Memories of Liverpool Stadium

frank thomas

2017 sees the 30th anniversary of the demolition of this great Hall, which as well as wrestling, stated boxing(amateur &pro) rock concerts, as well as trade union meetings! I was a weekly attendee on Fridays and saw pretty much everybody who was anybody in wrestling(with the exception of Mick McManus) but that's another story! Memories thoughts anything else on this great Hall thanks dear members..

Hack

The Stadium was the one big hall that I dreamed of visiting, but never did. I remember seeing it on a tv news report when a union meeting was being held there. the ring looked huge.

frank thomas

It was a championship boxing ring hack permanently installed, they took the ropes down when the rock concerts and union meetings were held, the thing that fascinated me most as a kid was the illuminated round indicator, suspended over the ring! I always longed to see it reach "ten" but it never seemed to(most bouts staged over 10x3 minute rounds then.. then one night it did, in a bout between Johnny saint and Kevin conneely.. ambition realized..

Ron Historyo

I went a few times and really enjoyed the place. Yes a fantastic big ring and good atmosphere. Seem to remember it Friday nights circa 1972-1973 , home from work , a quick tea and off to Liverpool down the East LancsRoad.

The place had real history,

frank thomas

Friday nights and the place packed to the rafters, I went there from 1972-1978, the excitement of seeing Billy two rivers, who turned out to be a major disappointment, Hans streiger(everybody's favourite "German" and was max Crabtree took over, giant haystacks, Steve Logan mk1 Mike Marino etc.. and of course my all time favourite the great Albert "rocky" wall, a man you'd love on your side when the going got tough!

The 1978 Kid

It was watching Brian Dixon's shows (under the Wrestling Enterprises of Birkenhead banner) at Liverpool Stadium that got me hooked on wrestling. They were far more exciting than what could be shown on ITV. It was great seeing the continued careers of TV classics like Adrian Street, John Cortez and Tony Borg, watching the growth of young wrestlers like Dave Finlay and Chic Cullen and seeing one TV star after another joining the ranks of the Stadium wrestlers: Kung Fu, John Quinn, Tony St Clair etc...

maskedmummy

I went to my first show in July 68 and have a list of every show till it closed Billy Best was the promoter in68 The mc back then never used to get in the ring but stood by his table outside the ring It was only when Wrytons took over that Stopped At the end of their tenure we had the dark days of Tug Wilson era low crowds etc Max took over then Brian then Max ran a few more shows then Brian had couple more with Max running the last one which he also was Mc Please dont hesitate if anyone has questions to ask me re this period

The 1978 Kid

Would it be possible to tell us When Wrytons took over from Bill Best and why. When Max took over from Wrytons. When the last show from Brian Dixon was.When was the final show which apparently Max ran? Thanks

maskedmummy

Billy Best I would guess retired it is hard to put a date on this but I would say Wrytons took over in April 72 I got rid of my programmes years ago but Billy used the Mat Review while wrytons had their own the changeover of programmes would give the correct date Maxs 1st show at Lpool was 30/5/75 But the bills had been put together by Wrytons upto 20/6/75 when Max took the matchmaking over this was the show that both Haystacks & Shirley worked on Brians 1st show was on17/6/77 & his last on 16/3/84 which had no shows from Quinn Bridges Mason & Tina Starr Max ran his last show on 11/1/85 Hope this is of interest to you

The 1978 Kid

Very interesting indeed, thank you for taking the time and trouble.

I started going to the Stadium in February 1978 but from September that year I was away at university so my attendances were somewhat sporadic.

maskedmummy

No problem

frank thomas

Remember the dark days of tug Wilson as related earlier, seemed to face Johnny saint(pre world champion days) on an almost fortnightly basis, then along came max!

paul mitchell

The stadium was special superb to work in.In defence of the fag end of Wrytons shows,Martin was finding it hard to bring up wrestlers south of Stoke for various transitional reasons with joint. However Eric Wilson could wrestle some of Max's exotically named replacements couldn't but at least on paper is bill matter looked good.That's one of the many reasons I admired Mike Marino top guy who would venture north.I take Franks point about samey bills but both Eric and Maurice Hunter were regular sub's at Belle Vue and the stadium.

