Also known as Harry Longdon
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Blood and Guts
Beeston heavyweight George Longdon was trained by Jack Taylor, and in the 1950s and 1960s worked for various independent promoters mostly in the midlands. In 1952 we found him noted as a promising heavyweight by Ron Moore, who wrestled as Ronto the Bull. George had something of a feud with Ronto, with a Midland Heavyweight Title to-ing and fro-ing between the two of them.
A very fit and muscular man he could usually be found in one of the supporting matches. Fitness and muscles came his way courtesy of his day job as a bricklayer and training at the YMCA in Shakespeare Street, Nottingham. The gym closed in 2022.
But if one thing could be said about George it was that he was a man with guts. Another of Taylor’s wrestlers, Al Tarzo, told us of the night that Bert Assirati’s opponent refused to go in with the Islington Hercules. “Harry volunteered to go on and saved the day for Jack. After the fight the dressing room door opened and George walked in. His nose was flat on his face which was covered in blood. His first words were ‘I conthider that an honour to have fought Bert Atherati.’ He really meant it but his injuries meant he was unable to say it.”
The story was verified by George’s son who told us, “I came downstairs the morning after the fight and there were three bloodied towels in the sink, I later spoke to my dad and he said got an extra five pounds for taking that beating,”
As a youngster George’s son was sometimes allowed to accompany his dad to matches, “I remember once getting my dad’s programme with the results on before the fights started, after shouting out something inappropriate I got a clip round the ear from whoever was looking after me at the time.”
George Henry Longdon was born on 9th February, 1916.Newly married in 1939 he stated his occupation as Foreman in a concrete company and professional footballer. He played for Manchester United Reserves and his son recalled that his father had told him he had “Played against the French in some capacity with General de Gaulle in attendance.”
George died in 1977 from a bronchial asthma attack.
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