PADDY McGuinness loves it, Ed Balls is at it and the public are getting to grips with it all over again.

Yes, World of Sport wrestling is back on our television screens after a 30-year break!

ITV launched its 10-part series WOS Wrestling last month.

Tom Mclennan, director of Entertainment at ITV Studios Manchester, said: “Britain’s wrestling scene is thriving and there has never been a better time to bring it back to ITV after a gap of 30 years.”

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Boltonians have long been fans of professional wrestling. Even be-fore it became a staple of Saturday afternoon television in the 1960s, families would flock to the Wryton Stadium in Blackburn Road to watch live bouts as long ago as 1930.

The history of wrestling goes back centuries. it was found in Egyptian, Babylonian and Assyrian civilisations and featured in the 704 BC Olympic Games. It was enjoyed by kings, including Henry VIII, who was a keen wrestler himself.

But the passion for grappling in Bolton didn’t begin until 1890.

Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club originated when local lads discovered and enjoyed a new style of wrestling known as Lancashire-catch-as-catch-can.

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The town’s parks, and a field behind The Gibraltar Rock public house on Deane Road, became their arenas, and old flock mattresses were sewn together as a substitute for the canvas of a proper ring.

Enthusiasm spread and the young wrestlers obtained cellars in No-ble Street in which to hold their bouts. Later, they amalgamated with the YMCA.

In 1908 J. W. Foster founded the Bolton United Harriers and Athletic Club which was located in Burn Street. By the 1920s and 30s it be-came the epicentre of local wrestling, and from that, Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club was established.

Most wrestlers who later turned professional developed their skills at local wrestling clubs, where the classical Graeco-Roman, and Olym-pic style of wrestling was taught.

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That’s where they learned to hone their holds and master the moves.

Today Bolton has three such clubs – Sharples Wrestling Club, Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club and Castle Hill Wrestling Club – which could see an influx of more members on the back of WOS Wrestling.

But Mr Jack Holt, chairman of Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club, has mixed feelings.

“The difference between Olympic wrestling and professional wres-tling is like the difference between football and blow football,” he said.

However, he is grateful to professional wrestlers who, in the past, have helped raise funds for the club.

“At some events, our wrestlers used to demonstrate our kind of wres-tling in the first half, and then there would be a professional bout in the second half.

“Professional wrestling is not a sport but it’s really entertaining. We respect them and they respect us.”

One thing that does annoy Mr Holt is that many people do not appre-ciate just how much work goes into Olympic wrestling.

“Our lads put so much time and effort into their training and we’ve got some cracking coaches at the club,” he said.

Understandably, Mr Holt was irked when he overhead a waiter at a fundraising night dismissing the Olympic wrestling and only being in-terested in the upcoming professional bout.

“He said: ‘Now we can watch the real wrestling,’ which I didn’t like,” said Mr Holt.

Bolton Olympic Wrestling Club attracts more than 40 youngsters at its Tuesday and Thursday night training sessions. There are also adult sessions.

“There’s so many positive health effects from wrestling,” said Mr Holt. “You use most of the body’s muscles, it keeps you fit, it’s good for balance and grip and it really improves your concentration skills.”