Eddie Rose reflects on his long wrestling career.
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There were a number of “local groups” in wrestling, that is, wrestlers who lived in and around the same locality and/or went to the same gyms. Good examples are the Manchester lads, the Barnsley Gym or the Ayrshire “clan”. There are many others but I would restrict this to groups that I knew personally, with who I wrestled, travelled and trained over a twenty year career in the wrestling business. Each group had its own characters and characteristics; some good and some not quite so good. Let’s have a closer look at my personal views of some of these groups.
MANCHESTER
In the 1960s there were two Manchester groups; the established lads who worked for Joint Promotions, men like Tommy Mann, Bob Steele, Robert MacDonald, John Lees, Emile Poilve, Colin Joynson and Terry Downs and the so-called “Independents, Gentleman Jim Lewis, Lord Bertie Topham, Cowboy Jack Cassidy and Grant Foderingham and his gym lads: Johnny Saint, Johnny South, Paul Mitchell, Ian Wilson, Ezra Francis, Pete Lindberg, Hillbilly Bert Ellam, Mike “Flash” Jordan, Brendan Moriarty, Wally Delmar, Big Bill Blake, Micky Gold There was some inter-group friendships but by and large the groups kept to themselves. Many of us circulated between the two sets of promoters; if bookings for one dried up, then contact would be made with another, often via Jack Atherton.
Like many others, I was fortunate enough to work for both sets of promoters but not at the same time! Grant Foderingham (The Black Panther) allowed me to use his gym for several years and he gave me my first bout: a hesitant six round draw with Micky Coen in a Manchester club. By and large the Manchester-based lads were friendly and welcoming to wrestlers from other areas. Mind you, some of the Salford lads were a bit “iffy”!!!
WIGAN
One group that should be approached with caution was if there was a group of Wigan wrestlers on the same bill as an “outsider”. We would be treated with some diffidence unless you were already known and accepted by them. Jack Dempsey, Melvin Riss, John Foley and others from Riley’s gym could be cautious until they got to know and the approved of you. One of my best mates for a number of years was Dempsey (Tommy to his friends). I well remember Ian Wilson being seriously told off by him for taking his son, Michael, into a motorway cafe for a coffee -just two miles from the Wigan turn-off. Spending money needlessly! Once accepted by them though, the Wigan lads were good mates.
BARNSLEY
By contrast the Barnsley wrestlers were always just good fun to be with. Pedro the Gypsy, Stoker Brooks, Butcher Goodman, Max Raeger, “Gorilla” Reg Ray, Sam Betts (Dwight Ingleburgh), Leon Arras. The repartee and “micky taking” between these lads was exceptional and they excluded no one. It was laughs all round from first meeting…. And they could wrestle! Leon Arras became even more famous for his film and theatre acting, perhaps the best know was the film “Kes” and he reverted to his real name, Brian Glover, son of a famous father, Charlie Glover.
AYR
A fourth group was to be found in Scotland at the famous Mossblown Gym just outside of Ayr. The Bryden Brothers were at the heart of things at Mossblown: Dale Storm, Bruce Welch, Big Ian Miller. And there was a fourth brother, Gerald who both refereed and MC-ed with such distinction. Others I remember especially well were The Harlequins tag team, The Viking, Wee Tam and Mad Mike O’Hagan. At a very sensitive time Mad Mike solemnly walked into the ring with a sinister package labelled “Bomb. IRA.” He placed it in the centre of the ring. Needless to say, the audience departed the hall in panic.
They were a wonderful group of wrestlers at Mossblown and whenever we visited (which did each Summer in the ’70s) they invited us to the gym. I remember Ezra Francis (The Zulu), Mark Wayne, Ian “Mad Dog” Wilson and Romeo Joe Critchley all taking part in training sessions in the gym and in the ring on many occasions.
There were many other groups and I mean no disrespect for not mentioning them in more detail. Midlands wrestlers were always welcoming especially wrestler/promoter Gordon Corbett. The wrestlers from Ellesmere Port, too: Monty and Terry Swan, Buddy Ward, Brian Maxine and Bob Bell were all first class men. This along with several other groups but, wait a minute, there was one more special group worthy of a mention – or a warning!
THE MEAN MEN OF BURNLEY
There was another group, a small deadly gang at that; the Burnley boys! They were quiet but friendly – in the changing rooms! Get them in the ring and the unexpected was more than likely to occur. It could be a kick to the groin, a thumb in the eye or a stiff elbow across the chin. All done with a dead pan expression.
Sid Vickers was the rough and ready leader faithfully followed by “Dirty” Dave Reynolds and “Dangerous” Danny Clough. They were fast and dangerous but good friends again back in the changing room. Why were they so disposed? Coming from Burnley perhaps, or a shared genetic flaw, living in the dark rainy hills of East Lancashire? Who knows?
Being part of this and of other groups was what made wrestling the ’60s, ’70 and ’80s such a fantastic experience and meeting men with whom you are still in touch with in 2020 at reunions and via the internet. A time I look back upon with much pleasure and affection.
Eddie Rose (Manchester) 03/09/2020
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