# 1980–81 John Player Trophy

This was the tenth season for rugby league's League Cup competition. It was again known as the John Player Trophy for sponsorship purposes.
Warrington won the final, beating Barrow by the score of 12-5 at Central Park, Wigan in front of a crowd of 12,802. The gate receipts were £21020.

## Background

This season saw only one change in the entrants, with the admittance of Fulham to the league and to this competition, resulted in only one junior club being invited, the total number remaining at thirty-two.

## Competition and results
### Round 1 - First Round

Involved 16 matches and 32 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Notes |
| 1 | Sat 22 Nov 1980 | Hull F.C. | 12-0 | Bradford Northern | Boulevard | 10854 | |
| 2 | Sat 22 Nov 1980 | Hunslet | 15-5 | Workington Town | Mount Pleasant | 700 | |
| 3 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Batley | 4-20 | Huddersfield | Mount Pleasant | 1781 | |
| 4 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Blackpool Borough | 21-7 | Huyton | Borough Park | 450 | |
| 5 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Bramley | 10-11 | Halifax | McLaren Field | 2338 | |
| 6 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Castleford | 30-17 | St Helens Recs | Wheldon Road | 2823 | 1 |
| 7 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Dewsbury | 12-37 | Featherstone Rovers | Crown Flatt | 2700 | |
| 8 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Doncaster | 10-18 | Whitehaven | Bentley Road Stadium/Tattersfield | 432 | |
| 9 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Fulham | 9-3 | Leeds | Craven Cottage | 12583 | |
| 10 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Keighley | 16-34 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Lawkholme Lane | 3895 | 2 |
| 11 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Leigh | 38-5 | Rochdale Hornets | Hilton Park | 3167 | |
| 12 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | St. Helens | 12-14 | Warrington | Knowsley Road | 7946 | |
| 13 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Salford | 17-9 | Wigan | The Willows | 3715 | |
| 14 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Swinton | 10-12 | Barrow | Station Road | 2470 | |
| 15 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | Widnes | 20-17 | Wakefield Trinity | Naughton Park | 5956 | |
| 16 | Sun 23 Nov 1980 | York | 11-9 | Oldham | Clarence Street | 5154 | |

### Round 2 - Second Round

Involved 8 matches and 16 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att |
| 1 | Sat 6 Dec 1980 | Warrington | 11-7 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Wilderspool | 4325 |
| 2 | Sun 7 Dec 1980 | Barrow | 26-13 | Hunslet | Craven Park | 4185 |
| 3 | Sun 7 Dec 1980 | Blackpool Borough | 5-11 | Halifax | Borough Park | 1724 |
| 4 | Sun 7 Dec 1980 | Hull F.C. | 11-10 | York | Boulevard | 11129 |
| 5 | Sun 7 Dec 1980 | Leigh | 17-9 | Fulham | Hilton Park | 7606 |
| 6 | Sun 7 Dec 1980 | Salford | 8-15 | Castleford | The Willows | 3452 |
| 7 | Sun 7 Dec 1980 | Whitehaven | 22-3 | Featherstone Rovers | Recreation Ground | 3922 |
| 8 | Tue 9 Dec 1980 | Widnes | 25-9 | Huddersfield | Naughton Park | 3571 |

### Round 3 -Quarter Finals

Involved 4 matches with 8 clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Notes |
| 1 | Sat 13 Dec 1980 | Castleford | 18–10 | Widnes | Wheldon Road | 3571 | 3 |
| 2 | Sun 14 Dec 1980 | Hull F.C. | 13–0 | Whitehaven | Boulevard | 11228 | |
| 3 | Sun 14 Dec 1980 | Leigh | 13–15 | Barrow | Hilton Park | 5521 | 4 |
| 4 | Sun 14 Dec 1980 | Warrington | 16–10 | Halifax | Wilderspool | 5532 | |

### Round 4 – Semi-Finals

Involved 2 matches and 4 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | Sat 20 Dec 1980 | Warrington | 5-5 | Castleford | Central Park | 3877 | | | |
| 2 | Sat 10 Jan 1981 | Barrow | 13-10 | Hull F.C. | Headingley | 11202 | | | |

### Round 3 – Semi-Finals - Replays

Involved 1 match and 2 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref |
| 1 | Sun 28 Dec 1980 | Warrington | 22-10 | Castleford | Headingley | 9279 | | | |

### Final

* 24 January 1981
| Warrington | 12 – 5 | Barrow |
| Tries: Bevan (2) Goals: Hesford (2) Drop goals: Hesford (2) | | Tries: Mason Goals: Ball |
* Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 12,820 Referee: Billy Thompson (Huddersfield) Player of the Match: Tommy Martyn

#### Teams

| Warrington | № | Barrow |
| Steve Hesford | 1 | Dave Elliott |
| Rick Thackray | 2 | Ralph McConnell |
| Ian Duane | 3 | Nigel French |
| John Bevan | 4 | Ian Ball (c) |
| Mike Kelly | 5 | Tony Wainwright |
| Ken Kelly (c) | 6 | Mel Mason |
| Alan Gwilliam | 7 | David Cairns |
| Neil Courtney | 8 | David Chisnall |
| Tony Waller | 9 | Howard Allen |
| Brian Case | 10 | Malcolm Flynn |
| Tommy Martyn | 11 | Kevin James |
| Ian Potter | 12 | Steve Kirkby |
| Eddie Hunter | 13 | Derek Hadley |
| ? not used | 14 | ? not used |
| Bob Eccles (for Eddie Hunter) | 15 | Eddie Szymala (for Howard Allen) |
| Billy Benyon | Coach | Frank Foster |

