I came along to St James’ a few years after Bernard and do remember the Cadmans; Alf was a regular there for many years and I was to see him on one of my early visits in 1963 and many times after that. Alf was totally uncompromising in the ring and he could wrestle anywhere on the bill and give good value. I first saw Ken Cadman on television and then saw him quite regularly at Newcastle but always in partnership with Alf and quite often against the Royals. They were often on the losing side, usually via disqualification but always made their opponents look good.
I also saw John Foley quite often around this time either as a solo performer or in tag with Abe Ginsberg as The (original) Black Diamonds before Eric Cutler took his place. One thing that John was noted for was that he often took his father with him to his matches and he was certainly well known especially by the Lancashire wrestlers.
Hi Hack, Yes I knew that, but as I didn't get the chance to talk to Emil, I didn't know which one I saw. Except to say that it was in the early 50's if that helps.
Bernard, our Emile Pilve wrestler and referee was not the same as the French one.
Ruslan, have you come across Jimmy Niblett, who wrestled as Bob Sherry. Don't think he ever had a belt so not on your radar, but he was a very good Lancashire catch wrestler.
I first met Joe Reid in the early sixties when he would appear on Bob Bannister’s bills in Accrington. He was a familiar character in the North of England and even a long time before that.
On a couple of occasions, I would travel to Leigh near Manchester to train at his gym there. Being the great amateur that he was, he would show me some of his holds/moves etc. This is where I met up with his Son Marcus (The Great Marcus), my later opponent on some occasions.
Joe would on many occasions be billed against Jim Bevin, who was incidentally his Brother in Law. They were still going when I left the UK in 1967, where they both must have been in their sixties!
For some more info. Check on both wrestlers in the A – Z feature.
Hi bkendo1. You have set me a bit of a poser there. The only Cadman that I remember was Alf.
Very rough tough rule breaker. I always thought that like Norman Walsh, not quite heavy enough to worry the really top boys.But he was certainly a handful for the first 5 rounds if he lasted that long before getting disqualified.
Ken Cadman, Jack Fallon and John Foley I don't remember seeing at all. Their names are familiar from what I have read, but I don't think that they came to Newcastle in my time.
Emile Poilve, I thought that there was only one and he came from France. He was certainly billed from France the couple of times that I saw him. I see that he is shown as a heavyweight in the A-Z , but I would have said that when I saw him he was a lightheavy.
A clean classy wrestler who put on a good show without being too special.
I came along to St James’ a few years after Bernard and do remember the Cadmans; Alf was a regular there for many years and I was to see him on one of my early visits in 1963 and many times after that. Alf was totally uncompromising in the ring and he could wrestle anywhere on the bill and give good value. I first saw Ken Cadman on television and then saw him quite regularly at Newcastle but always in partnership with Alf and quite often against the Royals. They were often on the losing side, usually via disqualification but always made their opponents look good.
I also saw John Foley quite often around this time either as a solo performer or in tag with Abe Ginsberg as The (original) Black Diamonds before Eric Cutler took his place. One thing that John was noted for was that he often took his father with him to his matches and he was certainly well known especially by the Lancashire wrestlers.
Hi Hack, Yes I knew that, but as I didn't get the chance to talk to Emil, I didn't know which one I saw. Except to say that it was in the early 50's if that helps.
Bernard, our Emile Pilve wrestler and referee was not the same as the French one.
Ruslan, have you come across Jimmy Niblett, who wrestled as Bob Sherry. Don't think he ever had a belt so not on your radar, but he was a very good Lancashire catch wrestler.
Hi,
I first met Joe Reid in the early sixties when he would appear on Bob Bannister’s bills in Accrington. He was a familiar character in the North of England and even a long time before that.
On a couple of occasions, I would travel to Leigh near Manchester to train at his gym there. Being the great amateur that he was, he would show me some of his holds/moves etc. This is where I met up with his Son Marcus (The Great Marcus), my later opponent on some occasions.
Joe would on many occasions be billed against Jim Bevin, who was incidentally his Brother in Law. They were still going when I left the UK in 1967, where they both must have been in their sixties!
For some more info. Check on both wrestlers in the A – Z feature.
Cheers
No, sorry I don't remember Joe Reid. I have only just heard the name on this forum recently.
You have to remember that as a young boy I only went at first to Newcastle and they were Morrell promotions.
If they didn't wrestle for Morrell, I didn't see them..
Just one point for people thinking that I often say "not big enough to worry the heavyweights".
Please remember that when I went, people like Geoff Portz, Dennis Mitchell Johnny Allen and Alf Cadman were almost Lightheavies.
I even saw Geoff Portz with hair !
Hi bkendo1. You have set me a bit of a poser there. The only Cadman that I remember was Alf.
Very rough tough rule breaker. I always thought that like Norman Walsh, not quite heavy enough to worry the really top boys.But he was certainly a handful for the first 5 rounds if he lasted that long before getting disqualified.
Ken Cadman, Jack Fallon and John Foley I don't remember seeing at all. Their names are familiar from what I have read, but I don't think that they came to Newcastle in my time.
Emile Poilve, I thought that there was only one and he came from France. He was certainly billed from France the couple of times that I saw him. I see that he is shown as a heavyweight in the A-Z , but I would have said that when I saw him he was a lightheavy.
A clean classy wrestler who put on a good show without being too special.
Sorry that I can't help further.