This season marked the first of two promotions for the Rovers during the decade, and success for Billy Bremner in his first period as manager of Doncaster Rovers. It also saw the League debut of former favourites Russ Wilcox and Glenn Humphries.

The season began disappointingly with a heavy defeat at Port Bale and two of the following three fixtures also ended in defeat, before the Rovers went into overdrive during the month of September when all six League games were won, perhaps the best of these being a 5-1 home win over Hereford United.

The first game of October, a home fixture with Lincoln City, attracted a gate of over nine and a half thousand to Belle Vue, but the match was lost by a single goal and the Rovers' chance to go top of the old Fourth Division had gone - they were not to go so close again for the rest of the season.

In fact, the following two months saw the Rovers drift down the table and, whilst they were still in the upper reaches of the division, they were in danger of losing the pace if they couldnot put an end to their indifferent run of form.

Fortunatley, history records show that their form did improve and the month of December saw them unbeaten in four League games, the pick of these being a fine away win on the long trip down to Bournemouth.

The New Year began with a home win over Aldershot and suddenly the Rovers were in the top four and playing good, attractive soccer. Ably led by the veteran, Alan Warboys, with Ian Nimmo in support and the irreplaceable Alan Little in midfield, the team was beginning to look promotion material. Ian Snodin was now a first team regular alongside Little and, despite his tendr years, his skill on the ball allied with Little's raw power made the perfect midfield combination.

The run-in to the end of the season saw many excellent performances. A goalless draw at eventual champions Southend United, where goalkeeper Willie Boyd had the game of his life, and a smart win over Halifax, when the Rovers barely seemed to get out of first gear, spring to mind.

By the time of the last home game with Bournemouth, promotion was within reach and victory over the men from Dean Court assured it, with Warboys and Nimmo the scorers. A point at Mansfield Town in a rearranged fixture eased the Rovers into third place and the best season in years was at the end. The "Whites" were going up!!

The cup competitons saw contrasting fortunes for the Rovers. The FA Cup provided victories over non-league Sutton Coldfield and Blackpool, before the Rovers were desperately unluck to lost by a single goal at Hull City in a match that they had dominated from the first whistle. The League Cup was less dramatic, with the Rovers going out to Mansfield Town in a first round replay at Field Mill

Leading scorers: Nimmo 18, Little 7

Division Four
 1980/1981
 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Points
Southend United
46
30
7
9
79
31
67
Lincoln City
46
25
15
6
66
25
65
DONCASTER ROVERS
46
22
12
12
59
49
56
Wimbledon
46
23
9
14
64
46
55
Peterborough
46
17
18
11
68
54
52
Aldershot
46
18
14
14
43
41
50
Mansfield Town
46
20
9
17
58
44
49
Darlington
46
19
11
16
65
59
49
Hartlepool United
46
20
9
17
64
61
49
Northampton Town
46
18
13
15
65
67
49
Wigan Athletic
46
18
11
17
51
55
47
Bury
46
17
11
18
70
62
45
Bournemouth
46
16
13
17
47
48
45
Bradford City
46
14
16
16
53
60
44
Rochdale
46
14
15
17
60
70
43
Scunthorpe United
46
11
20
15
60
69
42
Torquay United
46
18
5
23
55
63
41
Crewe Alexandra
46
13
14
19
48
61
40
Port Vale
46
12
15
19
57
68
39
Stockport County
46
16
7
23
44
57
39
Tranmere Rovers
46
13
10
23
59
73
36
Hereford United
46
11
13
22
38
62
35
Halifax Town
46
11
12
23
44
71
34
York City
46
12
9
25
47
66
33