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Andrew Bryden took the name Dale Storm, an impromptu choice when the question was posed by wrestler and promoter Danny Flynn as he was about to give the over-confident teenager a trial match. Dale escaped from that encounter with ego and body bruised. Despite encouraging words from Danny he arrived at the conclusion his dream of being a professional wrestler had evaporated. No one was more surprised than he when he received an offer of work for Cape Promotions. Of that first tentative entry into the professional ring, aged 17, Dale remembers, “You know, I actually got a warm reception. Although come to think of it the crowd used to clap the Christians in the Coliseum in Rome warmly as well. And then the bloody Lions ate the poor buggers!”
Over a half a century later Dale is quick to tell everyone of how much he learned from his mentor, Danny, and partner Fred. Following Danny’s death Cape Promotions ceased promoting in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute and the Bryden brothers took over running the shows. Eddie Rose said that working at Rothesay for Spartan was his favourite venue and he enjoys telling the story of wrestlers returning from the island to Bute after the harbour had closed and having to scale the harbour walls like members of the SAS.
Dale’s interest in amateur wrestling had developed whilst he was visiting Australia. It was the need to travel to Glasgow to train that led to the formation of the Old Mossblown Gym, The club was open Sunday (Afternoon), and Monday. Wednesday and Friday evenings. In total Dale estimated 35-40 learned to wrestle at the club, amongst them half a dozen females.
Dale and Bruce’s Spartan Promotions provided work for many of the Spartan trainees, and amongst them was the youngest brother, Ian, when he turned sixteen. Dale appeared on many of the shows, always the blue eyed hero. He worked for other promoters in Scotland and occasionally northern England, mostly on the independent ciruit but also for Jack Atherton and Max Crabtree.
As Dale gained experience he also increased in size and began to move up the weights from lightweight to heavyweight. Through a career that spanned twenty years, from 1964-81, he worked with many of the biggest names in the business; Johnny Saint, Jackie Pallo, Adrian Street, Romeo Joe Critchley, Andy Robin and Ezra Francis (Sugar Ray DoDo) amongst others.
“Ezra was a real gent, a real good pal, and a big Man City supporter. I went to Main Road with him, it was a hoot!”
The end of a long career came abruptly and tragically one night at Hamilton Town Hall in a contest with Peter Preston. A loose ring board caused a serious spinal injury which required major surgery, thus ending a twenty year career.
Page added 13/09/2020
Page reviewed 04/10/2026
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