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

I've got the dvd. pm me if you want a copy.