LYDNEY Boxing Club is to hold an 'open day' at their new headquarters at Regents Hall, Lydney, on Saturday, October 5.
Coach Bryan Higgs explained: "The plan is to welcome new and old members. There will be sparring to watch, some open and some controlled for boys from aged nine upwards.There will also be other aspects of boxing training.
"Amateur boxing should not be compared with professional boxing which is a business. It is extremely rare in amateur boxing for a boxer to suffer anything more than hurt pride or an occasional bruise."
Higgs said the club was looking forward to the new season with optimism.
"We are very pleased to have, at last, our own permanent headquarters. We have a new ring and we have received some encouraging support from Jane Jarman from the Forest of Dean District Council who has helped us obtained new gloves, head guards and skipping ropes funded by the SRB6 Scheme," he said.
Members train on Monday and Wednesday evenings, the juniors at 6pm and the seniors at 7pm, and this winter they have been boosted by the return to the district of former boxer Les Brooking who is now a senior coach.
"If there are youngsters who want to channel surplus energy into sport then they are welcome to come and have a look. And, of course, parents are invited to see exactly what goes on at the club," said Higgs.
The club is open on Saturday October 5 from 2pm until 4pm.