Orpington Boxing Club
{{Short description|British amateur boxing club}}
{{Infobox sports club
| name = Orpington Boxing Club
| logo =
| full_name = Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club
| founded = 1912
| city = Orpington, London, England
| location = 15 Chatsworth Parade, Petts Wood
| sport = Boxing
| website =
}}
Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club is an amateur boxing club (ABC) in Kent.
Established in 1912 as the Orpington Lads Club {{cite news |title=Orpington & District amateur boxing club pre World War II history |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24361882.orpington-district-amateur-boxing-clubs-pre-wwii-history/ }} by the St. Mary Cray Scout Troop, the club aimed to support underprivileged young men in the Orpington area. Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club was one of the original 16 clubs that formed the Kent Amateur Boxing Association in 1948.
History
The club has met in various locations and now has a gym in Petts Wood. Orpington has records dating back to 1895 at the village hall.
https://books.google.com/books?id=THbVEAAAQBAJ&q=boxing+village+hall+orpington+quote%3D+Perhaps+because+of+the+boxing+facilities+and+coaching+at+Goldsmiths%27%2C+Nelson+developed+an+interest+in+the+sport+at+this+time.+It+is+known+that+he+boxed+while+he+was+in+wartime+Italy+%28see+Chapter+5%29%2C+and+a+press+report+had+him+matched+against+a+pugilist+called+Charnock+in+the+Orpington+Village+Hall+on+Thursday+11+April+1895.+...&pg=PA28}}
In 1936, Jack Doyle built a boxing centre in Orpington on Lagoon Road, playing a pivotal part of the development of Orpington ABC. In 1936 the British Olympic Boxing team, team GB trained at the centre. Amateur boxers from Orpington & District ABC helped assist in the training.{{cite news |title=Olympic Boxers |date=10 July 1936 |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004288/19360710/245/0014 |work=Bromley & West Mercury}}
Orpington & District ABC has produced amateur champions. Some of these include Jimmy Cable,{{cite news |title=Boxers Record |url= https://boxrec.com/en/box-am/29663}} Albert Hillman {{cite book |title= The Gifted One biography of Kirkland Laing|author= Oliver Jarratt|date= 2009|publisher= Unknown Publisher|isbn= 978-0-9561413-0-9|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WyWGYgEACAAJ}}
who fought kirkland Laing{{cite news |title=Orpington boxer three times ABA champion |work=Kent Evening Post |date=23 November 1972}} Simon Grix, Chris Genkins {{cite book| author= Charlie Magri |title=Champagne Charlie|date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Kings Road |isbn=978-1-85782-814-6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ECqcEAAAQBAJ}} and Mark Baker. Prior to 1974 the club had garnered the highest number of Kent, Southern Counties, and London Champions titles.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=17 January 1974 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Kent%20Evening%20Post |work=Kent Evening Post |quote=They are facing the first hurdle of the national schoolboys boxing championships in the Kent semi-finals at RosecroftWorking Men’s Club, Orpington. The Chatham team is Geoffrey Morrall (Sheerness Secondary), David Brincat (Walderslade Secondary), Andrew ...}} From 1962 to 1980,{{cite news |title=no headline |date=25 January 1980 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Maidstone%20Telegraph |work=Maidstone Telegraph }} Orpington & District ABC won a record number of school boy titles in Kent. The club also hosted the Kent and Southern Counties school boy championships at the RoseCroft Club.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=4 November 1966 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Kent%20Messenger%20%26%20Gravesend%20Telegraph |work=Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph |quote=.. included in an evening's boxing promoted by the Orpington Amateur Boxing Club will go to the disaster fund. i At Ramsgate Martin Young proved too strong for his opponent, K. Otter, and the fight was stopped the fn.( round. An aggressive Michael A Idous gained ...}} The club competed in the South East Divisional championships and has won multiple London titles.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=25 October 1973 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Acton%20Gazette |work=Acton Gazette |quote=.. Bathurst. King. Russell. Kimber. Leach, Pol Land. Emment. Graham's the boy Two Oid Actomans were on the boxing bill at the Orpington Amateur Boxing Club in Kent lair week. ,Graham Scarrou was the (but to appear. He used an of fettive left jab and a powerful ...}}
