The 1979–80 Northern Rugby Football League season was the 85th season of rugby league football. Sixteen English clubs competed for the Northern Rugby Football League's First Division, with Bradford Northern claiming the title by for the first time.
Season summary
Bradford Northern won their first ever Championship this season. Wigan, Hunslet (having dropped the prefix of 'New' from New Hunslet), York and Blackpool Borough were relegated. Second Division Champions were Featherstone Rovers, Halifax, Oldham and Barrow were also promoted. Second place Widnes beat league champions Bradford Northern in the Premiership final.
First Division
Second Division
Premiership
Statistics The following are the top points scorers in the 1979–80 season.
Most tries Player Team Tries Keith Fielding Salford 30 Steve Hubbard Hull Kingston Rovers 30 Geoff Munro Oldham 29 Ian Ball Barrow 27 Keith Bentley Widnes 27 Peter Glynn St. Helens 27 Roy Mathias St. Helens 27 John Bevan Warrington 26 David Redfearn Bradford Northern 26 David Smith Leeds 24
Most goals (including drop goals) Player Team Goals Steve Quinn Featherstone Rovers 163 Steve Hubbard Hull Kingston Rovers 138 Steve Rule Salford 134 Steve Hesford Warrington 128 Mick Burke Widnes 127 Ian Ball Barrow 119 Steve Diamond Wakefield Trinity 116 Eric Fitzsimons Oldham 108 Mick Parrish Hunslet 98 Jimmy Birts Halifax 97
References
Sources 1979-80 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com The Challenge Cup at The Rugby Football League website