Big Daddy versus Giant Haystacks

The incredible story of two wrestling legends who defined the sport in Britain in its glorious heyday. Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks is a rags-to-riches tale of unlikely fame, family loyalty, tragic death and a uniquely British pop culture phenomenon. 


From the acclaimed author of Dynamite & Davey: The Explosive Lives of the British Bulldogs.


As the 1970s began, Shirley Crabtree (Big Daddy) was a semi-retired wrestler, aged 40; the younger Martin Ruane (Giant Haystacks), a down-on-his-luck father of three. Both were living in poverty, scratching out a living in the murky underworld of northern England as nightclub doormen. A decade later, they were two of the most famous faces in Britain, with record-breaking millions tuning in to watch them clash at Wembley. But the glory wouldn’t last forever.


Perfect for all wrestling fans, this engrossing book:


• Takes you on a riveting narrative-nonfiction roller-coaster ride through one of British pop culture’s most unlikely success stories

• Features exclusive insights from key figures of the era – including wrestlers Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, former British heavyweight champion Tony St. Clair and ‘Superstar’ Mal Sanders, plus promoters and historians

• Traces the rags-to-riches lives of Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks – real-life giants Shirley Crabtree and Martin Ruane

• Charts the rise of British wrestling as a national obsession, drawing millions of viewers each week

• Is packed with nostalgia and enhanced by a stunning photo section


This compelling book will whisk those who were there straight back to the era of big-time British wrestling – and give those who weren’t a tantalising taste of what they missed.