Churchlands Golden Gloves club celebrates its 20th anniversary

FOR the week that’s in it, how fitting is it that we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Churchlands Golden Gloves Boxing Club in Coleraine.
The club, like many of the boxers it has produces, has had to scrap and fight its way to get to where it is today.
That place is as one of the foremost amateur boxing clubs in the province, backboned by dedicated and talented coaches as well as title winning fighters.
The brainchild of former professional boxer Micky Fleming, Churchlands Golden Gloves enjoyed a less than auspicious start - in a former car showroom in Killowen.
But from those humble beginnings the club has grown to serve the people of the district well, providing an outlet for young people as well as enabling them to be the best versions of themselves.
There have been plenty of successes along the way as well, not least laying the foundations for Matty Boreland to become the newly crowned Irish super-bantameight champion at the weekend.
“The club started in 2005 in the old Charles Hurst garage at Strand Road in Killowen,” recalls Micky.
“Then it was taken over as a car wash by Terry Moore. They gave it to us for a year before Terry had to move on to do different things.
“It was rough and ready but it got us up and going and it got us going for funding from Coleraine Council.
“It wasn't ideal but Terry wouldn't take a penny off for us for rent or anything like that. A year later we moved out to Elim church and, again, they wouldn't take rent.
“Inside that year we had an Ulster champion in Anthony McIvor and an Irish champion in Conor McNicholl, which was a big coup for us in our first year.
“That year Conor also got an Irish vest in Ballybofey which was a great start for us in our first year. And all this from a club that at that time had only one bag.”
The club moved several times more, including a farmyard at Loguestown on the way to Portrush and Killowen Primary School.
“Inside two years there we won two Derry titles before we moved to Killowen school.
“By that time we had bought a ring which we could put up and down in one night – it took us a bit of time putting it up and down again.
“It really was time to get moving again and from there we moved to the old community centre up at the Rope Walk.
“Numbers were down so we called it quits until the new community centre was opened.
“Since then we have had approximately 50 Ulster champions, approximately 50 Derry champions and three Irish champions.
“Boxers have represented their county, Ulster and Ireland.”
Notable successes came from Ryan Doherty, who won the equivalent of the British schoolboy title, Ben Henderson, who claimed one of the best youth championships in Europe, and Lewis Dickey.
There have also been the trips abroad with Bridges Beyond Boxing, taking in US cities like Detroit, Cincinatti and Washington, as well as several European countries.
But it’s not just about successes in the ring.
“Over the years seeing how young lives work out it's not just about champions - it's champions of life – and that's our club motto,” says the head coach.
“We’ve had young people say it was the best time of their life growing up, especially with everything that's going on in the world with drink and drugs etc.
“It makes you proud to know you're a part of that.
“You see people who didn't know each other, who come from different schools and different backgrounds, and they grow up together.
“They've become lifelong friends, they always remember the good times they had in Churchlands Golden Gloves gym.
“When you see young men and women now you feel you've done something positive in their life. Over the years you see that starting again, the same pattern, and it's so heartwarming and so rewarding.
“Because it's not just about champions – it's about champions of life.”
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of many people - in and out of the club.
People like Sam Steele, for example, who heads up the club’s junior team, PJ McClary, Briege Garvin, Mark McDaid and Emmett Young who help to keep the club running.
Not forgetting Mickey’s wife wife Valerie and family who are always there in the background.
“I’d also ike to thank all our sponsors, the families, our funding partners including the council, Irish Society, and all those people that have helped me silently and want no recognition.
“Thanks also to Coleraine Rural and Urban Network and Rose Smith and Ann McNicholl, we’re very proud to be associated with them as they are with us.
“David Dickie, Michael Bacon, Michael Herald, Stephen Howard, Chris Napier, Roberta Gaile, Brendan Osborne – all those people have helped me and the club over the years as well.”
Here’s to the next 20 years...