Sandy Orford

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Sandy Orford, born Edwin James Orford on 5 December 1911 in the Pontypool district of Wales, died in 1986 at about 74–75 years old. He was a Welsh professional rugby league player and a professional wrestler, as well as a wrestling trainer in the 1950s and 1960s.

Rugby league career
Orford played as a second-row for Dewsbury (1929–1935), then for Bradford Northern (mid-1930s), and Wakefield Trinity (1939–1947). He also appeared as a guest for Bradford Northern during World War II. He earned four caps for Wales between 1939 and 1944. Notable moments include playing in Wakefield Trinity’s 9–12 Yorkshire Cup Final defeat to Featherstone Rovers in 1940, and representing a Rugby League XIII in 1942.

Wrestling career
In the 1940s and 1950s he became a professional wrestler and later a trainer. He fought the renowned Lou Thesz three times, with one draw and two losses, and defeated Shirley Crabtree on Crabtree’s debut in 1952. Orford performed as masked wrestlers, first as the Black Angel and later as The Mask. He trained Shirley Crabtree (Big Daddy) and Colin Williamson. He is the father of wrestler Tony Orford.