In 1986, the club affiliated with Surrey ABA Southern Counties when it was based in Westerham.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=29 October 1987 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Sevenoaks%20Focus |work=Sevenoaks Focus |quote=within the club) went to club president Mr Maurice Ingleton The trophies were presented by Mr W Silvester president of Orpington Boxing Club and chairman Mr Melvyn Shorter and Mr Doug Sayers vice-chairman of the Sir Winston Churchill ...}}
Orpington & District ABC is one of the oldest boxing clubs in Kent and is currently located in Pettswood.{{cite news |title=AMBULGAMIA |date=5 June 1936 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004288/19360605/269/0014 |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury |quote=.. had to be abandoned owing to rain. boxing programme was organised by Mr. Garry Taylor, of the Crays and Orpington Boxing Club. A comic bout between Larry Eames, trainer to the club. and S. Burgess. chairman of the t...}} In 1936, the club changed its name from Orpington Lads Club to Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club {{cite news |title=BOXING AT CRAY |date=28 May 1937 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004288/19370528/274/0014 |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury |quote=.. (dhortlands); Jeff Thomas (Kent House) v. A Manlier (Tunbridge); George Tucker (United Dairies) v. Eric Young (Orpington and District Amateur Boxing Club); rzid Evan (0. and D. 8.0.) v. Charlie Phillips (London); Edgar Westbrook v. George Clark (both 0. and D. 8 ...}} under the guidance of former professional boxer Harry Taylor, who introduced the Taylor's Cup.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=26 June 1936 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Bromley%20%26%20West%20Kent%20Mercury |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury |quote=The last of the staged events was a series of boxing contests, mostly by well-known local performers, arranged by Mr. Harry Taylor}}
In 1937, under Harry Taylor's guidance, the club organised various tournaments to raise funds for Cray Wanders Football Club, ensuring its survival during challenging times.{{cite news |title=VILLAGE HALL BOXING. SPIRITED CONTESTS. |date=5 June 1936 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Bromley%20%26%20West%20Kent%20Mercury |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury |quote=Mr. Harry Taylor's boxingprogramme attraeted an enthuniastic crowd to Orpington Village Hall on Thursday last week. and if they were inclined to give npirted advice and criticism to combatants it showed at least ...}}
During World War II, the club temporarily closed its doors, as many institutions did during that time. After the war there were four clubs in Orpington, Cray Valley Boxing Club, Orpington Boys Club,Chelsfield Valley Junior Boxing Club and Orpington & District Boxing Club, along with Great Elms in Bromley and Bromley Boxing Athletic Club (Bromley ABC){{cite news |title=no headline |date=5 June 1936 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Bromley%20%26%20West%20Kent%20Mercury |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury}}
Harry Taylor, the head coach, played a pivotal role in the development of several boxing clubs, including Cray Valley, Orpington & District ABC, and the Orpington Boys Club. He also contributed to clubs in Bromley, such as Great Elms at Shooters Common (now Bromley Common) and the Bromley Athletic Club, which was located at Hayes Lane, home to Bromley Football Club. Alongside Pat Dowers, Taylor helped manage the Downham & Bromley Club, established in 1938, which fell under the Orpington & District regional association.
