A decades-old amateur boxing club could become another casualty of the demolition of Corbiewood Stadium in Bannockburn.
Last week the Observer highlighted how harness racing enthusiasts were desperately trying to find a new home after being given just weeks to vacate the stadium - their home of almost six decades.
However, Bannockburn Boxing Club is also on the ropes, with members fearing they may end up having to throw in the towel if they don’t find new premises.
Corbiewood is soon to be demolished to make way for a major new housing development as part of the South Stirling Gateway development.
Plans for a £100m development of 800 new homes were approved by Stirling Council in June 2020. The Tulloch Homes and Persimmon Homes project covers 40 acres of land next to Pirnhall and Bannockburn. As well as houses it includes a primary school, a park and ride facility and golf course.
While the plans have been on the cards for a number of years, finding alternative premises for both harness racing and boxing have proven challenging, with one option of a new home recently falling through for the boxers.
Club spokesperson Greig Scott said: “We are devastated and would appeal to anyone who might be able to help to get in touch.
“The club has a proud sporting history for youngsters and for both men and women.
“We also can’t underestimate the mental health and wellbeing benefits that the club have provided over the years, and especially more recently. Losing that would have a major impact now and in the future.”
Another member, Stephen McCormack, took to social media adding: “Feeling sad to learn that after 40 plus years of Bannockburn Boxing Club we will no longer have a home.
“We have had so many fantastic success stories over the years. People who had confidence issues helped to build confidence, young people who could have chosen a different path kept focused and moved on to better things, champions, young boxers, female boxers and real heroes.
“This is a huge part of the community with passionate people at the heart of it carrying it on over the years. We thought we had a new home but that has fallen through.
“If anyone knows of permanent premises we could use please get in touch. We don’t want to lose such an amazing community that we have created over the years.”
Bannockburn Amateur Boxing Club was originally established by local fighter Jack “Rockfist” Dormer, who died in 2012. He was the first Scottish coach to travel with the team to train at the British Olympic training camp and also coached 11 internationalists at many weights, over the years producing 10 Scottish champions.
Jack had 540 fights as an amateur of which 38 were internationals. He was champion at three different weights as a boxer.
Corbiewood Stadium in Bannockburn has been home to the Scottish harness racing community since 1966, offering American-style harness racing on a regular basis between May and November. However it is due to be demolished in March, with users being given until mid-January to vacate.
The harness racing community say unless they find an alternative site, it could spell the death knell of the sport in Scotland. They need an area that could house a three-eighth or half-mile track with the appropriate car parking, stand and if possible stabling requirements within ideally the Scottish central belt.
They say they don’t need “prime ground” just somewhere firm enough to be able to put infrastructure on without sinking.
Last week a spokesperson for Persimmon said the land has been allocated for development as part of the South Stirling Gateway Masterplan for seven years adding: “Both the current owner and the leaseholder have therefore been aware for many years that the council intended that the land was developed. In serving this notice the current landowner is simply adhering to the required process following Stirling Council’s approval at planning committee last year.”
