MOON LANDING

On July 20th 1969 the first human boot was planted on the moon, a significant moment in away fixtures. Yes, I am struggling to find something really interesting to write about on this famous day, BUT don't despair, I found a footballer called Kevin Moon who was born in Perth, Scotland and made his way round the Scottish teams with unusual names such as St Johnstone, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athlectic, Raith Rovers and finally Stirling Albion. He included a short spell at ECU Joondalup SC in Western Australia, yes in the City of Wanneroo, at the Gumblossom Park, Quinn's Rock a suburb of you guessed it, Perth. A much complicated c.v.

I did try quite hard to get "Moon" name connections and of course,  the Club Song "Blue Moon" was an obvious link, but whilst everyone will say it's Manchester City's song, it should be known that Crewe Alexandra also enjoy the famous chant. Apparently it reflects the colour of their away strip and a response to the "gloomy days" at Gresty Road during the mid-1900s.

Don't despair; I knew I had seen "Moon" somewhere and of course it was in the Corinthian history that I saw the name Billy Moon, who played as a goalkeeper and the great G.O.Smith described him as "sturdy and someone who gave as good as his got, in the matter of  charging". Moon played 7 times for England from 1888-91. He was a wicket keeper who played at Hampstead CC and occasionally for Middlesex. In a game at Vincent Square against the Old Westminsters. GO playing for the Old Carthusians collided with Moon who was knocked out, but GO broke Moon's cheekbone and eye socket. Moon had a younger brother, Leonard, who played at inside-left and also cricket for Middlesex.
This is Billy's brother, Leonard J Moon, a cricket Blue at Cambridge and a Soccer Blue too. Like his brother, he was at Westminster School and Pembroke College, playing for the University between 1897-1900. In 1905-6 Leonard played cricket for England against South Africa. A schoolmaster, he was killed at Salonica, Greece in the First World War (23/11/1916) aged 38.

To bring the whole this down into a poor reputation, I could go on into Mooning; Dave Gaskell (Man U) and Jimmy Dunne (Fulham) were brought before the courts in the 1960s for dropping their shorts on the pitch. Sammy Nelson did the same against Coventry in 1979. Eight Wimbledon players did the same at half time during a testimonial match in May 1988-the players were fined £750 each.