Fresh from their Third Division (North) Championship success of the previous season, the Rovers were keen to make a good impression on their return to the Second Division. With a final league placing of 11th, they could be well satisfied with their efforts.

Opening with a tough away game at Leeds United which was lost, the side gained its first point in an away draw at Southampton. The first home game, against West Ham United, attracted a crowd of over 23,000 and most were pleased to see the Rovers record another victory. The fixture compilers had not done the Rovers many favours with seven away games in the opening nine fixtures, although they did brilliantly well to maintain an unbeaten run throughout most of September, during which time, they rose to seventh in the table.

A home defeat by Blackburn Rovers was a setback, but this was more than compensated for by the events of the home game with Manchester City some seven days later. The City had eased into a three-goal lead by half-time, but the Rovers came back with four goals in eight minutes during the second half to record a memorable victory. All this before an attendance of over 32,000 at Belle Vue. November proved to be a productive month with three wins from four games played, including wins at Birmingham City and QPR., but the Rovers came a cropper at Deepdale in early December when the eventual Champions, Preston North End, destroyed them in what was the Rovers' only heavy defeat of the whole campaign. The Christmas games provided maximum points, with Barnsley being defeated twice in two days over the festive period.

A big crowd saw Hull City beat the Rovers as they began the second half of the season, but worse, much worse was to follow a fortnight later when Player/Manager Peter Doherty broke his leg against Swansea Town at Belle Vue. The team battled on and only two defeats in the next seven games pushed them within sight of a promotion place by Easter. However, three successive defeats within the space of a week soon banished the thought of further progress and, although the Rovers recorded a handsome victory at Chesterfield, two further losses in the next two games left them without any hope at all.

There was still time, however, to take one more notable scalp, and this arrived in the penultimate home game of the seasons when Champions elect Preston North End were well beaten at Belle Vue before yet another excellent attendance.

The FA Cup saw the Rovers involved in an all-ticket clash with Rotherham United at Millmoor. Despite going a goal up from the penalty spot, the Rovers surrendered their lead and the Millers made their way through to the fourth round via a 2-1 scoreline.

The Rovers' average gate for the 1950/51 season was 22,799, which was, and remains, a record figure for the club.

Leading scorers (league): Doherty 15, Harrison 13, Tindill 13


Division Two
1950-1951
 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Points
Preston North End
42
26
5
11
91
49
57
Manchester City
42
19
14
9
89
61
52
Cardiff City
42
17
16
9
53
45
50
Birmingham City
42
20
9
13
64
53
49
Leeds United
42
20
8
14
63
55
48
Blackburn Rovers
42
19
8
15
65
66
46
Coventry City
42
19
7
16
75
59
45
Sheffield United
42
16
12
14
72
62
44
Brentford
42
18
8
16
75
74
44
Hull City
42
16
11
15
74
70
43
DONCASTER ROVERS
42
15
13
14
64
68
43
Southampton
42
15
13
14
66
73
43
West Ham United
42
16
10
16
68
69
42
Leicester City
42
15
11
16
68
58
41
Barnsley
42
15
10
17
74
68
40
Queens Park Rangers
42
15
10
17
71
82
40
Notts County
42
13
13
16
61
60
39
Swansea City
42
16
14
22
54
77
36
Luton Town
42
9
14
19
57
70
32
Bury
42
12
8
22
60
86
32
Chesterfield
42
9
12
21
44
69
30
Grimsby Town
42
8
12
22
61
95
28