Belinda Carlisle meets Moore RUFC after weeks of campaigning

Moore Rugby Union Football Club has met one of the club's idols this month, at a gig in Manchester.

Following a joint campaign between Moore RUFC and the Warrington Guardian, the club has been united with a 1980s popstar.

One club member even has the meaningful lyrics contained in a tattoo (Image: Moore RUFC)

For a number of years, Moore RUFC has had the 1987 hit 'Heaven is a Place on Earth' as their unofficial anthem - being played after matches by all of the club's teams, from the junior squads right up to the senior men's and women's sides.

The 1987 song was a hit for American songstress Belinda Carlisle, who was the lead singer for the group The Go-Go's.

Moore RUFC, based on Moss Lane, began their joint campaign with the Warrington Guardian to be put in contact with Belinda Carlisle on January 17, and what happened next was truly poetic.

On January 25, Carlisle appeared on Good Morning Britain and acknowledged the rugby club, even referencing tickets still being available for her gig in Manchester, inviting the club to attend the concert.

Well, exactly one month on from the campaign being launched, the club did just that and headed down to Belinda's Manchester gig.

And, the Warrington Guardian can reveal, a dream came true on Friday, February 17.

Members of Moore RUFC attended the gig on Friday night, and came face-to-face with an honorary club legend.

Members of the club chatted to the popstar before her gig in Manchester (Image: Moore RUFC)

Before the gig began in Manchester, the 1980s popstar invited members of the club backstage to meet her - and she even signed one of the club's shirts, too.

After initially saying that a meeting would be difficult due to Covid-19 restrictions on touring musicians, it appears as though Belinda succumbed to the sheer media power of the Warrington Guardian, and the social media push from Moore RUFC.

Posting on social media, the rugby club said: "Belinda Carlisle, thank you so much.

"Thank you for taking the time to meet us! It was great to meet you, and [it was] an awesome gig.

"Blown away."

Belinda signed one of the club's shirts, which will no doubt take pride of place at the club on Moss Lane (Image: Moore RUFC)

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian before meeting the popstar, chairman of Moore RUFC, Andrew Mossop, said: "The tradition probably started four or five years ago, and was played in the changing rooms for the first team.

"Since then, it's been played on the pitch after the games - wherever we go, it gets played."

Andrew added: "Moss Lane really is one step closer to being heaven on Earth!"

Well, now it would appear as though Moss Lane really is heaven on Earth.

Want the pick of the Warrington Guardian news delivered to your inbox every morning? Click here to sign up