Phoenix Boxing Club is Rutherglen Reformer's Club of the Week

Nov 25 2009 by Will Henshaw, Rutherglen Reformer

THIS week's Sports Club of the week is Phoenix Amateur Boxing Club.

The Phoenix Club is one steeped in history, with the majority of its young fighters coming from the Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas, and is most famous for training up former WBO world featherweight boxing champion Scott Harrison.

However a new chapter is set to begin on this gym's history, as they are set to move to new premises on French Street, within the same area of Dalmarnock.

The gym has humble beginnings, being converted from a run down warehouse to one of the most respected boxing gyms in Glasgow, with Scott Harrison himself laying the floors to the place which would train him up to become world champion.

Founder of the club and Scott's father Peter Harrison, from Cambuslang, explains how the club got started all those years ago.

He said: “The club was started in October 1997. It was a run down warehouse before we got a hold of it and we put special floors on it. In a boxing club you don't want hard floors, you want bouncy floors for skipping.

“So we custom-built the warehouse to turn it into a boxing club.

“It was actually founded to train my son, Scott.

“Scott actually laid the floor himself and all my friends chipped in.

“Obviously to run a club though you need a lot more people In it, so we got a lot of other members to join us. They train Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“Pat Mallon is the coach, I've been working with Pat for years, I use to train him ages ago.”

It is easy to think that the same gym that helped produce Scott Harrison would be one for grizzled boxing veterans only, however this is not the case.

As Peter explains anyone aspiring to get fit can join the gym.

He added: “We have all different levels to the club, it's for everyone. We've got boys who box internationally and anyone who wants train themselves up can come along.

“You don't have to be a boxer to train in our gym, we get a lot of football players coming to use our equipment and get themselves fit for the new season.

“We get a variety of people coming to the club. We get kids who are 10 or 11-years-old and the oldest guy we've got is 87! He's the gym master though so he looks after all the gym equipment.

“Usually with a boxing session you'll have a warm up, then a stretch and do some technique and maybe some sparring after they've done some shadow boxing and if you're not sparring you'll be doing some bag work.”

Peter explained that it was actually Glasgow City Council who got them moved to new premises and he can't wait to get started.

He concluded: “We'll be moving to new premises soon. The gym on Poplin Street is actually closed now as they're going to knock it down so we'll be going into our new gym on French Street so at least it's in the same area but it won't be opened until the end of December.

“When I found out the gym was shutting over a year and a half ago the BBC did a story on it and it got the attention of Glasgow City Council. They promised us a gym which would be suitable to us and we're looking forward to getting it started.”