Also known as Farmers Boy*
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The roots of professional wrestling lay in the countryside; it was only during the “Golden Age” at the beginning of the twentieth century that the likes of Georges Hackenschmidt, Tom Cannon and Jack Carkeek made wrestling a fashionable night out for the city folk.
The nickname of the Farmer has been attached to many professional wrestlers, some with more legitimacy than others. When it comes to George and Harry Broadfield they were the genuine article, brought up working on the land to help their parents, Henry and Jessie Broadfield on their farms in Middlestown near Wakefield and Heybeck Lane, near Dewsbury.
Harry Broadfield wrestled as Harry Fields and also took over the nickname of Farmers Boy* from his elder brother, George. He was born on 4th June 1927, around the time parents Henry and Jessie Broadfield were moving from their farm in Middlestown near Wakefield to Heybeck Farm, near Dewsbury. Like his brother he learned to wrestle in the loft of Heybeck Farm.
Harry was wrestling by March 1945, when we found him beating Arthur Sparks in Nottingham. He was something of an overnight sensation at a time when rings were dominated by older, heavier men, many returning to the ring after a wartime break. This early success allowed Harry to travel early in his career, and he worked in Mexico in 1948, quite an achievement at the time.
Harry’s wrestling skill and youthful appearance made him a popular figure in the 1950s, and he was to maintain that popularity throughout his career. Wrestling was to always remain a part time occupation for Harry; farming remained his first love. His farm near Dewsbury restricted his wrestling commitments to the north of England. Harry gaining national championship recognition no fewer than thee times. Harry was the second holder of the Lord Mountevans British Middleweight championship for a short time in 1952.
His younger age gave him the opportunity to benefit from televised wrestling, and he made around eight appearances with opponents that included Clay Thomson, Tony Charles, John Foley and Chic Purvey. He disappeared from our rings in 1968.
Harry Fields died on 1st April, 1979.
* We have read many times that Harry Fields was initially billed as Farmers Boy but failed to find any evidence other than as a nickname..
28/03/2021 Page addded
13/08/2021 Page reviewed
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