WITH all the talk of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, here is a light-hearted look at connections between The Wire and the moon.

Apollo 11, the spacecraft mission to first land a man on the moon

Apollo Perelini (St Helens) was a Samoan forward who was born on the day of the launch of Apollo 11.

He certainly ‘launched’ into The Wire, for of the 12 league games he played against Warrington the score stood Apollo 11 Wire 1. He was definitely in ‘command.’

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That's one small step for Mann, one giant leap for mankind

Those immortal words uttered by Neil Armstrong as he first stepped onto the lunar surface.

He wasn’t talking about the Kiwi hooker Duane Mann signing for Warrington in 1989!

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Wolves' former Kiwi hooker Duane Mann

Sunday touchdown

They landed on the moon on July 20, which was a Sunday, in 1969.

The coincidence was that same year Warrington first started to play some games on a Sunday.

What on earth is happening?

As Apollo 11 was in orbit, the news from Wilderspool in mid-July 1969 that was coming through was as follows -

With the start of the 1969-70 season just four weeks away, strenuous efforts to find a goal-kicking replacement for Jeff Bootle were still being made.

Their latest approach was to Oldham for full-back Derek Whitehead.

Warrington Guardian:

Derek Whitehead

The Wire offer of £2000, plus player Keith Affleck, was rejected.

After disposing of Widnes and Wigan, Warrington gave Salford a shock before going down 13-23 in the final of the Wigan seven-a-side competition. Half-back Warren Ayres was the Warrington ‘star’ performer.

Astronauts' names

The three astronauts onboard Apollo 11 were Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.

Past players for Warrington with them surnames include -

Alan Armstrong, who was a prop forward, who played his only game for Warrington in October 1956.

Bet he was ‘over the moon’ as the opposition were very special … Australia!

Charlie Collins, who was a centre who played for the club between January 1921 and December 1922.

He won a Lancashire Cup medal when Warrington beat Oldham, but he didn’t last the game.

He came ‘crashing down to earth’ in a tackle, and dislocated his shoulder!

Not traced anyone called Aldrin yet, but ‘Buzz’ in if you can help.

The first moon landing

1969 was the year of the first moon landing

Joel Moon was an Australian centre who was primarily associated with Leeds Rhinos, but his first English club was Salford Red Devils so the first ‘Moon’ landing at The Halliwell Jones Stadium came on the 06/05/2012.

An under-strength Warrington held off a late Salford comeback to win 24-20, which moved them within a point of super League leaders Wigan. A game that Ben Currie scored his first Wolves try.

Warrington Guardian:

Ben Currie scoring his first try for The Wire

The Eagle has landed

The Apollo lunar module that descended to the moon's surface was called Eagle.

The only Eagle to land at Warrington were the Eagles of Sheffield.

They first landed at Wilderspool in February 1986, in a Challenge Cup first round game.

Sadly they have NEVER landed at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Compiled by Stanski