About WFABC

The Waltham Forest Amateur Boxing Club History

Waltham Forest A.B.C. was originally called Chingford A.B.C. when the club was first formed in 1948 by businessman George James, who dealt in furniture; Ernest Hatchel, a window cleaner; George Winters, an ex-professional featherweight boxer and Alfie Cooper, a former top class amateur boxer.

The boxing club trained twice a week at the Chingford Territorial Army drill hall in Chingford Mount Road. It took several months to get established and to get the local boys who joined the club match fit.

During the 1949/50 season there was an influx of young talent who were willing to learn boxing under the guidance of George Winters and match-maker Alfie Cooper. Thirteen year old twins, Derek & Bernard Lloyd, showed plenty of natural abilty and they were soon winning the vast majority of their contests. Later on, Mickey Davies and Terry Collins, who were very experienced, joined the Chingford Club from Leyton A.B.C. and local lads, Freddie Collins and Brian Hickey also joined making the Chingford boxing club very formidable.

1955 saw Derek Lloyd winning the National Army Title, the Imperial Services and the British A.B.A. title. Derek went on to win 131 amateur bouts before embarking on a very successful professional career. At the start of the 60’s, the club’s headquarters at Chingford Drill Hall was closed and numerous venues throughout Leyton and Walthamstow were then used

The club was running smoothly under senior coach Freddie King and junior coach Paddy Mullhall.

The Steve Crosby Era — these are just some of Steve’s earlier recollections —

My school pal, Geoff Furlong, introduced me to the Chingford A.B.C. one December evening in 1960. Before training was possible we had to erect the ring and numerous items of boxing equipment that were stored in a large cupboard. This would normally take about half an hour.

Trainers, Vic Smith, Peter Furlong and Johnny Long then proceeded to give instructions to the boys

The main stars of the then Chingford Boxing Club were Tommy Simmons and Robin Barron. I remember well sixteen year old Dave Furlong reaching the Amateur Boxing Association National finals at the Royal Albert Hall and there going on to represent London boxing for the A.B.A. in Stuttgart, Germany.

I clearly remember also there being a bar set aside from the main gymnasium where mums and dads had a drink whilst their children trained. My parents, Mr. & Mrs. Cheshire, Joe Furlong, Fred Pritchard and Fred Herbert all used to discuss the relevance of the boxing with other admirers of the boxing fraternity.

Here in 1968 when I rejoined the newly named Waltham Forest Amateur Boxing Club, I met up with with an up-and-coming heavyweight boxer, Terry Johnson – a meeting which resulted in a life long friendship.

In 1975 I retired from the club after loosing the A.B.A. finals and also my place in the Munich Olympics subsequently concentrated on my business activities.

This period also saw the emergence of Derek Lloyd’s sons, Ken and Martin, together with Tony Furlong, John and Steve I ,Mervyn Richards, Lloyd Grant, Tony Balty and many other top class boxers too numerous to name.

The club continues to attract local talent with 30-40 boys training regularly under the supervision of Derek Lloyd, Chris Baker, Terry Beck and Dean Croft.

It is the aim of the committee to source land and build or convert an equipped gymnasium within the borough so as to endure the continued success of amateur boxing and sport generally.

 -D.G Furlong