COMPANY director Dean Sherriff is appealing to the York business community to help secure the long-term future of what will be the city’s biggest boxing club.

York-based Sherriff has come aboard the project in which York’s most successful professional boxer, Henry Wharton, is bidding to transform a run-down upper floor of a former cinema in Acomb into a fit-for-purpose gym.

Aware of Wharton’s status as a legend of the ring, Sherriff has put his Rotherham-based company behind the appeal to raise cash to keep the club not just functioning, but flourishing. He has used his negotiating skills to get two other companies on board.

Between them Sherriff’s Empire company, of which he is managing director, Tenbé do-it-yourself of Doncaster and Everbuild from Leeds, have raised around £40,000 over the next three years towards the establishment of “Henry’s Gym” as it is now styled on two banners.

Now he hopes York businesses will respond in kind as the finishing touches are sought to complete the makeover of the 10,000 square feet premises from a dust and rubble-strewn shell to a gym honed for the demands of modern-day sport.

Said Sherriff: “It’s not as if we are after a main sponsor. We want any help at all from any business in York.

“Including my business, we have now got three companies from across Yorkshire to become involved because that’s the legend of Henry Wharton.

“Now we want as many companies from York to get involved, even if it’s in a small way. It’s not about just getting the gym open, it’s making sure that after a year, or two, or three, it is still growing.

“The gym is going to be run by Henry Wharton and that has got to have a certain pulling power because of what he did in the ring.”

Sherriff said it was the former unbeaten European super-middleweight champion’s reputation as a warrior which convinced him to be associated with the new gym.

“I’d appeal to any York business to get involved as this will be a gym which will benefit the youngsters of the city,” added Sherriff.

“Currently I am living in York, so if anyone would like to come to the gym for a site visit and I’ll explain what is going to happen here, I will gladly meet them.”

Sherriff can be contacted by email on dean@empiretapes.com

Wharton, meanwhile, was delighted at the injection of new business interest in the venture into which he has sunk a considerable investment.

Currently recovering from injuries sustained last month, Wharton said: “The gym and getting finished has been brilliant motivation for me.

“When I was in hospital, the treatment I got was brilliant. The medical staff were brilliant. The nurses were angels, all of them. But my big wish was to get out of there and get back to my family and into getting this place turned round.

“Now with Dean coming in, it has been a big boost because this is not intended as a short-term project.

“I am in it for the long-term in providing a sporting amenity for the youngsters in the city.

“York people have always liked their boxing and have always supported the sport. They certainly backed me and this is my chance to try to repay them.

“We want to have club nights and guest nights, our own amateur shows and big pro shows here. We want the lads to come here and feel that this is their club, that this is their boxing home.”