Organised by the Rugby Football League (RFL), the competition was open to all professional clubs in the Lancashire region, but also included a number of clubs based in Cumbria.

In 1976, Burtonwood Brewery agreed to sponsor the tournament in a deal worth £4,000 per year.

[1] They were replaced as sponsor by Grunhalle Lager (brewed by Greenall Whitley) in 1986.

[2] During the latter years of the competition, clubs complained increasingly about fixture congestion,[3] resulting in the cup being scrapped in 1993.

During this period the Yorkshire Cup finals of 1942, 1943, and 1944 were played over two legs, with aggregate score being used.