As part of the Daily Echo's Keep the Pride campaign Tom Husband focuses on how sport is giving young people an outlet for frustrations and help them look to the future.

DARREN Wyatt was always in trouble with the police before he started boxing.

Now he is fighting fit and avoids unhealthy intoxicants.

"If you do drugs here you'll get beaten in the ring," said the 22-year-old from Lordshill.

Darren started boxing eight years ago and now holds a national title. He believes sport is the answer to teenage crime in Millbrook.

"It got me out of trouble. It gets all kids out of trouble."

Karl Lander and Stuart Gill, who run the Golden Ring Boxing Club in Freemantle, have been championing sport as the answer to teenage crime for years.

Now they are campaigning to open a boxing academy in Millbrook.

Their nationally-revered club pulls youngsters in from outside the county but the small room in Freemantle is full to capacity.

"We turn away about five people a night," said Karl. "We just haven't got the space."

"If we can get big enough facilities we can have an academy which means full-time staff to man the centre all day."

"The lads could come down whenever they like instead of just in the evening."

Any sport is healthier than street-corner boozing and vandalism.

But boxing is especially good because it is a full-time occupation.

"You can play football on a Sunday morning and not bother training but here you have to train properly so there's a huge turn around in discipline," said Karl.

"There's no question about whether or not it's good for the kids.

"We've got tearaways who would be ripping up bus shelters or racing cars.

"Here they learn discipline and self control. In one year you see them turn into youngsters with a healthy attitude. They realise they can achieve things and that reflects in their social life. Even if they are not successful boxers they learn life skills."

A lack of facilities is the only problem dogging the club now.

Along with Karl and Stuart, club coaches Mike Cunio and Leigh Agius give up 100 hours of time between them every week.

Anyone from parents to local businesses also muck-in when they can.

As we talked Valiant Security Services dropped off a transit van load of free equipment.

"That's the kind of genuine generosity that makes producing champions that little bit easier," said Karl.

Although support for the club is abundant - especially from the Outer Shirley Regeneration Group - there is still a huge gap in funds.

"We're one of the best clubs in England and we're offering a huge service," said Karl, "Think what could be done if we were given all the facilities we need."

CONTACTS:

Volunteers are always needed at the clubs mentioned in this story. If you would like to help out, or start playing for the teams, contact them on the following numbers:

Golden Ring Boxing Club: Stuart Gill 07958 277 526

Brendon Football Club: Derek Caplin - Work: 023 8055 5888 Mobile: 07973 147646

Southampton Rugby Football Club: 023 8073 7777 or Robert Memory: 07855 334043 e-mail robertmemory@aol.com