The Golden Boy would have been (I think) Tim Geohagen (real name Charles Geohegan), from the USA, who was wrestling here in the UK in 1964 and often used the name, "Golden Boy" (he faced Masambula here in Sheffield in September of the same year).
There was a Carl van Dyke (sometimes spelled Karl) who wrestled in the UK in the late 40's, befeore going to the USA, not sure if this is our man or not?
I can't imagine that any of the fans in Churchtown that day could imagine us talking about that show and the wrestlers fifty years later. Does anyone know anything about the Golden Boy or Carl Van Dyke?
Yes, I had a couple of bouts at Kirkland Memorial Hall, not sure who my opponents were as all this is some 50 odd years ago, but I think one opponent was Lee Scott, who was a friend of Hal Strickland (Jock Cameron).
You think that Gerry Hoggarth was the promoter, not sure on this. What I do know was that Gerry did most of the refereeing at the shows there. Ray Steel from Rishton also did some refereeing there.
What I do know for sure is that Hal Strickland had something to do with running the shows with somebody else, who’s name eludes me. I have a shrewd suspicion that it might have been *Triple Promotions, as I did some bouts in Morecambe for them.
One episode (not a funny one) I would like to mention is that I was once told by Bob Bannister that he had fixed a bout for me there. So, on the evening I turned up on time and was met by Hal Strickland whom I then asked who was my opponent for that evening, he then promptly told me that there must be some misunderstanding, I was down to be the referee for the evening!
Bearing in mind that I had never refereed before that night we had a very heated discussion on whether I could actually referee or not, as I only had my wrestling gear with me i.e. no white shirt, no bow tie etc.
The best part came last. At the end of the evening, when I was getting paid by Hal, I said there was something wrong, as my pay packet didn’t have what was agreed upon between myself and Bob Bannister, to which I was told that my pay was for being the referee and not being a wrestler. After another heated discussion I got another couple of pounds more from him.
I’m afraid that was my last appearance at the Kirkland Memorial Hall.
*I started a Forum Topic on Triple Promotions some time ago, but without success.
Note on the bill from Hack:
The Bearded Monarch (real name Norman Kenworthy), Vince Lawson, Don Plummer, Ian St, John and Andras Svajick were all members of Bob Bannister’s gym in Accrington along with myself.
Hi Phil, Just wondered whether you appeared on the bills at Kirkland Memorial Hall, near Garstang or at nearby villages Out Rawcliffe and Cockerham which took place in 1963-64. I notice from an advert in the local newspaper that a number of Accrington based wrestlers involved. Gerry Hoggarth is listed as referee and maybe he was also the promoter.
If you took part and have any memories of the events, I'd be really pleased to hear of them. I've posted requests on the local historical website but no one has anything meaningful to add.
The Golden Boy would have been (I think) Tim Geohagen (real name Charles Geohegan), from the USA, who was wrestling here in the UK in 1964 and often used the name, "Golden Boy" (he faced Masambula here in Sheffield in September of the same year).
There was a Carl van Dyke (sometimes spelled Karl) who wrestled in the UK in the late 40's, befeore going to the USA, not sure if this is our man or not?
I can't imagine that any of the fans in Churchtown that day could imagine us talking about that show and the wrestlers fifty years later. Does anyone know anything about the Golden Boy or Carl Van Dyke?
Hi William,
Yes, I had a couple of bouts at Kirkland Memorial Hall, not sure who my opponents were as all this is some 50 odd years ago, but I think one opponent was Lee Scott, who was a friend of Hal Strickland (Jock Cameron).
You think that Gerry Hoggarth was the promoter, not sure on this. What I do know was that Gerry did most of the refereeing at the shows there. Ray Steel from Rishton also did some refereeing there.
What I do know for sure is that Hal Strickland had something to do with running the shows with somebody else, who’s name eludes me. I have a shrewd suspicion that it might have been *Triple Promotions, as I did some bouts in Morecambe for them.
One episode (not a funny one) I would like to mention is that I was once told by Bob Bannister that he had fixed a bout for me there. So, on the evening I turned up on time and was met by Hal Strickland whom I then asked who was my opponent for that evening, he then promptly told me that there must be some misunderstanding, I was down to be the referee for the evening!
Bearing in mind that I had never refereed before that night we had a very heated discussion on whether I could actually referee or not, as I only had my wrestling gear with me i.e. no white shirt, no bow tie etc.
The best part came last. At the end of the evening, when I was getting paid by Hal, I said there was something wrong, as my pay packet didn’t have what was agreed upon between myself and Bob Bannister, to which I was told that my pay was for being the referee and not being a wrestler. After another heated discussion I got another couple of pounds more from him.
I’m afraid that was my last appearance at the Kirkland Memorial Hall.
*I started a Forum Topic on Triple Promotions some time ago, but without success.
Note on the bill from Hack:
The Bearded Monarch (real name Norman Kenworthy), Vince Lawson, Don Plummer, Ian St, John and Andras Svajick were all members of Bob Bannister’s gym in Accrington along with myself.
Cheers
Some of your contemporaries from the Bob Bannister gym on this cutting found and sent to us by William.
Hi Phil, Just wondered whether you appeared on the bills at Kirkland Memorial Hall, near Garstang or at nearby villages Out Rawcliffe and Cockerham which took place in 1963-64. I notice from an advert in the local newspaper that a number of Accrington based wrestlers involved. Gerry Hoggarth is listed as referee and maybe he was also the promoter.
If you took part and have any memories of the events, I'd be really pleased to hear of them. I've posted requests on the local historical website but no one has anything meaningful to add.
Many Thanks.
Fantastic memories for you Phil and great to share them with you.
Hi There Riot Squad.
Thanks for the inclusion, very much appreciated.
Cheers
Well done Phil,looking forward to seeing you at Blackpool in may, all the best. Regards Les 💪