### Prize money

As part of the sponsorship deal and funds, the prize money awarded to the competing teams for this season is as follows:
| Finish Position | Cash Prize | No. receiving prize | Total Cash |
| Winner | £8,500 | 1 | £8,500 |
| Runner-up | £4,000 | 1 | £4,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £2,000 | 2 | £4,000 |
| Losers in Rd 3 | £1,000 | 4 | £4,000 |
| Losers in Rd 2 | £800 | 8 | £6,400 |
| Losers in Rd 1 | £600 | 16 | £9,600 |
| Grand Total | Grand Total | Grand Total | £36,500 |

### The road to success

This tree excludes any preliminary round fixtures
| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final | Final |
| St. Helens | St. Helens | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warrington | Warrington | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Warrington | Warrington | 14 | Warrington | Warrington | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Hull Kingston Rovers | Hull Kingston Rovers | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Keighley | Keighley | 16 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Hull Kingston Rovers | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | Hull Kingston Rovers | 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | Hull Kingston Rovers | 34 | | | | Warrington | Warrington | 16 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Halifax | Halifax | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| Blackpool Borough | Blackpool Borough | 21 | | | | | | | Halifax | Halifax | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| Huyton | Huyton | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Huyton | Huyton | 7 | Blackpool Borough | Blackpool Borough | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Halifax | Halifax | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bramley | Bramley | 10 | Halifax | Halifax | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Halifax | Halifax | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Halifax | Halifax | 11 | | | | | | | | Warrington | Warrington | 5 (22) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Castleford | Castleford | 5 (10) | | | | |
| Salford | Salford | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | Castleford | Castleford | 5 (10) | | | | |
| Wigan | Wigan | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wigan | Wigan | 9 | Salford | Salford | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Castleford | Castleford | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Castleford | Castleford | 30 | Castleford | Castleford | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| St Helens Recs | St Helens Recs | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| St Helens Recs | St Helens Recs | 17 | | | | Castleford | Castleford | 18 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Widnes | Widnes | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| Widnes | Widnes | 20 | | | | | | | Widnes | Widnes | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| Wakefield Trinity | Wakefield Trinity | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wakefield Trinity | Wakefield Trinity | 17 | Widnes | Widnes | 25 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Huddersfield | Huddersfield | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Batley | Batley | 4 | Huddersfield | Huddersfield | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Huddersfield | Huddersfield | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Huddersfield | Huddersfield | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | Warrington | Warrington | 12 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Barrow | Barrow | 5 |
| Leigh | Leigh | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Barrow | Barrow | 5 |
| Rochdale Hornets | Rochdale Hornets | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rochdale Hornets | Rochdale Hornets | 5 | Leigh | Leigh | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Fulham | Fulham | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Fulham | Fulham | 9 | Fulham | Fulham | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Leeds | Leeds | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Leeds | Leeds | 3 | | | | Leigh | Leigh | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Barrow | Barrow | 15 | | | | | | | | |
| Swinton | Swinton | 10 | | | | | | | Barrow | Barrow | 15 | | | | | | | | |
| Barrow | Barrow | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Barrow | Barrow | 12 | Barrow | Barrow | 26 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Hunslet | Hunslet | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hunslet | Hunslet | 15 | Hunslet | Hunslet | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Workington Town | Workington Town | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Workington Town | Workington Town | 5 | | | | | | | | Barrow | Barrow | 13 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Hull F.C. | Hull F.C. | 10 | | | | |
| Hull F.C. | Hull F.C. | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | Hull F.C. | Hull F.C. | 10 | | | | |
| Bradford Northern | Bradford Northern | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradford Northern | Bradford Northern | 0 | Hull F.C. | Hull F.C. | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | York | York | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| York | York | 11 | York | York | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oldham | Oldham | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oldham | Oldham | 9 | | | | Hull F.C. | Hull F.C. | 13 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Doncaster | Doncaster | 10 | | | | | | | Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 18 | Whitehaven | Whitehaven | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Featherstone Rovers | Featherstone Rovers | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dewsbury | Dewsbury | 12 | Featherstone Rovers | Featherstone Rovers | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Featherstone Rovers | Featherstone Rovers | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Notes and comments

1 * Pilkington Recs are a Junior (amateur) club from St Helens, home ground was City Road until they moved to Ruskin Drive from 2011-12 2 * Wigan official archives gives the score as 15-34 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject gives it as 16-34 3 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject gives the attendance as 3,571, the same as the previously listed match (which was Widnes v Huddersfield in round 2), but the Widnes official website omits to give the attendance for this match, one of only a few matches for that season without an attendance noted 4 * Wigan official archives give the score as 13-10 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject gives it as 13-15. As Barrow progressed into the semi-final, the score given in the Wigan archives was obviously in error 5 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject gives the attendance as 12,820 but Rothman's Yearbooks 1990-91 and 1992-93 give it as 12,802 6 * The attendance was a record for the final of this tournament (but would be broken next season) 7 * Central Park was the home ground of Wigan with a final capacity of 18,000, although the record attendance was 47,747 for Wigan v St Helens 27 March 1959