Season 1984/85

Deryck Fox who was superb all year and made his international debut

An improved season with a mid-table finish and no relegation battle was completely over shadowed by events taking place off the field.  The bitter industrial conflict of the 1984 miners strike was taking place having a direct economic and social impact on the whole area.  Rovers were already having a tough time financially with pressing a VAT bill to pay and the effects of the strike exacerbated these problems.  Then on the night of 6 February 1985 an electrical fault with the new floodlights caused a fire which destroyed the main stand.  This was the second major fire at the ground as the old social club had been burnt down the previous July.  The season finished with Post Office Road resembling a war zone and the costs of a rebuild escalating because of increased safety requirements driven by the Bradford City fire disaster.    

Lance Todd trophy winner Dave Hobbs was sold to Oldham for £40,000 to help the financial situation and Wembley captain Terry Hudson moved to Hunslet.  Deryck Fox was now the lynchpin of the side; Lyman, Siddall, Banks, Quinn and Gilbert all had good years and newcomer Calvin Hopkins made his mark as leading try scorer.