| Biography | Dave Armstrong lived his early life in mining country, the Northumberland village of Choppington, which gave rise to his nickname of "The Choppington Chicken." Dave was one of the youngsters that entered the ranks of professional wrestlers in the 1930s, joining a collection of wrestlers from a previous Edwardian generation, other novices, and wrestlers from overseas. He was sixteen years old when he had his first professional match towards the end of 1932.
A challenger for the British heavyweight championship on a few occasions Dave never held the title. In 1933 he twice challenged Atholl Oakeley for the British title, losing in over four rounds at Glasgow, and by two falls to one in September. He was just seventeen and eighteen years old at the time of these fights. Two more challenges against Douglas Clark at Newcastle in 1940 also ended unfortunately for Dave. Bert Assirati was the next champion in his sights in 1945 and again at Newcastle. In 1938 he tried, but failed, to wrestle the World Heavyweight Championship from American Jack Sherry at Blackburn.
Dave went on to become one of the great post war heavyweights. In 1951 Ernie Baldwin defeated Dave to win the British heavyweight championship. He spent time with a hidden identity in the guise of the masked Crusader, vanquishing villains of northern England. Dave's career lasted until the 1960s. |