The new Club Captain was Dr. Mike Allan who had joined in 1980 from the R.A.F., having played for them in Germany. Little did he know that during the season the Club would play its most prestigious game for ten years. In early 1984, an invitation was received from the R.F.U. to host a game against Toshiba from Japan, who were on a five-match tour of England. This game was to be at the end of March and was the third of their tour. Moor readily accepted the invitation and set about the task of organising the game with a vigour not often seen before or since. Sight-seeing trips were arranged for the visitors in the days prior to the game, including a visit to Rugby School on their way to Stockport, and training facilities were arranged at Manchester Grammar School.

On the day of the game, over 1000 spectators watched an entertaining match with Moor leading 7-0 at half-time, from a Neil Sinclair penalty and an Eamon McLaughlin try, and only relinquished the lead five minutes from time to eventually lose 7-8. After the game, the Club was presented with a television set (which is still going!) and for the next five years, Toshiba (U.K.) joined as corporate members, providing much needed funds. Ex-Colt, Simon Roberts, earned the distinction of winning a Blue when playing at scrum-half for Cambridge University in the 'varsity Match in December 1983 and went on win a half-Blue the following February, this time playing for the university's Rugby League side! On a more dismal note, the mini and junior section ceased operation at the end of the season due to a lack of players and coaches and it was to be another nine years before it recommenced. In July of that year, Nick Mason, ex-Colt and First XV player, set a world record for inflating a standard 1000 gramme weather balloon to a height of eight feet in 1 hour, 10 minutes and 25 seconds. This took place in the Club lounge at the annual summer barbeque, and this record stood until early 1999.A new dining room and kitchen was added in 1984/85, although this is now no longer used for its original purpose. John Ashley again took on the mantle of Club Captain in this season and was followed by Mike Owen in 1985/86. At the same time, Roger Taylor, 'CR', became President after four years as General Secretary and many years as a player in the '60s, which included the captaincy of the First XV. During his term of office, he re¬launched the annual President's Ladies Evening which has always proved to be an enjoyable and successful event in our social calendar. This was also the season in which a momentous change was made to the game in our area and to the rest of the game in England two years later; namely, the commencement of leagues.

The R.F.U. had decided to introduce a league structure on an experimental basis in the North West and the Eastern Counties for a period of two years, with both leagues being sponsored by Girobank. Participation was voluntary and senior clubs in our region elected not to take part and, as a result, Moor was placed along with ten other clubs in the top division. Involvement meant having to abandon many long-established fixtures and expose the Club to the cut and thrust of league rugby, an experience in which we did not fare at all well, finishing bottom of the division without a single win and being relegated to Division Two. This inauspicious start to our association with leagues was linked to the steady decline in our playing strength throughout the Club that had been occurring insidiously for the past few seasons. Of note, is that our first ever league game was against old rivals Davenport, which we lost 3-29. The inaugural 'Alan Corlett Memorial' game between Glossop and Moor took place at the start of the season. This was in memory of Alan who had tragically died a year before whilst playing for Glossop. Simon Roberts was again in the news as he achieved the rare feat of gaining another Blue, but this time for Oxford University and followed it up by playing for two consecutive years in the Combined England Students XV.

The first of twelve annual Heatons 10km. and 2km. road races was held and provided much-needed funds. Credit for their formulation and success must go to Jim Dearden and are another example of his many fund-raising activities over the years. Our decline continued into the next season when the First XV produced their worst playing record since World War II, winning only four matches and the senior teams together won a total of fifteen. Only the Colts XV acquitted themselves satisfactorily, winning eight out of fifteen games. This deterioration was not helped by the fact that the Club Captain originally selected for the job, Terry Jobson, had to resign for personal reasons and the First XV existed without a captain for some time, until Mike Evans stepped into the breach. Nevertheless, the first league games were won; 10-0 against Netherall, followed by a 16-10 victory over Egremont. Not surprisingly, the Fifth XV folded, not having managed to raise a side all season. One bright spot emerged from the year, however, as hot showers were installed for the first time in the changing rooms with the replacement of the old oil-fired boiler!