JORVIK Boxing Club are on the lookout for a new home.

Formed two years ago by trainer Gary Kelly, the club have proved hugely successful operating from their current base at the Global Centre in Boroughbridge Road.

With the site of the old Manor School earmarked for housing, Kelly and his team of boxers are moving out next month.

Offers of temporary accommodation have come from rival clubs York Boxing Club, based in Walmgate, and Henry’s Gym, run by former top boxer Henry Wharton in Acomb.

Kelly was grateful for the support but, having branched out on his own after 20 years under the York Boxing Club banner, he was keen to maintain the Jorvik outfit’s separate identity.

“Since we were formed two years ago, we have been doing really well,” said Kelly.

“We won our first Yorkshire belt with Danny Holmes in April, we have 18-year-old Shona Jarrad in the National Women’s Championships and two lads fighting in the Yorkshire Championships.

“We have been trying to find somewhere to move to in the Acomb area and not come up with anything yet. It would be such a shame if we can’t find anywhere.

“We want to get it out there and ask if anybody knows of somewhere suitable in the Acomb or Clifton areas. We nearly went to South Bank, but it didn’t come off.

“Henry Wharton did say we could move in there and Billy Wilson said we could go to York Boxing Club. We all get on and when we are all at shows we support each other’s fighters, but moving into the same gym is different.

“I left York Boxing Club after 20 years to get a place of my own and moving in with someone else would be difficult.

“It has started off really well for us and we want to keep that going.”

He added: “We have been looking everywhere, but some of the places have been too expensive.

“We don’t want to have to put fees up, but it is becoming harder to run an amateur boxing club.”

Jorvik Boxing Club boasts 40 members and Kelly offers 13 sessions a week for all ages, with his youngest boxers aged five.

“We have got some really good prospects,” he said.

“We can see the kids making progress. We have got quite a few that are unbeaten – they are good little fighters.”

Anyone who can help out should phone Kelly on 07512 309067.