How Len Woodhall changed the game

Telford's revered boxing trainer Len Woodhall certainly made his mark on the landscape of Shropshire boxing.

And tributes have poured in from across the county's amateur scene following his death last week.

His association with Wellington Boxing Club, which he helped form and run, is well known and head coach Mo Fiaz said: "He was there all the time training people.

"There must be thousands of kids that he has turned into decent boxers over the years. It wasn't for him, I don't think there would be a Wellington Boxing Academy now."

Donnington Boxing Club coach Tristan Davies credits Len and his famous son Richie with helping him reach the ABA senior finals in 2001.

He said: " I used to spar and train with them at the Power Station in Ironbridge. I used to go down there two or three times a week when I was 18, 19, 20.

"Len took me on the pads and helped me train, which was a confidence booster because Richie was the man at the time – he still is now in my eyes – and for his trainer to go from him to me was great.

"He was a real character, everyone will tell you that. He liked a joke, he was a boxing fanatic and he was always the first one in the gym and the last to leave.

"He'd have been about 60 when he took me on the pads and he always kept himself in good condition. It definitely helped me get to the final, doing extra training with the Woodhalls."

He added that it was through his association with the Woodhalls that he once managed to get British professional great Herol 'Bomber' Graham to Donnington Boxing Club, while he was in Shropshire to spar Richie.

Graham, from Sheffield, won two European titles and challenged for the world title on three occasions in a fine career.

Davies, now 36, said: "He came down, met a few of the lads, we took some pictures. It was great and it was down to the Woodhalls that it happened."

Len also had a major impact on Telford & Wrekin Boxing Academy coach Brian Robb, who he credits with helping to put him on the straight and narrow.

He said: "I have known Len since I was seven. He taught me how to box. I moved to Telford from Liverpool as a kid and I was a bit of a tearaway.

"I was getting into trouble and if I hadn't done boxing I don't know what line I'd have gone down. It is the same with a lot of the kids he took off the streets.

"The boxing club gave people something to do, it was fun, and he made it like a family club which was great. When one of us boxed, we all went to watch."

He added: "I never went into a fight thinking I couldn't win it because he was my coach and he made you believe in yourself.

"Once I remember fighting a lad who looked about 10 years older than me, he had a moustache and tattoos while I looked like I needed some dinner.

"I said 'look at this guy, he looks way older, he's got tattoos' – and he just said 'the tattoos can't hit you.'

"He made you feel that if you were fit and had trained you had a chance of beating them, and nine times out of 10 we did."

Five ABA Midlands titles followed for Robb under Woodhall's watch and he is still putting the knowledge gained from him into use as a trainer of both amateurs, as well as Telford professional Tony Jones.

Brian's brother Dave, who became a trainer at the now-defunct Shrewsbury Amateur Boxing Club for three years, also took his first steps in the sport at Woodside, where Woodhall was a co-founder.

It was a road that would eventually see him box at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and claim titles in the Armed Forces before a pro career was curtailed by problems with cuts.

Robb remains indebted to Woodhall for his help in becoming a fighter, but he insists that his impact on the county extended far beyond the ring.

He said: "He taught me a lot of things. We produced Midlands and area level champions at Shrewsbury and that is down to how we were taught at Woodside.

"But they also taught us manners, respect and discipline, and those three things I have tried to give to my boxers as well.

"Len made a lot of people round this area better people and there won't be enough seats in the church at his funeral for all the people that want to pay their respects."

Len is also credited with helping Telford's Leigh Hallett reach lofty heights in the unpaid code.

Hallett trained with him and Richie from 14 years old and went on to win a silver medal at the Junior Olympics in America.

His father Anthony said: "Len was phenomenal with my son. He would train him for hours and hours, and he never asked for a penny. He was so genuine.

"I think he deserves an honour, like a plaque in the town, for what he's done for local boxing."