New boxing club for Bexhill

Atha and Southlands have joined forces to form Bexhill ABC, and the new club will be based at Pebsham Community Centre in Seabourne Road.

The merger is mutually beneficial because Southlands weren’t affiliated with the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) and Atha needed larger premises.

Much of the credit for what’s happened must go to Terry Freeman, who has boxed for Atha in the past but has helped swell the numbers at what was Southlands since he started coaching there in November.

Freeman, who passed the ABA level one coaching course in November 2010, is forming a productive partnership with Tone Godwin and Ben Pettet, two qualified coaches from the old Southlands club.

Southlands was formed in 2009 and was based at several venues before settling at the Pebsham Community Centre two years ago. Atha was set up in 2000 by Mick Turner, who will mark 40 years of coaching this year.

Level two coach Turner confirmed Bexhill ABC’s affiliation with the ABA towards the end of last month and will specialise with the club’s more advanced boys at the Bexhill Amateur Athletic Sports Centre on Little Common Road.

Bexhill ABC, whose club colours will be yellow and black, also has the backing of the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team. See tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.