Seven businesses have joined together to buy 30 new tracksuits and T-shirts for young boxers ahead of a prestigious annual home show.

VIP guests attending West Auckland Amateur Boxing Club's competiton on the June 10 - which will involve boxing clubs from across the region - include former world cruiserweight champion Glenn McCrory, former world super middleweight champion George Groves, and former WBC and IBO super middleweight champion Robin Reid.

The home show signals the beginning of an exciting couple of months for club members, who in July fly to the Spanish resort of Marbella for a training camp – funded by a mystery benefactor – followed a month later by the Riviera Box Cup, the biggest competition in the club’s calendar.

However, it had to issue a sponsorship plea after realising several members had outgrown their tracksuits. The seven businesses donated between £200 and £500 each to cover the full £1,600 cost of the new kit.

Head coach Ernest Spowart, who helped found the club in early 2020 with coach Stephen Nicholson, said: “It’s great that our boxers are able to represent this club with pride, thanks to the generosity of these businesses in providing this new kit.

“It’s the start of an important couple of months for our boxers, culminating in the Riviera Box Cup, which is the pinnacle of our whole year.”

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Those who have donated money for the new training kit are:

  • Jeremy Smith, director of Northallerton-based NIS Insurance;
  • Andrew Jackson, director of Bishop Auckland-based A-byte Computer Solutions;
  • Mark Batey, managing director of fleet management company Q Fleet; Patrick Stephens, of Spennymoor-based Store A Box;
  • Simon Whitfield, managing director of Stockton-based access equipment specialist Halt Hire;
  • Dave Peareth, founder of mortgage advisors Peareth Financial, which is situated in South Church, Bishop Auckland;
  • Neville Morris of St Helen Auckland-based NCM Paving and Landscaping;
  • The tracksuits and T-shirts were supplied at cost price by Wayne Dobinson of Bishop Auckland signage, clothing and print company Crea8ive Graphics.

Stephen Nicholson, who is managing director of Bishop Auckland-based bespoke painting and decorating firm S Nicholson & Sons, said: “This is a facility founded for the good of the community and we could not have created it something so special without the support and ongoing generosity of a host of organisations and businesses.”