When 1966 World Cup Final commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme and Gerry Loftus – then head of ITV Sport – opened Kirkby ABC’s gym doors for the first time in 1961, few could have envisaged the success the club would enjoy over the next five decades. Originally based in two old huts at the old RAF barracks in Fazackerley, before moving to Kirkby Sports Centre in 1964, Kirkby ABC has established a reputation that is known and respected throughout the land.

From its first champions; Mike Cunningham and Mike Atkinson in 1963; Tony Byrne, Tucker Hetherington and Joey Singleton in 1966; to Dean Kelly’s triumph in the Golden Gloves some 40 years later, few clubs in Britain let alone Merseyside, can match Kirkby’s winning formula.

Indeed, almost uniquely for an amateur club these days, so successful have Kirkby been at spotting nurturing and producing outstanding local boxing talent that they have managed to enter at least one boxer for the Senior ABA Championships every year since Mr Charles Atkinson first started the club all those years ago.

A Highways Inspector with Kirkby Urban District Council and a former Sergeant Major in the Bomb Disposal Squad, Mr Atkinson – or Mr A as he was sometimes called (due to the discipline and respect he instilled it was never Charles or Charlie) – became one of the most revered coaches in Merseyside’s long and proud boxing history.

It was whilst coach with St Theresa’s ABC in Norris Green that Mr Atkinson first made his mark, guiding middleweight Frank Hope to an ABA title in 1955, and RAF man Jimmy McGrail to the welterweight crown in 1959 – the former becoming Liverpool’s first national senior champion in the process. Mr Atkinson, awarded the OBE when he was only 28 years old, had also taken Hope to the national finals at welterweight two years previously.

It was with Kirkby however that Mr Atkinson made his reputation. Joe Flynn was his new club’s first senior boxer whilst national junior titles seemed to be drawn to Kirkby as if by a magnet in those early years. Mr Atkinson’s greatest achievement was still to come however, and it was in 1970 that he famously led local lad John Conteh to senior ABA honours in the famous tuscan red and cream vest (the colours of Kirkby Council), before the light-heavyweight went on to lift domestic, European and World titles in the paid ranks. For good measure John won a Commonwealth Games Gold medal in Edinburgh in 1970.

In 1966 Tucker Hetherington Snr. joined the club as coach from Litherland ABC, bringing with him his son, Tucker Hetherington jnr., the latter winning schoolboy and junior ABA titles in his first year with Kirkby. The talented, though often under-rated, Joey Singleton was yet another who inspired and trained by Mr Atkinson, winning national schoolboy, junior and senior titles as an amateur and a British title as a professional.

In 1973 Richie Lloyd became senior coach at the club but Kirkby’s success continued unabated. Paul Hodkinson took an almost identical route as Conteh, winning ABA titles galore before adding British, European and World crowns after handing in his vest, whilst Kevin Pritchard won a British title as a pro after first learning his trade with Kirkby ABA. Gary Ryder added a version of a World title to his professional CV after first lacing up a pair of gloves with Kirkby, whilst another local lad Alex Moon, fought for a version of the World crown after winning junior amateur titles with the club and winning a Commonwealth title as a pro.

Mr Atkinson’s boxing knowledge continued to be sought by professionals and former WBU champion Shea Neary was just one beneficiary. The legendary Azumah Nelson, Sot Chitilada and Judas Clottey, also benefited from Mr Atkinson’s skills, and all trained at Kirkby, with the help of the Atkinson family’s boxing connections, at some point in their careers.

The list goes on but we should not forget the likes of John Farrell, Dave Kenny, Tony Costello, Tony Pinnington, Paul Kinsella and James Williams all of whom boxed with distinction from Kirkby and all of whom have represented England in international tournaments around the world. So good has been Kirkby’s success that they even managed to produce a champion of another country – Bernie Deasy winning a senior Irish ABA title at super-heavy in 1985!

For such an established club it is no surprise that experience has played a major role in Kirkby’s success. Terry Harber was the club’s first Secretary; Mr Atkinson held the same position for over 30 years until his death in 1997; whilst current Secretary John Lloyd has been with the club since its creation. John’s father Richie was a coach before him, whilst the club has known no other treasurer than Stan Williams of Lockwood’s Construction.

With such an illustrious history behind them, and with current coaches Paul Bennett, Robert Butler, Ged Davitt, Dave Kenny, John Lloyd and Tony Whinett nurturing the undoubted potential the area still possesses its no surprise that Kirkby ABC remains a club of outstanding boxing talent. Long may it continue.

Gary Shaw MA