Strabane boxing hub development into next round

PROVISION of a new boxing hub and hall at Melvin Sports Complex has taken another step forward after Sport NI approved a business case for the development.

First mooted in 2020, council approved match funding totalling £600,000 towards the development of any new facility, subject to securing the necessary match funding through Sport NI’s Multi Sports Programme. Consequently, officers applied for funding through Sport NI to the tune of £1 million towards an overall project cost of £1.6million. However the next stage in the process to establishing the boxing hub was subject to the business case being approved. That is now complete.

“I’m delighted to hear the third and final stage of the £1.6 million provision of a boxing and multi sports hub which I proposed be progressed at the Health and Communities meeting two years ago has been approved,” Strabane independent councillor, Raymond Barr said. “It’s been a bit of a wait but worth it. Boxing in particular has always faced serious challenges in the town but was kept alive by dedicated enthusiasts like the McGarrigle and Cunningham brothers, some of whom are no longer with us. And there were a host of others who kept the sport alive despite being shunted from one dilapidated gym to another. This new development will hopefully be motivational to those coaches and aspiring boxers who strive to compete at the highest level,” Cllr Barr added.

A council spokesperson confirmed, “The application was made after the project was shortlisted as one of ten projects to possibly be taken forward to completion by Sport NI subject to the successful development of the required business case. This business case has now been approved by Sport NI which means the project can progress to the next phase. A report detailing next stages in the project will be brought before members of the Health and Community Committee in the coming months.”