Walkden ABC will take its place within a unit at the Walkden Shopping centre that will also cater for other youth activities delivered by Salford Community Leisure.

Many hurdles have been overcome to get to this stage of the process, and Jamie, a Maverick Stars ambassador, is delighted the plan is nearing fruition: "It's been nearly three years in the making," he said. "Walkden has the same problems as other areas but it's never had an amateur boxing gym.

"Kids are hanging around the shops and they have no real direction. The gym will go a long way to helping to fix these problems. If it changes just one kid's life, it'll be worth it."