Over 250 at opening of new Eastside gym

Sam Eggington displays his belts at Sunday’s event. Pix: Lou Murrell

A CROWD of over 250 people – including a who’s who of the game’s great and good – gathered for Sunday’s official opening of Eastside’s new gym.

And it’s certainly a very different environment for the outfit’s current band of champs which includes Sam Eggington, Shakan Pitters, Steed Woodall, Nyall Berry and Jess Barry.

From a cramped sweat shop on an industrial estate in the shadow of Birmingham’s Blues ground to a former church in the heart of Coleshill. That’s psalm change.

Eastside pro manager Jon Pegg said: “We’ve kept the cross up – we’ll take whatever help we can get.”

The pro and amateur gym also has, for the first time, a roll of honour board on the wall, with over 60 names waiting to be placed on it.

They came from far and wide for an event attended by Coleshill’s mayor and town crier, the list of VIPs including: Richie Woodhall, Savanah Marshall, April Hunter, Frazer Clark, Wayne Elcock, Don Broadhurst, Curtis Woodhouse, Lloyd Hibbert and Boxing Board of Control chairman Charlie Giles.

Shakan Pitters meets two young fans during opening ceremony

Legendary American trainer Jesse Reid was also present with his cruiserweight hope Craig Parker.

Pegg said the new base has given Eastside’s fighters a new buzz. “It’s an opportunity to give more to the community,” Jon said. “We were right in the middle of a trading estate, here we’re in the centre of the community. And we can do more with the lads – it’s right by a reservoir for running.”

The switch can only strengthen Eastside’s standing in the game, Pegg stressed. “We’re in the catchment area for Chelmsley Wood, Smith’s Wood, Kings Heath, Shard End – all the area’s where you find rough diamonds. Then there’s the outlying villages.

“On the pro side, seven have said the gym is much closer than the old one. Sam (Egginton) and Shak (Pitters) have said although it’s farther away, it takes them less time to get to the gym. We’ve lost a couple of amateurs who relied on lifts, we’ll gain a lot more.”

On social media, Pegg said: “One of the best things about Sunday was the feeling of community -  people from all different walks of life just mixing and enjoying supporting the gym. It was brilliant.”