© 2007 Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Club

Gerry Willmott is a Met police officer and is the founder member of Haringey Police boxing club. It was one of the first Police Community Boxing Clubs of Great Britain (PCCGB) established in the year 2000 and it has become one of its most successful.

Based in the heart of Tottenham, an economically deprived area of London with a very high crime rate, we work with many youths some of whom are very disadvantaged. We believe boxing can provide a positive influence in many young people's lives. Moreover, we have witnessed the important role a club like ours plays in an especially tough area where many have otherwise become victims of their environment. We are proud to say that some of our members have, with the support of the club, taken control of their lives, their health and fitness and been able to apply the discipline the sport of boxing to their everyday lives. We adopt the ethos of our umbrella organization (PCCGB) which supports youth and community groups throughout Great Britain in initiatives which enhance young people's life skills and promote social inclusion by helping them to make the most of their potential and become responsible citizens http://www.policecommunityclubs.org .

At Haringey we have achieved a great deal in a relatively short space of time but none of our achievements would have been possible without the hard work of Gerry Willmott who in the very first year (2000) had two members win titles in the novice championships and our hard working treasurer Ken Marsh. Ken is key figure working behind the scenes raising important funds so that we can keep our doors open and not only function on a daily basis but organise trips away, like our annual trip to the Angered box cup in Sweden where our members have achieved great success. Another important figure to mention who supports our work and is working towards the reduction of crime figures in the borough of Haringey is the Borough Commander Simon O'Brien.

Haringey however would not be Haringey without the well known figure of Brian John who joined the club in 2001 after serving over 20 years with St. Pancras as boxer & coach. A dedicated member of the Haringey team and we are extremely lucky to have such an experienced head coach at the helm.

Shortly before Brian joined, multi-titled junior Michael Grant had moved from Finchley ABC to re establish himself in his old gym, formerly New Enterprise ABC. The following year Grant added another title to his already bulging portfolio, the NACYP Class C and was well on his way to attempting to win his first Senior ABA title the same season. Michael reached the ABA quarter finals losing narrowly to eventual champion Andy Morris from Wythenshaw. The following season in Michael's 2nd attempt at the ABA 's, he was again eliminated at the same stage as the previous year again losing narrowly to eventual champion Stephen Burke ( Salisbury ). In 2004 Grant reached the final on his 3rd attempt and lost on points to the Army's Chris Pacy with an off par performance. The following season Grant's dream finally came true going one better and beating Swindon puncher Jamie Cox in a barnstormer (See video) and becoming the clubs 1st ABA champion. Grant is now punching for pay and to date has had 9 wins and 1 draw in the professional ranks. It was this first ABA title that well and truly put Haringey on the map in terms of boxing achievements.

In 2005 Terri Kelly joined the club as an experienced match maker having spent 20 years working behind the scenes at All Stars ABC in West London . The number of bouts per season has more than doubled over the past few years and the club has gone from strength to strength with 4 national novice finalists in 2005, Ola Ekundayo reached the ¼ finals of the ABA's in 2006 and Ashley Sexton (who joined in 2006) has represented not only the club but England on several occasions. In the last Boxing News Four Nations ratings (Sept 2007) we are proud to say that there were four Haringey members included. We fully intend to continue as we are and are working towards more high honours which we hope to achieve in the not to distant future.

Michael Grant v Jamie Cox 2005 64kg ABA Final