YORK All Saints Boxing Club are appealing to people and businesses around the area to help them raise the £20,000 they need to build a new home.

The club that set the likes of Jorvik Warrior Jamie Warters on the road to success will lose their North Street home in August next year due to the development of All Saints Church land.

And although they have generously been offered land at the New Earswick sports complex in which to build a new gym, the club now need to raise the funds to complete the project.

Once built, the gym will be passed over to a trust to enable the proud tradition of boxing in York to continue.

Club secretary Lewis Gell said: "We have been kindly offered a piece of land within the New Earswick sports complex which will allow us to build our own gym, which will be passed over to a trust to enable boxing in York to continue for many generations.

"However, we need to raise an estimated £20,000 to make this a reality. I admit this will be a hard mountain to climb but we are going to give it our best shot.

"We are asking for support in all areas, not just financial, and we would be grateful if anyone could offer any help mounting a campaign such as this."

Among the ways the club are currently looking at raising money are where people can donate just £1 - if not more - towards the cause and for local firms to supply the materials.

"We have various campaigns going on with the main one - our Round a Pound - where we are asking anyone to donate £1 towards the cause," added Gell.

"Also we are looking into asking local building firms to donate materials to us as this is as good as cash, but we are relying on builder's merchants to help out."

The club, who have the backing of former featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, are also hoping to find support from local sports clubs and sports persons.

Away from the pressures of trying to secure their long-term future, All Saints are going from strength to strength in the ring.

The club have welcomed a number of newcomers - including some girls keen to take up the sport - through the doors, while Rich Clapham and Danny Gell are helping the youngsters on their way.

Anyone who would like to help out the club, or wants information on joining, should contact Lewis Gell on (07734) 228473.

Updated: 12:41 Monday, November 04, 2002