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Olympian's youth club in Eccles faces closure

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Posted by Tony Flynn on 30th January 2012 at 02:02 PM
Olympian's youth club in Eccles faces closure
A voluntary youth club in Salford that was founded over 50 years ago by Olympian Max Shacklady is facing closure unless it can find a new home.

Barton AC, known to some as Shacklady’s Gym, runs activities for around boys and girls in the area and, after being evicted from a building on Cromwell Street in Eccles seven years ago, became based at the former school on Dorning Street.

Now the club’s time here is reaching an end as a new school is planned on the site and Barton AC has been told it needs to leave the grounds by June.

Salford City Council has donated an alternative piece of land but the club would need £500,000 to build a facility – money that it simply can’t afford.

The club is desperately searching for alternative premises and is appealing to the community for support.

“It’s looking increasingly likely that the club will be forced to close by the summer,” said Andy Hamill, county club director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester, the charity that supports the network of voluntary youth clubs across the city.

“Over one hundred young members will have nowhere to go in the evening. It’s very sad as the club has a fantastic history and is helping youths in the area to get involved in positive activities and build friendships with like minded people.

“I’d urge anyone who might be able to help to get in touch. Clubs like this rely on volunteers and funding raising activities for their survival but add so much value to local communities.”

Barton AC is open five nights a week, offering a range of activities including boxing, general fitness training, running, weight lifting and wrestling.

Boxer Max Shacklady competed in the 1948 Olympics and died in Salford in 1986.

Source: John Butters.



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