Dundee boxing club nears funding target for expansion to meet soaring demand

A Dundee boxing club that has produced some of the country’s best young talent in the sport is nearing a cash target for expansion in order to meet growing demand.

Committee members at Lochee Boys and Girls Club have told STV News they are about 85% there in raising the necessary funds to renovate their premises.

Opened in 1946, the club has been a key part of the community since. It currently has just shy of 400 members, but there are waiting lists to even get in.

The expansion would mean the club could host two additional boxing rings, a reception area and a sports therapy room.

As well as meeting current demand, the plans have also been designed with a view to reaching more people in the area, including women and girls, people with disabilities and people living in rural areas around Dundee.

Lennon Mitchell, who has been going to the club for more than a decade, said: “I started at Lochee Boys when I was just 13 years old.

Sportscotland has recently invested £100,000 towards the club's plans to expand its facilities to meet demand. — Sportscotland has recently invested £100,000 towards the club’s plans to expand its facilities to meet demand. STV News

“My friend at school was a Scottish champion boxer, and he got me to come along one day. I came to one training session and that was me hooked – [I] didn’t look back.

“The extra space would be so vital. It would be brilliant for us boxers, we’d get more attention individually if we had big fights coming up, but it would also help the coaches.”

The expansion would mean the club could host two additional boxing rings, a reception area and sports therapy room. Supplied

Sportscotland has recently invested £100,000 towards the project as part of its Sports Facilities Fund.

In total, ten projects across the country will share a total of more than £1 million to help develop existing sites or create new facilities.

Kerry Lynch, the club’s treasurer, said: “It will be transformational for us.

Treasurer, Kerry Lynch, told STV News the expansion would be "transformational" for the club and for Lochee. — Treasurer, Kerry Lynch, told STV News the expansion would be “transformational” for the club and for Lochee. STV News

“It’s been a dream for a long time, but actually, we really started pushing the funding in February this year.

“It’s to meet our current demand, so we’ve no longer got a waiting list and don’t need to turn anyone away, but also to open this place up for other groups and other charities to use and for the people of Lochee to make best use of during the day when we’re not.

“We’ve got real aspirations to start a physical build at the end of this year or very early 2026.”