CLAYTON Amateur Boxing Club is fighting to raise £20,000 for a move to a new base.

Bosses at the club, which is based next to Mercer Park, have said they are ‘rapidly outgrowing’ their venue, which has no heating and a leaky roof, and need the funds to take on a new home.

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So far more than £2,000 has been raised after a £1,470 grant from Cllr Miles Parkinson, who represents the area on Lancashire County Councillor and Warrantywise CEO Lawrence Whittaker ‘weighed in’ with £500.

The club was formed in 2011 and now trains around 70 boys and girls each week.

It is run by John Brindle, who has taught ‘the noble art’ for 15 years, with support from coaches Martin Morley and Laura Lowe.

Mr Brindle, an occupational therapist’s assistant who works with vulnerable adults by day and an amateur boxing coach by night, has dozens of kids signed up to his classes each week.

He said the cash will go towards buying equipment and refurbishing a new property which they have applied to move into from their base, which they are ‘rapidly outgrowing’.

Mr Whittaker has also paid for a new sign for the club.

Mr Brindle said: “We really appreciate Lawrence for donating £500 and getting our fundraising target off to a great start.

“We have been after a sign for six years and this is far better than we had hoped for. It gives the club an identity to be proud of.”

Cllr Parkinson, said: “After talking to John about future aspirations it became apparent that he and the club required new equipment.

“We are now working closely with the club, Mercer House 1842 and Lancashire County Council for the asset transfer of the former youth centre in Moor Street.

“It would be a perfect new venue and coincidentally, it is where John started running ‘fitness for boxing training’ some years ago.

“Of course we are in the early stages of these discussions with Lancashire County Council but all our passions is for this to hopefully succeed with the aspirations of the club .”

If you would like to make a donation, visit the club’s fundraising page at: To donate Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ClaytonBoxing.