In 1950, all these clubs unified under the name Orpington & District ABC. A constitution was drafted to govern this association, ensuring that all clubs within the borough were affiliated with the Kent Amateur Boxing Association (ABA).This constitution protects the clubs and stipulates that they can only be operated by the committee of Orpington & District ABC. {{cite news |title=ORPINGTON BOXING BOUTS. MAN KNOCKED OUT OF RING. |date=23 April 1937 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Bromley%20%26%20West%20Kent%20Mercury |work=Bromley & West Kent Mercury |quote=A sensation was caused during a boxing tournament at Orpington Village Hall on Thursday last week, when one of the contestants was knocked clean out of the ring and fell on his head at the feet of two ...}}
It wasn't until 1962 when the club re-opened , under the leadership of Alf Reilly at St. Joseph's Boys School in Orpington and Eric Lubbock MP as the president,{{cite news |title=no headline |date=30 March 1965 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Daily%20Mirror |work=Daily Mirror |quote=}}
that the club gained national success. It later moved to St Mary Cray's Sea Cadet Hall and then the Rosecroft Social Club. Eric Lubbock an Oxford Blue
boxed for Orpington and District ABC which made headlines in the Daily mail {{cite news |title=That Lubbock fight KO'd |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19650330/011/0002 |work=Daily Mirror |quote=.. be meeting Councillor Bill Cain in the boxing ring after all. Mr. Lubbock, 36-year-old one-time Oxford University amateur boxer, is M P for Orpington., Kent. He and Mr. Cain, 50-year-old Liberal member of Orpington town council, had planned to fight next ...}} Jack Stewart, the then-president of Rosecroft, helped organise various Interclub club sparring shows, club, regional and national shows, with Coaches Ted Norris and Peter Hugh, holding various Kent Schools, and junior national shows.Mr Stewart introduced his Sons, and Grandson to boxing along with Larry McGuire, Jack ensured the club had a home until he resigned in 1980,
In 1965, the Downham Community Club, which had previously been connected with Orpington ABC through Harry Taylor and Pat Dowers in the 1950s, joined the Orpington ABC Association of clubs due to its closure. Downham Community ABC amalgamated with Orpington & District ABC once again, and a constitution (legal document) was written and agreed upon in 1966, stating that all clubs within the borough moving forward would come under the auspices of the Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Clubs.
Orpington & District ABC has produced amateur champions,{{cite news |title=Terry Chases ABA chances / Orpington & District ABC / Terry Pearson |date=23 January 1980 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Kent%20Evening%20Post |work=Kent Evening Post}} including Mick Spencer, 5 times national champion and England Representative, Gary Cable, Alan Cable, Johnny Hillman, Albert Hillman, Mark Baker, Robert Mullholland, Robert Stacey, Terry Pearson,{{cite news |title=TERRY SETS PRO TARGET |date=|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19800125/424/0035 |work= |quote=... national junior title and is making great strides as he approaches senior status A A S 5 a member of Orpington Boxing. Club, he won’ the London 80{;‘ Clubs’ title in the autumn, went on to take the regional champion: ship and finished the job at the Hilton ...}} P Martin, and Ray Mason.
In 1966, the club successfully raised funds to build the Magpie Hall Lane Youth Centre in Southborough.{{cite news |title=Busy boxing boys are held to 3-3 draw |date=4 November 1966 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003546/19661104/390/0018 |work=Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph |quote=.. included in an evening's boxingpromoted by the Orpington Amateur Boxing Club will go to the disaster fund. At Ramsgate Martin Young proved too strong for his opponent, K. Otter, and the fight was stopped the fn.( round. An aggressive Michael A Idous gained ...}} It briefly operated from the Youth Centre at Magpie Hall Lane in Pettswood before relocating to the Rosecroft social club in St. Mary's Cray, where it was coached by ex-England international and national champion Mick Spencer.
In 1980, the club moved again, this time behind the Queenshead public house in Green St. Green, with Mick Spencer moving to the Fitzroy Lodge. Ted Norris continued to be the coach Arthur Davis, a former professional, became the head coach in 1984.Davis was a boxer for Orpington winning 3 SE divisional championships.
