The club changed its official match day from Friday night to Sunday to fall in line with all other First Division clubs and to hopefully increase attendances.

Much better starts were made in the cups, with progress to the semi-final of the Yorkshire Cup against Hull KR and John Player Trophy against Warrington. The Challenge Cup ambition was dashed with a 5-7 2nd round defeat away at the very strong Widnes club. The fact that it took a penalty 40 seconds from time to decide the game made defeat all the harder to take.

After a vastly improved league finish of 5th qualified Castleford for the Premiership Play-Offs, the semi-final defeat 11-12 at home to Hull was again the limit for the club. Even so, they had been top of the league on 5 different month ends, but fell just short. The team had shown a never say die attitude more than once, drawing 14-14 at Oldham in the first league game with a last-minute Malcolm Reilly drop goal, and beating Bradford 19-18 at home on New Year's Day with a Terry Richardson try and Gary Hyde goal in the last minute.

Interest was shown in signing Bradford international second row forward Jeff Grayshon and Oldham centre Bill Francis but nothing materialised. Amongst other snippets, the club announced they were considering legal action after a game against Widnes where Malcolm Reilly suffered a facial injury. The alleged miscreant, Brian Hogan, later received a 13 match ban and Reilly suffered a two month layoff with a fractured cheekbone operation.

30 league games brought W18 D2 L10 and a finish of 5th from 16. A total of 31 players were used in 42 matches. Gary Hyde and Terry Richardson were the only hat trick scorers of the season. The average attendance was 4612. It was noted in a programme in September that crowds throughout the game had risen 33% in 4 years, but the future was uncertain due to economic conditions.

The "A" team was again successful, topping the Yorkshire Senior Competition league by 11 points by winning 25 of 28 games. They won the Yorkshire Senior Competition Challenge Cup 28-3 at York and the Top Four Play-Off 17-13 over Hull. The Colts also had a little success, finishing 4th in the league and losing the Challenge Cup final 17-32 to Hull, captained by Lee Crooks.

Robert Spurr completed 12 years at the club and was due a testimonial year in 1981. He completed a busy year and reaped a record payment of £16,000.

In recognition, Castleford were awarded Daily Mirror Team of the Month in October, when Gary Hyde was made Player of the same Month by the Sunday People. In a clean sweep that month, Malcolm Reilly was the Serena Sportswear Coach of the Month.

Representatives

Ian Birkby and Tony Waite played for Great Britain Colts.
Steve Fenton John Joyner, Robert Spurr, Gary Stephens and Geoff Wraith played for Yorkshire
Steve Fenton, Gary Hyde and Kevin Ward played for Great Britain under 24
Steve Fenton, John Joyner and Terry Richardson played for England
John Joyner played for Great Britain

Debuts

A N other second row (rumoured to be Welsh rugby union player Derek Churchill)

Last career game played this season and next move

Gary Stephens scrum-half Wigan
Phil Johnson centre/stand off Huddersfield but later Featherstone in a swap deal with Kevin Anderson 1981/82
Tony Halmshaw loose forward Huddersfield
Brian Hughes prop York 1981/82
Dave Sampson prop released 1981/82
A N other second row (rumoured to be Welsh rugby union player Derek Churchill)