LUDLOW Amateur Boxing Club’s new headquarters will be officially opened next month.

Vice-chairman Colin Woodfield said the new club premises – at Wheeler Road – will be opening to the public on September 19 and 20.

And the boxing club will be holding a fund-raising dinner-show at Ludlow Racecourse on October 10.

“All the hard work has been done and we are now putting everything into place,” said Woodfield.

“There is still a bit of work to do on the inside of the building. The September 19 event will be invite only to people like councillors and the following day will be for everyone in the community to come along and to have a look at the new club.

“We are now using the building but it’s a relief that it will finally be officially opened.”

The club’s original boxing hut was demolished over safety concerns several years ago.

Volunteers have assisted with the fitting out of the new building, which will also serve as a community facility.

The new building project has been supported by Ludlow Town Council, South Shropshire Housing Association and Shropshire Council.

Club chairman Tony Sewell believes the new building will be a real knockout for the town.

Sewell said: “It has been a fantastic few years since we started and many people have given so much of their free time to make it happen. The building shows what can be achieved if we work together.”

Colin Woodfield’s son, Chadd Woodfield, will be fighting at next month’s dinner show and is also planning to compete in this season’s national junior championships.

James Key and Chris Preece are keen to compete in the national seniors’ competition.

Woodfield explained: “I was talking to Chris Preece last season and he said he wanted to go into the seniors’ competition. I went to have a look and the competition had already started the previous week, which was a bit gutting. We will make sure we get it done properly this time.”..

Colin’s wife, Sharon Woodfield, is now making shorts for boxers.

“She’s been doing them since our last dinner show,” explained Woodfild.

“Chadd wanted a new pair of shorts and now Sharon makes them at a cost price through Bling4thering.”

For more details about the boxing club, the next dinner show or the boxing shorts, call Colin Woodfield on 07886 502485.