Seconds out for Priory Park Boxing Club

Years of blood, sweat and tears came to fruition when Dudley MP Ian Austin performed the ceremonial duties with the Dudley-based club now looking forward to a bright future.

Chairman Paul Gough cut a proud figure after overcoming numerous setbacks along the way to finally complete the project.

The official opening was followed by an open day 24 hours later, with both events proving a knockout success.

Gough said: "Everything went very well and we have had two really good days.

"It's great to see everything finally finished and we now have a facility the whole community should be proud of.

"Basically we outgrew the gym but we didn't think it would take this long to complete the expansion. This has taken five years hard work and dedication.

"The gym is probably three or four times the size it was. We have got walk-in showers, disabled toilets and two rings as opposed to one, one of which is championship size. It's fantastic."

He was quick to thank the club's various backers including Sport England, Ibstock Cory, Mazars and local businessmen Roy and Lee Richardson for their support.

Gough added: "We have had some great support and the funders were very impressed with what they saw.

"Sport England and Ibstock Cory have been great to us and they have said they will look at helping us in future projects, which is great.

"The Richardsons have also been strong supporters of the club and it was a pity Roy and his son Lee couldn't be there due to business commitments.

"We have also had some great support from Ian Austin and councillors Ken and Alan Finch and Margret Aston."

And it was also an emotional moment for Gough as the club honoured his cousin and former vice-chairman Steve, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

Gough said: "Steve and I spent years trying to get to this point, it's just a shame that he wasn't there to enjoy the day. He would have been very proud of what we have achieved.

"We unveiled a plaque in his honour and there is a wall dedicated to him with various pictures of him. He will always be remembered."

Gough is determined to make the gym a focal point for the community with various fitness and martial arts classes being run, alongside the boxing side of the operation.

"There will be fitness classes on offer and my brother-in-law, Adrian Rhodes will be running classes in the martial art of wing chun.

"We want people from the local area to use the gym and also plan to forge more links with the local college and schools.

"The open day went very well and it was a real fun occasion with some of our pros getting people in the ring to spar and the coaches working people on the pads.

"We have plans for a functional training area in the future with cardio machines and we want to expand the various classes that we do.

"It's one big happy family here, everyone just gets on with everyone, and we want more local people to come and join us."

There was also cause for more celebration – and a little piece of history – for the club with three former fighters passing their level one coaching course.

Gough said: "We recruit our own coaches, all of the coaches have come from the club.

"Three of them – Tom Stanford, Chris Amendola and Sophia Rose – have just passed their level one course. Sophia was our first female national champion and now she is our first female coach."

In the ring, it promises to be a busy year for Gough and his dedicated team. A number of Priory boxers are heading to Dublin this weekend to compete in the Monkstown Box Cup.

The club's awards night will then take place at Baggeridge Social Club on July 15. There are also a number of fight nights planned.

Brierley Hill Civic Hall will host a development show on September 9 and an open show on October 22, while Baggeridge will be the venue for another open show on December 9.

Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Paul Gough at prioryparkpromotions@gmail.com.