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.

Steven Bell is the author of Dynamite & Davey: The Explosive Lives of the British Bulldogs, The Man of All Talents: The Extraordinary Life of Douglas Clark and From Triumph to Tragedy: The Chapecoense Story – his only child, Bruno, is named after star striker and victim of the Chapecoense air disaster, Bruno Rangel. He has also written for several sporting magazines, including These Football Times and Inside The Ropes.