FINALLY, a new era is ready to begin at Holmes Chapel Boxing Club.

It has been a challenging and longer-than-anticipated road to get there but now, they are ready to show off their new base to the community.

An open day at the club’s new Station Yard base is being held on Bank Holiday Monday, with locals invited to come down and see the work already done and their plans for the future.

Holmes Chapel Boxing Clubs new gym at Station Yard

Holmes Chapel Boxing Club's new gym at Station Yard

The initial plan was to move into their new base in April having previously operated on Goostrey Lane.

As head coach Kevin Brownlow outlines, however, the roadblocks they had had to clear have been significant.

“It was a big ambition to raise funds and redevelop the units during lockdown so we could be ready for the new season,” he said.

There have been challenges – the building work was much bigger and more complex than we anticipated.

“As a volunteer-run community club and a registered charity, we also hoped to secure some grant funding but unfortunately this was not possible.

“However, we do have amazing members, their parents and the wider community.

“Families came together, local businesses supported the building work and our wider fundraising activities.

“We have had donations, materials provided for free, local tradespeople giving their time and members organising a range of events from walking a marathon, raffles and sponsored skipping events.

“We now have the most amazing gym.

We have been trialling some sessions both for the boxing teams and some specific community requests and are now ready to open.”

Sessions are already underway at Holmes Chapel Boxing Clubs brand-new gym at Station Yard

Sessions are already underway at Holmes Chapel Boxing Club's brand-new gym at Station Yard

Residents are invited down to the gym between 1pm and 3pm to meet the coaches, boxers and trustees – there will even be coaches on hand to teach some basic skills if anyone fancies jumping into the ring.

The club has over 100 active boxers with three of them – Max Harrison, Josh Ginty and Callum Brougham – representing Holmes Chapel at a recent skills show in Carlisle.

Max Harrison, Josh Ginty and Callum Brougham

Max Harrison, Josh Ginty and Callum Brougham

Boxers will be preparing and competing throughout September and October in the run-up to the club’s show on Saturday, October 16, at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre.