Boxing club’s new home set to take shape (From Worcester News)

Boxing club’s new home set to take shape

9:20pm Monday 7th January 2013 in News

THE members of Droitwich Amateur Boxing Club can look forward to a new state-of-the-art home.

Workers are set to start developing a new site near the Droitwich Sports and Leisure Complex, Briar Mill, at the end of the month.

The community boxing club, which has more than 200 members and plays a vital role in supporting local youngsters, has completed the tendering process and has chosen MTD Building Contractors to carry out the work.

The ambitious £200,000 project aims to move the popular club from its outdated facility in Kidderminster Road to the new base. The scheme has received funding from Sport England, the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE), a loan agreement with Wychavon District Council and the club’s own fund-raising drive, which is still on-going.

Money already promised to the scheme will be used to start the ground works.

The club will then continue to raise the funds needed to complete the facility.

The club’s Chris Andrews said: “We have now been given the go-ahead for the work to begin. This should start at the end of January and we hope the ground work will be completed by March.

“We still have a few legal matters to sort out with Wychavon – such as the loan and the lease agreements – but this is an important step for the project.

“The contractor we have chosen was not only the cheapest, but is also run by Martin Duffy, who used to box here.”

The club, which is the only ABAE affiliated group in the area, caters for both male and female boxers and has strong links with organisations such as social services and youth offending teams.

The development will see a new building constructed to house two rings, a weights area, skipping and punch bag facility, shadow boxing area, changing and toilet facilities and a staff area. The project could also see the club working in partnership with Wychavon to share facilities with the leisure centre.

Droitwich Amateur Boxing Club was formed in 1977 and found a permanent home in Kidderminster Road in 1983.