By Sarah Newstead

Last updated 11:49, Monday, 08 December 2008

PLANS for Wigton’s youth boxing club are moving forward and hopes are high that the club will be launched in January.

It’s a knockout: PC Lyndsay Tuck handed over a cheque for £250 from Cumbria Police to help get the new Wigton boxing club going earlier this year

The Wigton Community Amateur Boxing Club now has a venue, coaches who have already undergone the required police checks to work with children and a boxing ring.

Cumbria Police has donated £250, businessman Brian Jefferson has also pledged funding and a bid is in place at the Neighbourhood Forum.

Arthur Greaves, 63, will be one of the coaches and said learning the disciplines of boxing as a young man helped him to beat classroom bullies.

He said: “I was picked on at school. When I first went into a club I was 13 and shaking like a leaf. Boxing made me able to stand up to my bullies. I didn’t have to do anything physically; it just gave the right frame of mind.”

He added the club is about bringing young people in the community together, not about going out and having a fight.

Arthur is one of a team in Wigton who will run the club twice a week at St Ursula School’s sports hall.

The boxing would be supervised and with full protection worn by the youngsters.

Also coaching will be Andrew Crossman, 24, of Greenacres, and Graham Harrison, 40, of Fell View.

Their ultimate aim is to put on tournaments and host boxing-themed evenings in the town.

Former deputy mayor Paul Radcliffe has also been helping to get the club started. He said: “This is a great opportunity to get young people involved in a sport, to encourage fitness, discipline and respect for themselves and others.”

Children can join aged 10, though they cannot start boxing until the age of 11.

St Ursula’s hall is only available for the club to use on a temporary basis and members are still looking for a more permanent home.

Anyone who can help with the running of the club, painting, fundraising or who can offer it a permanent home should phone Arthur on 07765 288133.