Just curious about this game and can only find snippets of information on the web. I would like to know:-

a) Did anyone go who posts on here?
b) Did it generate much interest locally in the US?
c) What was the attendance and were there many Wire/Wigan fans there?
d) Was it just a friendly or a league game taken overseas?
e) Was it televised?
f) Why was Milwaukee chosen?
g) Any chances of a repeat (of kind)?


Just pure curiosity.

It was just a friendly (although nobody mentioned that to sir les) and around 17-18000 people was the attendance. There was talk of further games but both teams made a large financial loss out of the project so it was shelved. And no, i didn't go.

IIRC there was a thread on here last year about it, prompted by someone selling the programme on ebay. Was a friendly and shown on BBC1, dont know if it was full game or extended highlights. My former neighbour Paul Williamson played for Wires that day.

Well Russell Crowe wants to take the WCC to Vegas if Souths win the NRL GF; and with Moran's favourite NRL team being the Rabbits, maybe it will go over there if we win the SL GF and he'll put on free flights?
Seriously though I'd love to go a WCC with Wire in Aus or Vegas! Just don't think the idea will work at all in Yankyland!

It works in a way. Look at Jacksonville they get bigger gates than Leigh.

It was a friendly, althoughat at a scrum, Boyde (I think), Hanley, Mike and Andy Greg all fighting, sin bins ect made it far from friendly!

Was a pretty pour game though, very low scoring, one try I seem to remember, to Wigan, who won as well, but the pitch was very narrow!

The yanks couldn't believe how the players basically did what they did in American Footy, but without all the pads, helmets etc!

Boyd smashed Hanley into oblivion.

Can't answer all the questions and unfortunately I couldn't make the game, buy a new house or go and watch the wire in the USA, common sense prevailed in the end.

Anyway I remember the BBC did televise it a few days later and put a fairly good presentation from the US. A programme was available and videos were sold by Warrington of the build up to the game and the game itself. Got mine some where in the old video vault.

Why was it in Milwakee? I think the promoter had links up there possibly with the green bay packers.

In 89 games between wigan and wire were quite ferocious and I'm sure the reputation of certain players led to a planned fiery start i.e. Boydy disliking of Ellery.

The pitch itself didn't help, being narrower and shorter than a regular pitch.

For the players and fans I'm sure it would have been a good trip but don't think the event did much for RL.

Any repeat, well I believe Leeds have been over for Pre season training and friendlies to Florida. If two clubs were prepared to do similar, something could happen but not evryone wants to use their holidays in the middle of winter, albeit in the Florida sun.

I know you can't post links but I think research tips are OK.

If you go to YouTube and type, off the top of my head of course, "John Holdsworth lays down the law", you might get a minute or two of the match.

Two excellent kits - if I remember rightly.
And for younger readers, a pretty good indication of the rivalry between the two clubs can be gained.

If the research tip was really lucky, you could even get a bonus of highlights of the infamous World War 3 clash on New Year's Day on 1988 and the unforgettable Cullen / Goodway incident.

This is why the Wigan game will always be the highlight of the season for those of us of a certain vintage.

Good luck with the research!

I went to Milwaukee in 1989, lots of promotions, was some locals there.
The match was very dour due to the size of the pitch, only found out after
wards that the match could have been postponed due to size of the pitch.

Milwaukee was a great place to go.

Will never forget Les Boyd hitting Hanley, and Mike Gregory being voted most
valuable player.

Excellent....I've watched it loads of times and still cant see why Adrian Shelford got sent off....it was a shocking decision

Boyd and Gregory started it, Shelford puts an arm on Boyd trying to peel him away, Tony humphries grabs hold of shelford they wrestle on the edge of the fight humphries lands the nut on shelford then Dessie holds Shelford in a bit of a headlock until it all calms down.

I cant see him do anything remotely wrong apart from wearing a wigan kit

Is that not enough?

i have a copy on DVD, it comes out every now and then for a viewing, good stuff!

The relevance being what exactly..........2ool.

Didn't go but my parents had planned to. My conception put paid to that idea. They got their own back the following year and refused to take me to Wembley 1990.

Read the post before mine to see the relevance of what I was saying

It all kicked off at a scrum when Shelford tried to bite Humphries' thumb off. So he certainly wasn't an innocent bystander.

=#FF0000Best to avoid direct links to material of uncertain copyright!

See for yourselves

Two of us travelled down to Heathrow to fly to Detroit to pick up a hire car and travel.... 2500 miles and 19 states, then Milwaukee.... good build up round the ground, sh*te game, Saz`s Bar afterwards with the players... good night that was..... oh yeah forgot to mention that on the way down to london we sat with Dessie, on his way for a visa (being west indian) got one (treasured) photo of us

It was on sportsnight. I bet Rogues went.

Sadly I didn't, I was doing a commissioning job in Nigeria.

I googled this subject the other night after talking in the pub about it and found this topic! Whilst chatting in the pub I was trying to recall the name of the Wigan player who I got roped into chauffeuring in the motorcade through the streets of Milwaukee the day before the game which ended with a salute from the Mayor, who was stood on a podium, as we drove by. My passenger was Adrian Shelford and in the rear seat were an elderly couple who were Wigan supporters who had made the trip over and as there were 2 spare seats in the back I told them to hop in.
The person who organised all this as well as the game itself was a friend of mine called Mike Mayer who was born in Chicago and was a former gridiron player who saw a R.L. Cup Final on t.v. in the States and was hooked on our sport. He set about trying to get the game to take off in the U.S. but after trying various avenues over several years it all came to nothing unfortunately and he now lives with his wife Cathy in Madison, Winconsin where he helps people who have fallen on bad times and although he has now lost his sight, he remains the same cheerful guy I first met about 37 years ago. By the way, the reason the pitch was small was because it was played in a stadium which was normally used for baseball but the stadium itself held about 50,000 when full. All the local bars made us all very welcome and my wife and I were treated to a drink or two as the locals weren't used to tourists in the area and we seemed to be a bit of a novelty and they all wanted to hear our English accents. One bar I can always remember by it's unusual name was Rosie's Waterworks and, like most of the bars, they brewed their own beer, the process being visible through plate glass windows in the pub. I got to have a chat with the infamous Les Boyd in the park where the motorcade assembled and he came over like he wouldn't hurt a fly! A really likeable chap.
The game itself wasn't a good advirtisment for out sport unfortunately, as someone has already posted, it was spoiled by the small size of the pitch but to get approx. 18,000 people there was quite some achievment. I will always remember all the Yanks before the game, sat in groups round the boots of their cars in the car park doing BBQ's!
I hope my few recollections will have helped to set the scene a little for you. By the way, I have lived in York all my life and follow the Knights through thin and thin but one day.......

it gets a mention in mike gregs book which is superb reading..no i did`nt go it was the only game i missed whilst sir les was playing for the wire..

Thanks everyone for sharing your memories on this, it has been fascinating to read! I really think the IRFL should try and push the game over the pond, it has huge potential; as someone pointed out it is American Football but without the padding and advert breaks!

great post by JWTT