Olympic dream of boxing centre

BOXING clever: (from left) Mayoress Kathleen Hudson and Mayor Councillor John Hudson; Olympic boxer Tom Stalker, England rugby union player Kyle Eastmond, Debbie Abrahams MP and Eric Noi at the opening

A STAR-STUDDED guest list of sporting heroes and local dignitaries turned out to open the new home of Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Club.

The launch of the new town centre gym, which has moved from its former base in Derker Street to Victoria House, was attended by Team GB’s London 2012 boxing captain Tom Stalker alongside Rob McCracken, the performance director of the Great British boxing team.

Tom said: “It is such a fantastic centre and the facilities are great. I came from a similar community myself so I know the problems that kids can have but this will get them off the streets and into sport.”

Led by Eric Noi, the Greaves Street club provides boxing training in state-of-the-art facilities.

Eric said: “It has taken a lot of preparation to get to this stage but I am delighted with the results.

“We have had help from business and the whole community has been behind us.

“We could see a future Olympian being trained here. That is the ultimate dream and in boxing you always need a dream!”

Speaking at the event, Councillor John Hudson, the Mayor of Oldham, said: “This is a really great facility for the people of Oldham and Eric has done a fantastic job getting it ready.

“It is not just about getting people fit and healthy, it is about helping the community and I am proud to lend my support to it as Mayor.”

Fresh from scoring for England in the rugby union team’s tour of Argentina, Kyle Eastmond, who grew up in St Mary’s, also showed his support: “A lot of hard work has been put into it. To have something like this in Oldham is a real benefit.”