In 1986 the club merged with the Sir Winston Churchill Boxing Club and the Spitfire Boxing Club in Bigginhill {{cite news |title=no headline |date=17 September 1987 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Sevenoaks%20Focus |work=Sevenoaks Focus |quote=.. Westerham will be teaming up’ with Orpington Boxing Club and the Spitfire Boxing Club Biggin Hill for several joint promotions as well as providing fight fans with a higher grade of boxing On Tuesday November 3 ...}}
due to a lack of funding and an unsuitable venue.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=18 September 1987 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Sevenoaks%20Chronicle%20and%20Kentish%20Advertiser |work=Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser |quote=This season Westerham win be teaming up with Orpington Boxing Club and Spitfire Boxing Club Biggin for joint promotions The Orpington and Westerham Boxing ...}}
Jimmy Cable served as president, and John Hart as coach during this period. The club continued to produce Southern County champions,{{cite news |title=no headline |date=26 November 1986 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Sevenoaks%20Focus |work=Sevenoaks Focus |quote=.. collage at Cambridge in A PARTY of 40 Including boxers from Sir Winston Churchill Boxing Club and Orpington Boxing Clubreturned triumphant from Cornwall recently group twin club Penryn and Falmouth ABC winning ...}}
such as Robert Stacey and Mark Baker, as well as regional boxers like Neville Smith, Dean Philp,Stephen Birch, Justin Worrel, Ian Tebbit, and Mark Dalton.{{cite news |title=no headline |date=10 October 1986 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?newspaperTitle=Sevenoaks%20Chronicle%20and%20Kentish%20Advertiser |work=Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser |quote=Evening’s action is available Sir Winston Churchill Boxing Club are now working towards a big dinner show set for Thursday (October 16) at the Marlowe Rooms in Sidcup in connection with OrpingtonBoxing Club The ...}}
The club faced challenges in the 1990s when the Royal Standard pub in Westerham closed, resulting in the closure of all three clubs: Spitfire, Sir Winston Churchill, and Orpington ABC. This led to temporary closures due to a lack of venues and funding.{{cite news |title=Orpington & Districts amateur boxing club history |date=4 June 2024 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24361882.orpington-district-amateur-boxing-clubs-pre-wwii-history/}}
In 2007, the Cray Valley Boxing Club in Cray valley briefly reopened and they relocated to Tillingbourne Green they were called again Orpington & District Amateur Boxing club, the club produced regional champions{{cite news |title=Rutherford makes history at Cafe Royal |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/othersport/4029732.rutherford-makes-history-at-cafe-royal/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=News Shopper |date=7 January 2009 |language=en}} under coach Olly Rutherford and national finalists & CYP London Champion such as Ernie Rutherford and The club also enjoyed success with Ryan Judd winning four titles in four weeks, starting with the south east London junior novice ABA title.
Judd went also went on to land the London title {{cite news |title=Sidcup boxer determined to bounce back |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/othersport/10117531.sidcup-boxer-determined-to-bounce-back/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=News Shopper |date=19 December 2012 |language=en}} However, the club closed in 2013 due to a lack of funding once again.
The club produced regional boxers and Jack Greenaway, Junior London Champion, Danny McGuire, Olly Lee and Oliver Watson who is now the club's chairman.{{cite news |title=Orpington & Districts amateur boxing club history |date=4 June 2024 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24361882.orpington-district-amateur-boxing-clubs-pre-wwii-history/}}
Orpington & District ABC reopened its doors{{cite news |title=Boxing club set to re-open |date=21 February 2024 |work=Newsshopper |quote= BOXING club with a storied history is set to reopen. Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) dates back to its forma tion in 1962 by Alf Reilly at S Joseph's Boys School in Orpington. Over the years, the club has moved locations, including the Sea Cadet Hall in St Mary Cray and Ruxley, before finding its home ad The Rosecroft Social Club in St Mary Cray. Under the guidance of esteemed coaches Peter Hughes and Ted Norris, Orpington & District ABC quickly gained a reputation as one of the best boding clubs in Kent and London from N042 to 1477. ...}} in Pettswood on April 8, 2024, with a 15-year lease, run by a committee of ex boxers including ex national champion Robert Mullholland the club aims to re-open all clubs they once run across the Borough including Great Elms & Bromley ABC & Sir Winston Churchill. The club has strong links to Pettswood raising funds to build the Magpie youth centre and holding amateur boxing shows in the Daylight inn and Sports grounds.
Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club is the only official regulated boxing club affiliated with the National Governing Body England Boxing & Sport England in Pettswood, and Bromley{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24345148.orpington-district-abc-boxing-club-opens-petts-wood-venue/|work=News Shopper |date=25 May 2024 | title =Orpington & District ABC}} The club also has a professional affiliation with the British Boxing Board of Control.
