A once champion boxing club has been brought to its knees as it appeals for sponsors.

The Brookside Boys Club in Buckton Road, Borehamwood started a new season of training six weeks ago and is desperate for cash to help them train young boxers to a professional standard.

Already the evening boxing sessions are gaining in popularity and members attest to the benefits for younger members.

The club first opened in 1965 and was well respected in the community. Although it has fallen on hard times in recent years, the team are looking to pick themselves up and keep fighting.

At the helm of the latest round of training sessions are coach Steve Pearson and former professional boxer Dave Williams.

Now they are hoping for the club to regain status as a key part of the community as well as finding the next crop of champion fighters.

Mr Williams, 60, said: “Everyone in Borehamwood has in some way been through Brookside Boys, whether it’s through boxing, snooker or football.

“I have been coming to the club since I was 12, and when I was younger we were very successful.

“On the circuit if someone came from Brookside people would say that they were fed on red meat because they were so hungry for it.”

Mr Williams had a successful career, winning the senior Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) title in 1978 in front of thousands at Wembley Stadiums as well as a slew of professional wins.

He believes that this helped him and many teenagers in the area to stay out of trouble as it gives them an outlet and something creative to focus on.

He said: “Kids that stand around hanging about on streets or doing wheelies in the road are just causing problems for people, when they could be coming here and doing something useful.

“We don’t get funding from anybody, some of the punching bags have been here since I was younger. If we can’t afford it, it comes out of our own pocket.

“We would love a sponsor to support us in becoming a great club again, and seeing more boxers taking part in big fights.”

One such member is Steve Hicks, 22, who will be competing in the Home Counties Round of the ABA Novice at The Drill Hall this weekend.

Mr Hicks has won seven out of 10 professional fights and is confident he can win this fight to progress further in the competition.

He and England boxer Becky Stone, 24, have come to the club with their coach Mr Pearson to train and are delighted to be part of the next and possibly great chapter of this once famous club.

She said: “Boxing has helped me so much, It will be amazing I don’t know what I would do if I did not do this, I could’ve gotten into a lot of trouble.

“Without club funding, I will still box and make the most of it, but it is really important to help people coming up.”

Training sessions are run throughout the week and cost £3.50, £2.50 goes directly to the venue.

If you would like to sponsor the club please contact morgan.condon@london.newsquest.co.uk.