Rugby Relative Research

You probably know all of this already, but best of luck with your enquiries Phil:

A busy Mancunian post war heavyweight in the north of England who wrestled the likes of Norman Walsh, Jim Hussey, Chic Knight, The Ghoul and Bill McDonald and disappeared from the circuit around 1952. Wrestling Heritage member Ron Historyo has discovered that Eric was billed as a Canadian footballer who came to Britain to play rugby league. Eric's nephew has informed us that Eric was born in Manchester, England, and the family emigrated to Canada whilst Eric was a child. The family name was Doubleday but on returning to England in the late 1930s Eric was known as Eric Day.

Ron Historyo unearthed a report from Tayside, Scotland of one of Eric's matches in March, 1949, “Ernest Baldwin and Eric Day figured in the best bout of the evening. It went the full six rounds before ending in draw at one fall each.” Posters proclaimed “A 23 year old Canadian Football star,” and also capitalised on his growing reputation on the rugby field. He made his debut for Salford Rugby Club in 1939, and returned to the club following the end of the war. On 23rd August 1949, Eric Day was signed up by Bradford Northern for a record fee. Eric's rugby career is believed to be unique as he played four different codes of football – rugby league, rugby union, Canadian football and American football. In the early 1950s Bradford were a cracking team, with a record crowd of 70,000 in 1953. Eric disappeared from our wrestling rings in 1952. We have now learned that in this year Eric sailed for New York, then found his way to Canada. Eric Day died in Canada.