This particular season was like the proverbial curate's egg - good in parts. Whilst it will be remembered most for the Rovers' Football League exploits, where they reached the fifth round, there was also much to enjoy in their League campaign which ended with Rovers in 10th place in the old Division Four.

The season began with a shock transfer as Rovers' Terry Curran moved to Nottingham Forest, with Ian Miller, Dennis Peacock and a handsome cash adjustment making the opposite trip. The Rovers also made the headlines in mid-September, when Chris Balderstone achieved a remarkable double of playing cricket for Leicestershire during the day, and after a quick journey from Chesterfield, then played for Rovers in their League game against Brentford at Belle Vue.

Ian Miller ws proving to be an inspired signing as the season progressed. His speedy wing play created numerous chances for the likes of Peter Kitchen and Brendan O'Callaghan, and all three players had registered League hat-tricks for Rovers by the middle of November. Miller's threesome against Newport County during the month marked the end of Rovers' early season powerplay and the following nine games provided just two victories, although one of these was a meritable success at Brentford. That win at Griffin Park was the springboard for a resurgence of Rovers' forthunes and five of the next six games were won, and the other drawn. These included a televised success at Leeds Road, Huddersfield, where Rovers won by the odd goal in three.

By now Rovers were back in the hunt for promotion and a late push was required to drive them through to the winning post. Unfortunately, it never materialised, although only four games were lost form January until the last week of the season. Many of the remaining games were drawn and only one of the last 10 League games was won. The season ended in mid-April, with three games crammed into the last four days - all of which were lost without a goal in Rovers' favour.

As mentioned previously, Rovers got to the fifth round in the Football League Cup with victories against Grimsby Town, Crystal Palace, Torquay United and Hull City, before losing heavily, and rather undeservedly so, at Tottenham Hotspur in December. The two teams were level at 2-2 with 52 minutes played, before an unfortunate Les Chappell 'own goal put Spurs ahead. Rovers subsequently wilted before the storm, and a final scoreline of seven goals to two against them was unrepresentative of the game as a whole. The Spurs team included goalkeeper Pat Jennings along with two men destined to hold management/ coaching positons at Belle Vue in Cyril Knowles and Jimmy Neighbour. John Duncan (3) and Martin Chivers (2) were responsible for five of the goals, while Alan Murray and Peter Kitchen scored for Rovers.

The FA Cup did not provide quite so much in the way of entertainment and two goals by Steve Uzelac were all Rovers had to show for their efforts in a 2-4 reverse at Gigg Lane, Bury in the first round.

Leading scorers: Kitchen 22, O'Callaghan 22 (league only)