Halifax Stars
A FILM & ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
BOXING & WORKING CLASS CULTURE IN HALIFAX
KAI FENTON
“The best thing is the fitness gain and the discipline it teaches. Also, the reward of training so hard and having the fight you have been working towards at the end of it all. I would like to go as far as possible in the amateurs and then when my coaches think I am ready, hopefully one day turn over as a professional ...”
“I started boxing to keep myself out of trouble, to learn self-discipline and to better myself. Getting into the ring is exciting and nerve-racking - there is no feeling like it!”
ETHAN BROADBENT
“I love the camaraderie of boxing, and the banter and having mates with a common goal of staying healthy and disciplined. It is good, as we aren’t falling into bad habits and hopefully making good life choices.”
“The best thing about boxing is definitely winning a bout. Yeah, I get nervous before a fight, but hopefully I will be world champion someday!”
LEON DAWSON
HARLEY ARCHIBALD
“My dad taught me boxing from being about 6 years old. I haven’t had a competitive fight yet, but I would love to make it as a pro boxer ... I love the adrenaline rush!”
“I got into boxing for fitness and then just started to love the sport. The best thing about it is the self-defence, discipline and fitness. I hope I will get to have some competitive fights soon and see where it takes me.”
STANLEY DALY
ASTON LOUCH
JOSHUA COLLINS
“Once you step in that ring, in front of all them people, and look your opponent dead in the eye, that's when you know what you have been training for. Boxing is making me, my family and my friends proud as I work and train hard for what I want to achieve.”
LEON CRUZ-WARZING“The best thing about boxing is punching people with a glove on. It feels good to get in the ring with someone you don't know if you have prepared. In boxing, I plan to just try and aggressively win bouts.”
“I got into boxing doing pad work with my dad. I love everything about it, but I love fight night and the fitness training the best. I’ve had two fights - both times I was confident and excited!”
“Boxing keeps your mental health in check. You look good in the mirror! It's all about what you put in - if you work hard, you will reap the rewards. Yeah, I’ve had competitive fights - I feel nervous in the week before the fight, but once the gloves are strapped up, and I'm in the ring, all nerves go once that bell sounds ...”
CADEN JONES
ARCHIE WAKEFIELD
“The best thing about boxing is the adrenaline rush and the feeling of just being alive! I had a skills bout, and it felt nerve-racking but when I stepped into the ring, I felt calm and focused. Getting into a ring with somebody you don’t know is scary, because you don’t know what level they are on. I hope to be a top boxer one day.”
“My grandad fought Lennox Lewis and knocked out John Fury (Tyson
dad) that’s how I got into it. The best thing is the fitness, self defence and discipline. I hope to be world champ one day!”
JACK FERRAND
Fury’s
STEVEN GARBER
“Yeah, I got into boxing because my dad owns the club ... it makes me feel energised. I have had some competitive fights; I do feel nervous but also really excited about getting in the ring.”
“Maybe the best thing about boxing for me is my relationship with the coaches - I would consider them as family. They have helped me out so much over the years, not only with the boxing but with my mental health too, and for that I am forever grateful. As an amateur boxer, I hope to go as far as I possibly can.”
RHYS CROWTHER
MICKEY ROWE
Finlay’s great-grandad was the legendary boxer and trainer GORDON JONES, who as one of the original members of the Halifax Star Boxing Club, gave the town a boxing heritage and legacy to be proud of.
“I got into boxing for the fitness. The thing I love most is the sparring. I have had two competitive fights ... yeah, getting into the ring with someone you don’t know is nerve-racking, but also exciting!”
JAMES COWAN • JONNY MAUDE • CASS VAREY • ALESSANDRO SALAMINO
WALTER STEWART - ex professional boxer and keen supporter of amateur boxing in Halifax
ROBERT ‘PAZ’ PARADISE • MATHEW WELLS • MICK ROWE
LIAM WALSH - ex professional boxer from Halifax
STEVE KIZIS - Halifax Star old boy and campaigner to cement boxing’s legacy in the town of Halifax
CHRIS WILD - Halifax Star old boy and now national advocate for children and young people in care
Top: ALFIE SINGLETON
Below: COLE WALSH
Top: CALLUM SCHOFIELD
Below: ERIC HARVEY
Top: HARVEY SPEIGHT
Below: HECTOR DROUGOS
Top: HARVEY SALAMINO
Below: HENLEY RAMSDEN
Top: JACK WILLOUGHBY Below: LEWIS WRIGHT
Top: KAYNE MILES Below: LILLY HESLIN
Top: MARNI GLENNON
Below: MICHAEL ELLIOT
Top: LOUIS BENSON Below: RICH MASON
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank all the people who helped make this such a special project: Mick Rowe and all the team at Halifax Boxing Sport & Fitness Club; Cass Varey and everyone at Hebden Bridge Boxing Club; Josh Sandland and the guys at Halifax Star Boxing Club; Josie McNamara at Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy; Steve and Ellie Shearn and everyone at Back 2 Basics Old Skool Training; Jonny Maude at Sowerby Bridge Boxing Club; Krysha Greenwood and Sheila Waterhouse for giving us access to ‘Roy’s Boys’ - an essential companion for the history of boxing in this region; Gordon Jones’ widow Carole; Jason Whitaker; Chris Wild; Steve Kizis; Adam Fogarty; Liam Walsh; Walter Stewart and Jimmy First. Also Jack & Tom at Bonfire Films; Ruth and Alice at The Piece Hall, Alan Burnett ... and finally Geoff Brokate our film-maker and photographer!
Top: TERENCE BRANNAN Below: TOM JOHNSON
Top: ROBIN MOSS
Below: TYASON NAZHA
TYLER BITNER TYLER BROCKLEHURST
“Boxing is the sport to which all other sports aspire ...”
BIG GEORGE, Halifax Star Boxing Club
A celebration of boxing past and present as we bring together stories and memories of the original clubs, with the hopes and dreams of the next generation of young boxers in Calderdale.
email: jeff@verddegris.org
Twitter: @verddegris
A verd de gris arts community initiative
Halifax Stars
A FILM & ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
BOXING & WORKING CLASS CULTURE IN HALIFAX
The exhibition is open to the public
verdegris
Saturday 29 April – Sunday 28 May 2023
THE PIECE HALL
Blackledge, Halifax HX1 1RE
The gallery will be open daily 10am-4pm