Perth Railway Amateur Boxing Club is proving a knock out for local youngsters. Although it has been left reeling on several occasions because of accommodation problems, it is now firmly established as its gym in Perth’s South Methven Street and is squaring up to meet the challenges of the next millennium.

The club was founded during season 1944-45 by a group of local railway men. Boxing was the main interest, although gymnastics, bodybuilding, weightlifting and wrestling were also enthusiastically enjoyed under the umbrella organisation of the Perth Railway Amateur Athletic Club. In boxing, the Perth Club has boasted an array of title holders and internationals such as Barrie Walker, Pat Walsh, Jimmy Delbridge, Billy Lawrence, Dave McInroy, Doug Holden, Billy Anderson, Charlie Ray, Sandy Taylor, Eddie Connachan, Doug Reid, Steve Petrie and Tony Gunn.

In 1975, Perth Sports Club was set up. One of its remits was to raise cash for local clubs, with part of it funds helping establish new training headquarters for Perth Railway Amateur Boxing. Along with cash injections from Perth and Kinross district council and the Scottish Sports Council, the former Perth Ex-Servicemen’s premises were acquired in South Methven Street. The new gymnasium was converted at a cost of around £14000 and in 1980 it was officially opened by former world flyweight champion, Walter McGowan, an honorary president of the club.

Since 1980, the railway club has spawned several other promising boxers, among them Steve Petrie, Tony Macdonald, Derek Riley, Tony Quinn and Sam Kynoch. Currently we have more than 20 Members who regularly take part in our training sessions which are held three times a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We are on the lookout for new blood, however not only boxers, but trainers and administrators.Billy Anderson - present secretary and mainstay of the club for the past 40 years - has devoted a lifetime to boxing at all levels. He has been secretary of the Perth Railway Amateur Boxing Club since 1963 and is an ex-president of the Scottish ABA, former president, Secretary and treasurer of the midlands ABA and a former Scottish international team manager. He also acted as timekeeper at the 1970 and 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games. Midlands District champion in 1956 and 1957, the highlight of Billy’s career was when he boxed Dick McTaggart in Perth City Hall in 1958.

“He was reigning Olympic lightweight champion at the time so I let him win on points” jokes Billy.