Timperley ABC has been given a boost with a new sponsor coming on board.

McQueen Dairies has provided kit for the junior members of the club. Business development manager, Adam McQueen, handed out -t-shirts to the young boxers.

The club, based on the Broomwood estate, is in the process of extending the gym as it is currently over-subscribed and in desperate need of more space.

Timperley ABC juniors pictured (top) with ((L-R) Adam McQueen, head coach Mark Davidson and assistant coach Dave Walker.

A new gym in the Walkden area of Salford is nearing completion and set to open before the end of the January.

The facility will include a boxing gym and multi-activity hub for young people.  Based at Walkden Town Centre, Walkden Amateur Boxing Club – in partnership with Maverick Stars Trust - will operate alongside a series of sport and leisure programmes delivered by Salford Community Leisure, Integrated Youth Support Services and Salford Youth Alliance. The project is also backed by Greater Manchester Police and ForHousing.

Maverick ambassador and former British, Commonwealth and European champion Jamie Moore is heading up the boxing gym. Now a hugely successful trainer, Jamie’s been keen to put something back into the area he grew up in, and the new facility provides the perfect opportunity to inspire the next generation.

“It's fantastic to see it all take shape and I can't wait for Walkden to finally have its own boxing club.  I had to go to Little Hulton to box when I was a kid, but that closed years ago.

Boxing instils discipline, self-confidence and can present all sorts of opportunities. I know, I was that kid without direction and focus. Boxing changed all that for me. It’s not an exaggeration to say it saves lives, it’s a fact.”

Maverick Stars founder Charlotte Gilley believes the scheme will transform the area. "We’ve analysed data from other areas, many of which have serious problems with anti-social behaviour, and it’s clear that a boxing gym can have a massively positive impact." she said.

“Maverick Stars is all about giving young people a chance through sport and we want those young people to show their true potential. This initiative will be a major plus for the area and having Jamie on board is fantastic. There’s no better Salford role model.”

Walkden ABC will be housed in one half of a unit that will also deliver programmes including multi-sports, drama, dance and a variety of leadership initiatives. The hub will provide opportunities for young people to take part in activities, but will also provide a safe haven for those that simply want somewhere to go to meet friends.

Along with the many opportunities provided for young people, the new facility will also provide employment for full-time and part-time boxing coaches and youth workers.

The boxers meet once a month with the overall aim of getting more women involved in the sport. The intiative is led by Aston ABCs lead coach John Homer, who said: "We first started the squad in 2016 and it has grown from strength to strength.

"We now have a regular attendance of up to 40 female boxers at each gathering.  The boxers are able to access coaching and sparring opportunities and we have proven to be very successful with a number of our members having won domestic and international honours. 

"The natural progression for us has been to encourage more female coaches into the squad system and with the help of The Maverick Stars Trust, we have now successfully managed to gain ten new coaches as the first part of our drive to attract more female coaches to boxing. 

"Maverick Stars were fantastic from the start and loved the idea from the outset.  The charitable foundation were as good as their word with a very welcome grant of £3,000 which was very gratefully received." The level 1 coaching course was held at Tamworth Boxing Club and delivered by female coaches to help inspire those in attendance.  Kat Stanford of Tamworth ABC and Louise Vidor of Brightstar Boxing Academy gave up their time to help to push the programme along. 

Louise said: "It was fantastic to be involved in the delivery of this course and I was delighted to see so many female coaches in attendance.  Female coaching participation is growing all the time and I really welcome the effort and support that enabled the 'FLAG' programme to keep going and to offer opportunities like this."

Pictured are: Elaine Homer (Aston ABC), Claire McDermott (Brooklands ABC), Claire Salisbury (Jewellery Quarter), Jade Collett (Wednesbury), Sophie Morton (Droitwich), Georgie Belt (Tamworth), Paige Goodyear (Brooklands), Ileana Ingram (Aston), Jo Gavin (Andersons), Wendy Hurst (Warley)

The club based on the Broomwood Estate has been providing a significant quality service to its local community since its inception seven years previously, the trustees were impressed on how the club had continued to sustain itself without any significant partnership support but via a group of committed volunteers. 

The trust also took extra steps to support the project by engaging with England Boxing and providing a support network to support the organisation by helping access further funding to match their own investment. The Maverick Stars Trust investment was equal to a 37.5% of the total project cost, and also to date has assisted the club in securing match funding from Sport England, Trafford Council, Trafford Housing Trust.

This project should be completed by late 2019.