frank thomas

You were a fairly regular performer there Paul, remember you in tag with Johnny south in the broughton rangers against the "Wonderboys" Marty Jones & Steve wright, also as a replacement for Bert Royal in tag with Vic Faulkner against the undertaker's, and an appearance in "heel mode" as "mad Mitchell" in a mixed boxer v wrestler contest with Jackie Turpin.. by the way, you were the first wrestler in my autograph book!Hope you're well

maskedmummy

When Wrytons took over I think we all agreed at the time shows were great a bit more focus on the lighter weights maybe but no complaints at that time Martin Conroy was in charge The problem was late 74 early 75 when Eric Wilson who seemed to be on every wryton tv show at the time ran the shows with Ian Burns Martin seemed to vanish from the stadiium but he was on tv even when Max took over I think Stan Rylands took over mc duties at Lpool There was a tv show from Preston normally a morrell hall at time which Martin mcd which seemed strange at the time I must also add as a wrestler I liked watching Tug Wilson a decent baddie Good times

maskedmummy

Just checked my old records in 1974 Tug was on 19 shows at Lpool 2 as a sub he had 6 bouts with Saint including 3 tags He went in with Maxine Barnes Steele Matu Joynson Guildon & Kung fu amongst many It was not that he was a poor wrestler it was just we had too much of him he rarely had a poor bout 1975 saw him on 8 shows up to May when he departed 2 contests v Tony st clair I remember He did not appear then till 12/8/77 when worked for Brian Dixon Should also in the 74/75 period Wrytons had aroun 9 tv shows and he done 7 of them + 1 for R&G

Hack

As I never went to the Stadium I can't add anything, though do remember Martin taking over at Wryton and the improvement at Southport, with new names coming over from the opposition.

Main reason for the post is to thank maskedmummy who has combined vivid memories with worthwhile information. Thanks.

maskedmummy

No Thanks needed Yes I do remember Martin at Southport I remember seeing the Undertakers who we had never seen there and as you say others came across with them I think it was after Martins time but there was a Tv show there with Andy Robin on a rare Wryton show for him

frank thomas

Hi maskedmummy. Remember the show at Southport featuring Andy robin. He wrestled Bob Abbott from Nottingham in a clean scientific match, unusually for Andy he never got the chance to use his "powerlock" speciality.. The bout ended due to an injury to Abbott as I recall

scoop

I went to Liverpool Stadoum shows from around 1975-1979. What a treasure having a full list of shows must be. It would be great to see them published here.

The Riot Squad

Hello Scoop, thanks for making your first post. Yes Masked Mummy the invitation is open.

Bernard Hughes

As I have said before, I never got to Liverpool stadium, although I would dearly have loved to go there.

My father stirred my interest bacause whan he was working there he saw Jack Pye and Bill Benny in a bloodbath (so he said).

Then when I was at St James' 2 boys who had relatives in Liverpool told me about the wild fights that they had seen.

Long long ago !

Ron Historyo

Best sold out in 1972 but seems to have bought back in and on 31st May 1974 the new advertising was Best Wryton.

Reasons given at the time to the press were. Attendances had fallen from 3000-4000 to 700 and they were running at a loss.

It was cited that there no longer was a Jack Pye , Ricky Starr or Billy two Rivers to pull em in.

Dixon took over from Max Crabtree on 17th June 1977 from what I can see.

The previous week 10th June was a Crabtree bill with Big Daddy

I have bills from this period but at the moment can't get them into the galleries.

Max came in in May 1975 but on behalf of Joint and it looks like the name Best Wryton was retained

Hack

Bill Best, Wryton, Morrell and Beresford all went into liquidation in December 1974. Use of the name after that would have no connection with Bill Best himself.

frank thomas

Can remember the first Dixon bill, it featured Mitzi Mueller V Hellcat Hagerty, Carl Mc Grath V Steve Haggetty The bill topper should have been The Masked Mummy V Abe Ginsberg. A preliminary match between Johnny Palance & Woody Waldo opened the card. Abe was "indisposed" due to tv work commitments, and the winner of Palance\Waldo(Palance) faced the masked mummy. Think Jon Cortez also featured, possibly V Jackie Pallo Sr, but stand to be corrected on this.

maskedmummy

Have to correct you Frank Dixons first show 17/6/77 Haggetty 1-0 Mcgrath Haggetty subbed for Cortez Mitzi 2-1 Lolita Loren Kincaid bt Streiger disq Pallos/Mcgrath 2-1 Haggetty/Barron/Cortez The second show 1/7/77 was opened bu Palance v Waldo Palance won the bout which meant he subbed for Abe v Mummy Abe was switched to top the bill v Kellet which replaced the Starr v Cassidy match Conneely v Gilmour & Mitzi v Patti McGoohan made up the rest of the bill Hope this clears up any confusion

frank thomas

Cheers for that maskedmummy..mists of time!