Birch Green Amateur Boxing Club – Inspiring and Empowering Young People through Boxing…

Birch Green ABC was originally started in 1975 by Joe O’Brien but sadly closed its doors in the late 1980s.

In 2010, it was reopened by Colin Day, but then in 2017, it was the victim of a senseless arson attack, started by setting wheelie bins alight at the back of the gym, and almost completely destroyed the gym. Finally, after 18 months, the gym reopened its doors, only to be closed 12 months later due to the covid pandemic.

Determined not to be beaten, Colin carried on working hard, and the club is now fully operational and busier than ever. Last year they hosted two home boxing shows in the Upholland Labour Club, both of which completely sold out. In addition, the club has won two Merseyside and Cheshire titles and reached the national semi-finals.

The club is run voluntarily by six coaching staff including, Kevin Bateman, John Baxter, Colin Day, Karl Day, Lee Butler and Charlene Deary. They also have a designated welfare officer.

Kevin Bateman said, “Our gym is right in the centre of the community, and we are now looking to progress the gym forward by making it more accessible to the wider community. We are currently working on starting a community engagement and schools program, which has been developed with sports psychologists. The sessions aim to help increase confidence, build motivation, improve physical fitness and reduce anxiety and other mental health issues in young people.”