Northampton Amateur Boxing Club 3.77

Northampton Amateur Boxing Club began its long history back in 1953 at a time when there were no amateur boxing clubs in the town. A number of boxers were training at the United Trades Club in Overstone Road and in the early autumn of `53 a group of men met in the club bar and decided to apply to the Amateur Boxing Association for affiliation.

The first chairman was Sgt.Jim Geddes of the Borough Police and founder secretary was John Morris,an 18-year-old reporter on the Chronicle & Echo.The first President was local businessman George Riby but a key figure behind the scenes was Inspector Thom Nicholson of the Borough force who remained a guiding hand for many years. In later years,after promotion to Chief Superintendant he became Deputy Chief Constable of the Borough up to amalgamation with the County Force.

The first coach was Harry Reynolds whose son Roy was one of the first boxers to represent the club and who later became one of the leading matchmakers in the Midlands and was still a member of the committee up to his death in 2009.John Morris went on to become a leading boxing writer and finally General Secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control up to his retirement in 1999. He is currently President of the club.

The club has had many headquarters during its history including a former squash court near Franklins Gardens,a snooker club in Kings Heath and the old Friendlies WMC. It settled in Ash Street about ten years ago.

The club was affiliated by the Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire ABA at the end of 1953 and the very first boxer to carry the club name into action was Dick Rogers – currently President of the Northamptonshire Ex-Boxers`Association.In January of 1954 he boxed Wally Hadlum of Morris Motors at a tournament in Coventry