Orpington ABC had six boxers advance to the London Semi-Finals. Since opening in April 2024, the club celebrated its first London Champion, George Sheppard, on September 29, 2024. Additionally, Harry Sheppard claimed victory at the NAGBC London Finals on November 1, 2024, becoming a London Champion as well. Orpington & District ABC was the only club in the Bexley and Bromley Boroughs to produce a London Champion in 2024.{{cite news |title=Orpington & District Boxing club champion make semi finals |date=17 November 2024 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24721615.orpington-district-boxing-club-champion-makes-semifinals/ }}
In April 2025 Orpington ABC produced another London Champion Henry Brown who also reached the semi finals in May 2025.{{cite news |title=Bromley teenager makes history |date=15 May 2025 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/25159379.bromley-teenager-makes-boxing-history-england-win/}}
Orpington ABCs sister club Bromley ABC was reopened {{cite news |title=Bromley ABC first show |date=14 March 2025 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/25010092.bromley-abcs-first-home-boxing-event-five-decades/ }}in January 2025 with Castro Collins winning the school national championships in May 2025, this marked the first national title in 27 years in the London Borough of Bromley.{{cite news |title=Bromley teenager makes history |date=15 May 2025 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/25159379.bromley-teenager-makes-boxing-history-england-win/}}
The club’s motto is ‘progredior’ (to make progress, advance, develop, proceed, go on) {{cite news |title=Orpington & District amateur relishing return of an old boxing club |url= https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/orpington-relishing-return-of-an-old-boxing-club-with-great-history/ }}
Today, the club is run by ex-boxers and family members of the original Orpington & District ABC under the affiliation of England Boxing, established in 1880.{{cite news |title=Orpington & Districts amateur boxing club history |date=4 June 2024 |url= https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24361882.orpington-district-amateur-boxing-clubs-pre-wwii-history/}}
In popular culture
In 1965, the Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club was featured on the BBC1 6 PM news, showcasing club training with Michael Spencer and Robert Reily.
Orpington & District boxing club is mentioned in The Gifted One biography of Kirkland Laing by Oliver Jarratt and details the bout between Kirkland Laing and Orpington & District ABC Boxer Albert Hillman.{{cite book |title= The gifted one |author= Oliver Jarratt|date= 2009|publisher= Unknown Publisher|isbn= 978-0-9561413-0-9|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WyWGYgEACAAJ}}
The bout between Chris Genkins of Orpington & District ABC and Charlie Magri is mentioned in the book Champagne Charlie. {{cite web|title= champagne Charlie |date=2013 |url= https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Champagne_Charlie_Charlie_Magri.html?id=-zetDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false}}
Jimmy Cable the ex president & former boxer for Orpington & District ABC is mentioned in a book by Steve Bunce.{{cite book | author =Steve Bunce | title= Bunces big fat short history of boxing | date= 18 May 2017 | publisher= Transworld | isbn= 978-1-4735-4321-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=a-XkDAAAQBAJ&dq=bunce+jimmy+cable&pg=PP167}}
The club is mentioned in Anthony Whatleys book the Ghost of the Fisher.{{cite book |author=Anthony Whatley|title=ghost of the fisher |date=2007 |publisher=Upfront |isbn=978-1-84426-443-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=WpsZLdRLkHcC&dq=famous+boxers+of+orpington&pg=PA91}}
Ian Stones book about the British athlete Alec Nelson cites the Orpington Village Hall as the location of his bout, the village hall was the location for Orpington boxing club in 1895. Alec boxed Charnock from Orpington ABC.
Michael Spencer the multi national champion and England representative was mentioned in Dave Boy Green book. {{cite book | title= Fen Tiger | author= Bob Lonkhurst |date= 2004|publisher= Unknown Publisher|url= https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780954027124/Fen-Tiger-Success-Dave-boy-0954027124/plp }}
National Champion Castro Collins was interviewed live on ITV News at 6 PM on May 22, 2025. {{cite news |title=ITV live 6pm News |date=22 May 2025 |url= https://www.itv.com/watch/news/catch-up-on-itv-news-london-from-thursday-22nd-may/cwbr8jf}}