildon from the FA Cup before eliminating New Brighton in Round Two. Second Division Stoke City were beaten in a replayed tie at Belle Vue after the first game had been abandoned through snow with the teams level. The Rovers eventually made their exit at the Fourth Round stage after losing heavily, if rather undeservedly, at Millwall.

Leading scorers: Lievesley 12, Patterson 11, Bott 10

Division Three (North)
 1929-1930
 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Points
Port Vale
42
30
7
5
103
37
67
Stockport County
42
28
7
7
106
44
63
Darlington
42
22
6
14
108
73
50
Chesterfield
42
22
6
14
76
56
50
Lincoln City
42
17
14
11
83
61
48
York City
42
15
16
11
77
64
46
South Shields
42
18
10
14
77
74
46
Hartlepool United
42
17
11
14
81
74
45
Southport
42
15
13
14
81
74
43
Rochdale
42
18
7
17
89
91
43
Crewe Alexandra
42
17
8
17
82
71
42
Tranmere Rovers
42
16
9
17
83
86
41
New Brighton
42
16
8
18
69
79
40
DONCASTER ROVERS
42
15
9
18
62
69
39
Carlisle United
42
16
7
19
90
101
39
Accrington Stanley
42
14
9
19
84
81
37
Wrexham
42
13
8
21
67
88
34
Wigan Borough
42
13
7
22
60
88
33
Nelson
42
13
7
22
51
80
33
Rotherham United
42
11
8
23
67
113
30
Halifax Town
42
10
8
24
44
79
28
Barrow
42
11
5
26
41
98
27