Boxing club dedicated to Henry Cooper threatened with closure by ‘extortionate’ rent

A boxing club dedicated to the South London heavyweight, Henry Cooper, may have to close due to the “extortionate” price of its rent.

Barry Sandford, 56, of Beechmont Close, Downham, set up Coopers Boxing Academy two years ago after being given the copyright for the name by Mr Cooper’s two son’s.

He said: “When I was working at the London Ex Boxers Association I was involved in getting the statue of Henry Cooper put up on the corner of Randlesdown Road.

“At the unveiling ceremony Cooper’s son’s came down and gave me the name for the boxing academy.”

Located in Bellingham leisure centre, Randlesdown Road, Bellingham, Coopers Boxing Academy trains 35 junior and senior boxers three days a week.

Mr Sandford and the coaches also provide sessions for children and adults with autism two days a week as well as classes for people in the community living with dementia.

Mr Sandford said: “Seeing the kids smile is rewarding on its own.

“We have a few champions here now but it’s about diversity, not just about people who want to do competitions.”

Bellingham Leisure centre is owned by Lewisham council but leased to Better Leisure – an organisation which runs sport and leisure facilities on behalf of local authorities.

Mr Sandford said: “We fund the club ourselves but we’re having to pay almost £800 a month on rent.

“It’s extortionate, we just can’t keep paying that. 

“Me and the coaches have worked so hard but you just feel like you’re on your own because no one wants to step in and help.”

Mr Sandford said the club is offering the community more than just sport.

He said: “Bellingham has one of the highest levels of antisocial behaviour orders in London.

“We work with the Met to help reduce knife crime by getting young boys out of gangs and training them up and getting them fit.

“I weigh them in once a fortnight and know when they’re not eating so I get them fed.

“We help them find work, I buy their boots for the boxing matches and make sure they’re not missing school.

“With everything we do for the children it’s a shame that we’re being pushed to the wayside.”

Lewisham recorded 377 knife crime incidents in the year ending March 2022. By the following year, this had risen by 22 per cent, to 460 incidents. 

Mr Sandford said: “The council says we have problems in the borough with drugs, alcohol and knife crime but they’re not supporting organisations like us trying to solve those issues.”

Mr Sandford said his ethos for the boxing academy is inspired by Mr Cooper, who grew up on the Bellingham Estate in Farmstead Road, and was known for supporting young boxers starting out at gyms in the area.

He said: “Everyone at the academy gives everything to those kids, all of our time goes into it and it’s worth it.

“But if we lose this space, that’s it, we won’t be able to carry on.”

A spokeswoman from Lewisham council said: “We appreciate the work of all our community groups in Lewisham. Coopers Boxing Academy are, like other community organisations, currently offered a discounted rate of £35 per hour for facilities at Bellingham Leisure Centre.

“Mr Sandford was given a lower introductory rate in 2022 to help the organisation build up a client base and establish the sessions in the area.

“We are keen to support our Lewisham community groups and we run a mailing list for all our local Sport and Leisure organisations to give them regular information about external funding opportunities, coaching opportunities and other information that we hope is helpful.

“Mr Sandford’s organisation was added to this mailing list and has received emails from the council about funding opportunities.”

Pictured top: From left Henry Cooper, Barry Sandford, John Cooper and Coopers Boxing Academy member Sami (Picture: Barry Sandford)