The 1981–82 Football League Group Cup was the first edition of the tournament that replaced the Anglo-Scottish Cup. It was won by Grimsby Town, who beat Wimbledon 3–2 in the final at Blundell Park.
First round Group A Home teamResultAway teamDateBurnley4–2Carlisle United15 August 1981Preston North End2–1Blackpool15 August 1981Carlisle United1–0Blackpool18 August 1981Preston North End0–1Burnley18 August 1981Blackpool0–0Burnley22 August 1981Carlisle United3–0Preston North End22 August 1981 TeamBurnley321052+318Carlisle United320164+217Preston North End310225-303Blackpool301213-201
Group B Home teamResultAway teamDateBradford City2–1Hull City15 August 1981Hartlepool United0–1Rotherham United15 August 1981Hull City0–1Rotherham United18 August 1981Hartlepool United0–1Bradford City19 August 1981Bradford City3–0Rotherham United22 August 1981Hull City1–0Hartlepool United22 August 1981 TeamBradford City330061+5110Rotherham United320123-106Hull City310223-103Hartlepool United300303-300
Group C Home teamResultAway teamDateGrimsby Town1–0Chesterfield15 August 1981Sheffield United2–1Doncaster Rovers15 August 1981Doncaster Rovers2–0Chesterfield18 August 1981Grimsby Town2–0Sheffield United18 August 1981Chesterfield1–1Sheffield United21 August 1981Doncaster Rovers0–2Grimsby Town22 August 1981 TeamGrimsby Town330050+509Doncaster Rovers310234-103Sheffield United311134-103Chesterfield301214-301
Group D Home teamResultAway teamDateLincoln City1–1Notts County15 August 1981Norwich City2–2Peterborough United15 August 1981Lincoln City0–1Norwich City18 August 1981Peterborough United3–1Notts County19 August 1981Norwich City3–0Notts County22 August 1981Peterborough United3–1Lincoln City22 August 1981 TeamPeterborough United321084+429Norwich City321062+418Lincoln City301225-303Notts County301227-501
Group E Home teamResultAway teamDateBolton Wanderers0–2Shrewsbury Town15 August 1981Bury1–2Chester15 August 1981Bury2–2Bolton Wanderers18 August 1981Shrewsbury Town1–0Chester18 August 1981Bury3–2Shrewsbury Town22 August 1981Chester1–2Bolton Wanderers22 August 1981 TeamShrewsbury Town320153+206Bury311166015Bolton Wanderers311145-104Chester310234-103
Group F Home teamResultAway teamDateNewport County0–0Torquay United15 August 1981Plymouth Argyle0–0Bournemouth15 August 1981Bournemouth1–1Torquay United18 August 1981Newport County2–1Plymouth Argyle18 August 1981Torquay United1–1Plymouth Argyle21 August 1981Bournemouth0–0Newport County22 August 1981 TeamNewport County312021+105Bournemouth303011003Torquay United303022003Plymouth Argyle302123-102
Group G Home teamResultAway teamDateOxford United0–1Aldershot15 August 1981Watford4–1Reading15 August 1981Oxford United2–4Watford19 August 1981Reading4–0Aldershot19 August 1981Aldershot1–1Watford22 August 1981Reading2–0Oxford United22 August 1981 TeamWatford321094+529Reading320174+217Aldershot311125-304Oxford United300327-500
Group H Home teamResultAway teamDateOrient2–0Southend United15 August 1981Wimbledon4–0Gillingham15 August 1981Orient0–1Wimbledon18 August 1981Gillingham0–0Southend United19 August 1981Gillingham1–1Orient22 August 1981Southend United1–2Wimbledon24 August 1981 TeamWimbledon330071+6110Orient311132+104Gillingham302115-402Southend United301214-301
Quarter-finals Home teamResultAway teamDateBurnley2–1Watford8 December 1981Newport County0–2Grimsby Town8 December 1981Bradford City1–1Shrewsbury Town won 4-3 on penaltiesShrewsbury Town9 December 1981Peterborough United0–1Wimbledon3 February 1982
Semi-finals Home teamResultAway teamDateAttendanceGrimsby Town2–1Shrewsbury Town19 January 19823,253Wimbledon5–0Burnley16 February 19821,267
Final
Notes
References