Graveyard of Champions

Graveyard of Champions is a gripping history of Liverpool’s two iconic boxing arenas – at Pudsey Street and St Paul’s Square. Featuring Liverpool legends such as Nel Tarleton, Alan Rudkin and John Conteh, and drawing on a rich variety of sources, it captures unforgettable fights, fierce local pride and a lasting sporting legacy. 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.