| Club: | Molde |
| Season: | 1981 |
| Manager: | Torkild Brakstad |
| Mgrtitle: | Head coach |
| Chairman: | Gunnar Hagbø |
| Chrtitle: | Chairman |
| Stadium: | Molde Stadion |
| League: | 2. divisjon, group B |
| League Result: | 2nd (promoted) |
| Cup1: | Norwegian Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth round vs. Bryne |
| League Topscorer: | Rune Ulvestad (13) |
| Season Topscorer: | Rune Ulvestad (15) |
| Prevseason: | 1980 |
| Nextseason: | 1982 |
The 1981 season was Molde's 20th season in the second tier of Norwegian football and their first since their relegation from 1. divisjon in 1980. This season Molde competed in 2. divisjon (second tier) and the Norwegian Cup.
In the league, Molde finished in 2nd position in 2. divisjon group B, 2 points behind winners Sogndal and qualified for promotion play-offs.[1] Molde won promotion to the 1982 1. divisjon after winning the play-offs on goal difference against Brann and Pors.[2]
Molde participated in the 1981 Norwegian Cup. Molde reached the fourth round where they were eliminated by Bryne. Molde lost the fourth round 2–4 on away ground after extra time.
Source:[1]
See main article: 1981 2. divisjon.
Results
Molde won the qualification round and was promoted to the 1. divisjon.
See main article: 1981 Norwegian Football Cup.
Lacking information:
|}
| width=60 | Rank | width=60 | Position | width=60 | width=150 | Player | width=80 | 1. divisjon | width=80 | Norwegian Cup | width=80 | Promotion play-offs | width=80 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW |  | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 | |||||||||
| 2 | MF | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | |||||||||
| MF | | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 4 | FW | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||
| 5 | MF | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
| DF | | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 7 | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
| FW | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
| MF | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 10 | MF | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| DF | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Unknown | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||
| Own goals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||
| TOTALS | 41 | 11 | 3 | 55 | |||||||||||