Sunderland boxing club faces fresh blow
The Mayor of Sunderland Coun. Iain Kay (right) with Coun. Michael Mordey (left) who presented funds to the East End Boxing Club, The Parde, Hendon, from the Council's Community Chest.
A BOXING club is back on the ropes after fighting off closure once.
Sunderland’s East End Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) was left on the brink last year when it had to leave its home in Prospect Row, when the church that owned the building needed to sell-up.
At first the club was unsure if it would be able to find a new club house, but then Cheers landlord David Dulling stepped in and offered space above his pub as a temporary gym.
Then Thompson’s Building Centre came to the rescue and offered the club its current base at an unused unit in The Parade.
But now the construction firm has collapsed, the future of the club’s home is uncertain.
Head coach and club secretary Kenny Linton, 47, confirmed he had spoken to Thompson’s managing director Anne Ganley.
He said: “They said they have lost everything. We’re hoping that somebody is going to buy the building.
“I would love to stay here as we’ve done a lot of work to it.”
East End-based Hendon Young People’s Project has thrown the boxers a lifeline by welcoming them at its building in Church Walk.
But Kenny, who works as a taxi driver, said he has taken weeks off from his main job to make the unit in The Parade suitable for members to train in.
The club, which has about 40 regular members, has been a big inspiration to East End kids.
Kenny said: “It’s all about getting kids off the streets and into the club and teaching them that hard work pays.
“It’s a good gym. It’s got a good atmosphere, good people running it and great kids.
“The main thing that we want to get out of it is showing these young people that if you work hard, good things come and not to give up straight away.”
The club, which has been running for more than 10 years, had just received a cash boost after it was awarded £1,000 from Sunderland Council’s Community Chest.
City mayor Councillor Iain Kay and ward councillor Michael Mordey met the keen boxers, aged from eight to 32.
Kenny thanked the authority for swelling the club’s funds.
“We really appreciate it as we’ve still got a lot of costs and lots of things that we need. All the gloves are getting a little bit tatty and it is all expensive stuff.”
Eighty people lost their jobs with the closure of branches of Thompson’s and sister company TAPS across.
The firm had gone into administration just days earlier, with accountants KPMG appointed in response to a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs.
Twitter: @janethejourno
Email to a friend
Print this page- Bus crashes into Sunderland JobCentre
- Boss Di Canio wants six new men for Sunderland
- Pool pervert used shoe mirror to spy on woman changing in Sunderland Aquatic Centre
- Survival assured, Sunderland boss can plan future
- ‘You can’t live a lie and spend your life feeling sad’ – transgender modelling competition finalist tells all
- Survival assured, Sunderland boss can plan future
- Boss Di Canio wants six new men for Sunderland
- Di Canio: Sunderland players will get a shorter summer break if they don’t perform well at Tottenham
- Sunderland boy moves schools in row over haircut
- ‘Anyone else but Wigan, I’d be more confident’ – Sunderland’s Jack Colback anxious
- DOBSON MARKS START OF HEALTH C
- Di Canio: Sunderland players will get a shorter summer break if they don’t perform well at Tottenham
- Last post is 6.30pm (but get here by 5.30pm)
- ‘You can’t live a lie and spend your life feeling sad’ – transgender modelling competition finalist tells all
- Chris Young’s big-match verdict: Major surgery is the answer
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Heavy showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
