Big Daddy versus Giant Haystacks

A Super Heavyweight Story

Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks tells the rags-to-riches story of two towering men – Shirley Crabtree and Martin Ruane – who rose from poverty and nightclub door work to become British TV icons. As millions tuned in to watch them clash, they became a pop culture phenomenon. But fame came at a cost – and the glory couldn’t last forever.

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. Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks tells a rags-to-riches tale of unlikely fame, family loyalty, tragic death, and a uniquely British pop culture phenomenon. This gripping roller-coaster story features exclusive contributions from the likes of Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, former British heavyweight champion Tony St. Clair and ‘Superstar’ Mal Sanders.

Contributor: Marc Hayes (Foreword by)

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