Spike Rawlings

Wallsend-born Spike Rawlings moved from professional football into comedy and acting. Playing under his birth surname Rawlinson, his football career included Bury and Barrow.

The story of his start in entertainment, recounted in obituary coverage, places him at Barrow in 1969: when the half-time entertainer failed to appear, he stepped in to perform himself. Rawlings later won Opportunity Knocks in 1976 and became a familiar pantomime performer.