NORTHWEST AMATEUR BOXING CLUB
NOT JUST A CLUB, A COMMUNITY
Gill Sherry
The sport of boxing has long been known for its physical benefits, particularly in relation to muscle strength, cardiovascular health, weight management, balance and coordination. But boxing also promotes good mental health and emotional wellbeing, as well as social connections. Kieran McMaster and Craig Best are living proof of this.
Both men began their boxing journeys at Northwest Amateur Boxing Club in Kilmarnock. The club was first established way back in 1979 by local man, Jim Watt, and has operated on a not-for-profit basis since day one.
“When me and Craig started coming to the club 17-18 years ago,” Kieran begins, “there were two coaches, Graeme Marshall and Ray Connell, and for about 13 years it was just the two of them flying the flag. In the last few years, myself, Craig, Ewan Hamilton, Ewan Strachan and Josh Paluk – all boys that trained under Graeme and Ray – have joined the coaching team.”
“The club has always been volunteer ran,” adds Craig. “Each of us work full-time and then volunteer in our spare time. We do it because we love it, and we see how much it benefits Kilmarnock and the surrounding areas.”
Kieran’s boxing career saw him take to the ring 109 times in matches all over the world, one of which resulted in him winning a bronze medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa.
“I had over 100 bouts,” he confirms, “and Craig had six, but as coaches we’re 100% equal. When we’re coaching, it’s a totally level playing field. I don’t know more than him, or understand more than him, we’re equal.”
His words are evidence of the respect that boxing teaches you, as well as the bonds that form within the sport.
“We were sparring together when we were 13/14. Craig was in my corner in a few of my last fights. He helped me through some pretty tough fights. Now he’s at the club as a well-respected coach. It’s a cool story how we’ve intertwined through the years.”
Craig adds: “My last contest was in 2011 and 15 years later I’m still at the club contributing towards it. We represent both ends of the spectrum in terms of experience, but we still love the game and appreciate it just as much. We know what it means to people who come to the club… and it’s hard to walk away from something you love so much.”
It’s obvious they’re both very proud of their ongoing Northwest connection, and I’m sure the same can be said of their fellow coaches, all of whom are committed to the continued success of the club and its members.
Membership is encouraged for those aged nine or over (you can’t compete until your tenth year), and simply involves turning up and having a go. If you get hooked (pun intended) there’s a short questionnaire to complete. After that, you pay £5 per week on a pay-as-you-go basis which includes all three 90-minute sessions on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday (check-out the Facebook page for times).
“It’s always been a fiver a week,” Kieran confirms. “Graeme and Ray have made sure we’ve always had good sponsorships which means we can keep the cost low for the young people in the community. We want to be accessible to everybody.”
That means everybody of any ability, from absolute beginners to wannabe champions. And for those who just want to keep fit, Ray takes a Fitness Class with a strong emphasis on hard work and commitment.
“We coach everybody that wants to box,” Kieran tells me. “I run a Development Class for 9-13-year-olds for them to come and have fun. If there are some that really enjoy it and want to compete, they can move up to Squad Training. If you’re Squad Training, you’re looking to compete and box.”
Like 17-year-old Arran Sarwar, for example. Arran is a two-time British Champion and four-time National Champion, described by Kieran as a really good fighter, super dedicated and a lovely young man who’ll go far.
But as much as Northwest likes to see its members winning medals and becoming champions, the ultimate goal is for boys and girls to go along to the club, feel safe and enjoy themselves. I take this opportunity to ask how many of its members are female.
“Across all the classes we’ve probably got 30 women and girls attending,” Kieran confirms. “Nowhere near as many as the males, but in the last few years its grown and grown. One young woman, Isla Grant, she’s the current Elite Scottish Champion. She’s the first lady ever to win that for Kilmarnock which is a huge achievement. She’s a great role model.”
Truth is, they are all role models, which is something Craig touches upon: “You don’t realise when you’re a kid coming to the gym… It’s not until you come through the other side of the ropes, and you mature a little bit, that you realise how good the boxing club is. It teaches discipline, manners and structure, and provides a bit of freedom from what’s going on outside the club. That’s something you learn to appreciate.”
Craig goes on to tell me that it was actually Graeme and his wife, Paula, who helped him get a foot in the door when it came to starting out in his career. So, not only does boxing benefit mental and physical health, promote emotional wellbeing and social friendships, it can also result in professional connections and lifelong lessons.
“Not everybody has a happy life at home,” Kieran elaborates. “The boxing club is a safe place where you can come and be yourself. It’s a social place. We have a laugh and a chat but it’s also an individual sport. When you’re there, there’s no need to worry about other people or think about anything else. It’s a comfortable environment.”
The coaches sometimes hear stories of youngsters being bullied or struggling at home, and it’s good that those young people feel able to share their concerns with someone outside of their home or school environment.
“They feel comfortable coming to us and chatting to us about it,” Kieran says. “They know we’ll support them, give them good advice, and that they’re safe to share things.”
It sounds to me as though Northwest Amateur Boxing Club is not just a club, but a community.
“It’s exactly that,” agrees Kieran. “We’ve got guys and girls with totally different backgrounds, of all ages and abilities. It’s a really big melting pot.”
If you’re interested in joining and taking part in either the Development Class, Fitness Class or Squad Training, you can find details on the Northwest Amateur Boxing Club Facebook page.
