The 1965/66 season marked the end of a lengthy period for the Rovers, during which time they seldom looked like winning any sort of honours. The days during the 1950's when they were a useful Second Division outfit had long gone and two subsequent relegations had left them in the Fourth Division for a number of seasons. However, a number of astute signings by the Rovers management provoked fresh hopes for the new season, and those hopes blossomed as the Rovers opened the campaign with a brace of 4-0 victories.

The first away game, at Southport, was lost, but three wins from the next four fixtures maintained the Rovers' early promise, only for three consecutive defeats to set the alarm bells ringing again. There was a rare occurrence in October 1965, when the Rovers' home game with Colchester United was abandoned midway through the first half because of fog, but it was Barnsley's turn to be misty eyed a few days later, when the Rovers went to Oakwell and hammered them 5-1. The run-up to Christmas 1965 was the Rovers regain their composure with a series of useful results and, although they only took one point form two holiday games with Barrow, their confidence was reasonably high as the New Year opened.

Only one of the opening seven games of 1966 was lost, whilst excellent away victories were gained at Lincoln and Rochdale. By now, the Rovers' promotion push was throttling up, and they went through the month of March unbeaten and, as April progressed, the promotion race was intensified. There were a number of other clubs involved and the Rovers found themselves in an odd position, having completed their fixtures, whilst other teams with games in hand could deny them the Fourth Division Championship. In the event, the Rovers' 59 points proved to be just enough, although Darlington were only denied by the Rovers' superior goal average.

The Rovers' League success was not mirrored in their Cup games, for they lost at then non-league Wigan Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup and fared only marginally better in the League Cup, before losing at home to Burnley in round two. Remarkably, Bill Leivers chose to resign his position as the Rovers team manager in February 1966, despite his team's excellent league placing at the time. He refused to elaborate on the reasons for his departure, citing only "personal reasons".

Leading scorers (league): Sheffield 28, Jeffrey 22