1984–85 John Player Special Trophy

This was the fourteenth season for the League Cup, which was again known as the John Player Special Trophy for sponsorship purposes.

Hull Kingston Rovers claimed the trophy by beating their local rivals Hull F.C. by the score of 12–0 in the final. The match was played at Boothferry Park, Kingston upon Hull and the attendance was 25,326. Gate receipts were £69555.

Background
This season saw several changes in the entrants: This involved an increase in entrants to thirty-eight, in turn resulting in a six-match, 12-club preliminary round to reduce the number of clubs taking part in the first round proper to thirty-two.
 * 1) Cardiff City Blue Dragons were renamed Bridgend Blue Dragons and Kent Invicta were renamed Southend Invicta
 * 2) Mansfield Marksman and Sheffield Eagles joined the league and also the competition
 * 3) Huyton changed their name to Runcorn Highfield and moved from  Alt Park, Huyton to Canal Street, Runcorn
 * 4) and the  re-introduction of the invitation to two junior clubs.

Preliminary round
Involved six matches and 12 clubs

Round 1 – First round
Involved 16 matches and 32 clubs

Round 2 – Second round
Involved 8 matches and 16 clubs

Round 2 – Second round replays
Involved one match and two clubs

Round 3 – Quarter-finals
Involved 4 matches with 8 clubs

Round 4 – Semi-finals
Involved two matches and four clubs

Teams and scorers
Scoring - Try = four points - Goal = two points - Drop goal = one point

Prize money
As part of the sponsorship deal and funds, the prize money awarded to the competing teams for this season is as follows :-

The road to success
This tree excludes any preliminary round fixtures

Notes and comments
4 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject and Wakefield till I die give the score as 17-6 but Wigan official archives gives it as 17-8
 * 1) * Myson are a Junior (amateur) club from Hull.
 * 2) * Bradford Dudley Hill are a Junior (amateur) club from Bradford.
 * 3) * Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-1991 and 1991-92, and RUGBYLEAGUEproject gives score as 24-10 but Wigan official archives gives it as 24-8

5 * This fixture not shown on Wigan official archives

6 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject give score as 32-5 but Wigan official archives gives it as 32-6

7 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject give score as 4-42 but Wigan official archives gives it as 4-34

8 * venue possibly Crystal Palace NSC or Chiswick Poly Sports Ground

9 * The highest winning margin to date between professional clubs

10 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject and Hull official archives give score as 26-14 but Wigan official archives gives it as 23-14

11 * Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-1991 and 1991-92, RUGBYLEAGUEproject and Wigan official archives give the venue as Boothferry Park but Hull official archives gives it as The Boulevard             Boothferry Park was the home of Hull City A.F.C.

12 * The attendance at this final was a new record, which would never be beaten in the competition

13 * Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-1991 and 1991-92, RUGBYLEAGUEproject and Wigan official archives give the venue as Boothferry Park but Hull official archives gives it as The Boulevard             Boothferry Park was the home of Hull City A.F.C.

14 * Boothferry Park was the home ground of Hull City from 31 August 1946 until December 2002. The final capacity was 15,160 although the record attendance was 55,019 set on 26 February 1949 in an FA Cup quarter-final when Hull City played host to Manchester United