Coventry City Council says it is urgently trying to help find a new home for a boxing club that has been kicked out of its premises and could now face permanent closure.
Triumph Amateur Boxing Club, which was based at a gym on the Standard Triumph Recreation Club site, off Tile Hill Lane, Canley, has been running for 40 years but had to move out when a lease expired at the end of June.
Cllr Dunc Clark (Reform, Woodlands) says the club needs to find a new base within weeks or its boxers, left without a place to train, would end up joining other clubs. An exodus of members would finish Triumph for good, he warned.
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Cllr Clark told a meeting of the full council: “I visited and spoke to the head coach, and he explained to me the urgency. If the boxers who are contenders – some of our best sportspeople in the city – don’t get alternative accommodation within the next four to five weeks, they’re likely to go off to other clubs, and that will kill the Triumph Boxing Club.”
He urged the council to make it a top priority to find a solution.
Cabinet Member for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Kamran Caan ( Labour, Upper Stoke ) responded: “We’re very proud of Triumph, especially their great service to sport throughout many, many years and I can assure you, it’s high priority.
“Officers have already met representatives of the club, and the associated clubs like the dance club and the bowls club. We are definitely making an urgent case for them to have a safe and secure home.”
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On July 2, the club posted on social media that it had now left its premises, marking the end of an era. It said: “It is with a heavy heart, but an overwhelming sense of gratitude, that we announce our departure from the gym.
“While this chapter is coming to an end, we want to focus on celebrating the incredible 40-year legacy that you helped us build.
“For four decades, Standard Triumph Club has been the absolute backbone of Triumph Amateur Boxing Club. By generously providing us with a free gym space, you gave our local community something invaluable: truly affordable access to boxing for generations of local youth.
“Your support did not just keep doors open; it transformed lives. Because of this space, we were able to provide a vital lifeline for our youth, steering countless young people away from anti-social behaviour and giving them a safe, positive focus.
“Within the four walls of the Triumph Gym, kids from the local community didn’t just learn how to box, they built self-esteem, unlocked true confidence, and grew into strong, disciplined individuals. The quality of boxers produced in this gym has been nothing short of incredible.
“Together, we have nurtured raw talent right from the grassroots level all the way to international stages, producing countless champions along the way. None of these sporting achievements or personal triumphs would have been possible without your backing.”
Thanking the trustees and the boss of Standard Triumph Club, the message continued: “Your unwavering belief in our mission has left a permanent mark on this area. You did not just provide a building; you provided a family and a foundation for this community to thrive.
“Thank you for 40 years of generosity, dedication, and life-changing support. We are eternally grateful for everything you have done for us.”
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