Mark Davidson's vision was simple: give local kids somewhere to channel their energy, learn discipline and stay out of trouble.
Almost 15 years on, Timperley Community Amateur Boxing Club has become far more than just a gym - it's a lifeline for young people across the Broomwood Estate and beyond.
What started in 2011 with one room in the building next door has steadily grown into a thriving community hub.
It took seven years of funding battles and council negotiations, but after raising £410,000 from Sport England, Trafford Housing Trust and various other sources - including an incredible £16,000 from Wellington School pupils - the club finally moved into its current facility, roughly twice the size of the original space, in 2018.
The journey into coaching was almost accidental for Mark, who grew up on the Broomwood himself. With an early passion for boxing, he was encouraged to try his hand at teaching. Thirty-eight years later, he's still doing it, now supported by a team of coaches including his two sons, Sonny and Ray Davidson, and Clark Smith.
But this isn't just about creating champions, though the club has produced plenty of those. It's about giving young people structure when traditional settings don't work for them. "A lot of kids don't like team sports," Mark explains. "Psychologically, they can't cope with it. Even though we train together, when they compete, it's down to their own individual commitment."
The rules are strict: turn up on time, look after yourself, stay disciplined. Miss those standards and you don't box.
"If you turn up five minutes late, you go home," Mark says. "You wrap up warm in the winter, you drink well, eat well, you make sure you have all your stuff with you. If you're not ticking the boxes that your coaches are asking of you, then we're not gonna let you box."
It's a lesson that translates directly into the workplace and beyond. "Boxing and other combat sports give them that discipline," Mark says. "They've got to be fit and look after their diet, self-care, cleanliness - all that. That'll take them into the workplace."
Currently, the club has 16 carded boxers who can compete, with waiting lists for beginners' classes that regularly see 23 kids on Mondays and a similar number on Wednesdays.
The age range spans from seven-year-olds just starting out to 23-year-olds competing at national level, like Luke, who reached the national finals this year and has three more bouts scheduled before Christmas. Another young boxer has recently been sparring with Tommy Fury.
"I think the main thing is it gives them respect and a bit of self-discipline," Mark says. "We don't have any bullying in the gym. If I get a whisper that somebody's bullying at school, they'll get told to leave or I’ll at least have a chat with them. They need to have that mindset that they know they can look after themselves, but they don't need to impose themselves."
The club's impact extends far beyond competitive boxing. Mark coaches two disability classes weekly and has recently started a Parkinson's group, and he sees first-hand how the sport can transform lives. "The impact is amazing," he says. "The progression and improvement in their physical wellbeing is massive."
The club has formed strong relationships with local primary schools including Broomwood, Navigation and Broadheath Primary. Every Thursday afternoon for the past decade, they've welcomed year three classes, with some of those children eventually committing to competitive boxing.
Support from local businesses has been crucial. Funding has come from Sport England, Trafford Housing Trust and various charitable pockets, but it's the community support that makes the real difference.
Local property company Selbourne Group recently stepped in to cover training fees for children who face difficult circumstances at home, a gesture Mark describes as potentially life-changing.
"When parents aren't on a good wage and they've got a couple of siblings training three or four times a week, it's difficult," Mark says. "Selbourne Group jumped in to support these children and pay their fees. It means that they can come to train, rather than getting mixed up with older kids who’d get them doing stuff they didn’t want to do. Selbourne Group are potentially changing lives there."
Now, as the club's 15th anniversary approaches this year, Mark's ambition is to ensure this legacy continues. "I hope these young coaches have the same mindset I had when I started out, and they actually stay involved," he says. “I want it to run by itself, whether I'm here or not. It's too good a concept to go under."
It's a vision built on dedication, discipline - and the belief that every young person deserves a fighting chance.
Timperley Community Amateur Boxing Club, 107 Mainwood Rd, Timperley, WA15 7JU.
Photography: Laura Marie Linck
