Lancashire wrestling was developed amongst the population of the industrialized parts of the county, mainly in the coal mining areas in the 19th century.
The Lancashire style was, without a doubt, the toughest and most brutal of the three recognised English wrestling styles, Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland.
Later, Lancashire style had been polished, and it gained popularity to the whole country as catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Many consider it to be the origin of professional and freestyle wrestling.
Therefore, Lancashire has undisputedly been the home of catch-as-catch-can wrestling and many would argue that Wigan is the catch wrestling capital of the world.
Wigan is a town known for its mining history and many chose wrestling as their sport.
In the 1940’s, Billy Riley bought a piece of land and built a gym that could also be referred to as a shed. This was to be the home of many champions of the future and would create a legacy for the generations to come. This was a gym that could produce every type of wrestler; professional wrestlers and straight wrestlers who could compete in both catch and freestyle.
Without a doubt this gym produced exceptional wrestlers. In the 1950’s it saw wrestlers such as Karel Istaz (Karl Gotch) and Bert Assirati. The 1960’s included Ernie Riley (Billy Riley’s son), Melvin Riss (Harold Winstanley), John Foley, Jack Dempsey (Tommy Moore), Billy Joyce (Bob Robinson) and Billy Robinson.
Other great wrestlers included Roy Wood, Alan Latham (Francis Sullivan), Seamus Dunleavy, Billy Chambers, Len Wetherby, Jackie Cheers, Frank Riley, Jimmy Hart, Alan Hartwood, Harry Duvall, Ken Baldwin, John Naylor and Brian Burke.