Sport

Seconds Out: Boxing in mourning following loss of Belfast fight figures

Harry Robinson
Harry Robinson Harry Robinson

BOXING is in mourning once more following the loss of two Belfast fight figures.

Last Friday saw the passing of renowned coach Harry Robinson, who guided the early career of Olympic silver medallist Wayne McCullough, before the death of former Irish middleweight champion Terry Young on Sunday.

Albert Foundry stalwart Harry was a respected figure on the local boxing scene, starting off alongside ‘Steamer’ Graham in Paisley Park during the 1960s and moving with the club when it later relocated to Agnes Street and eventually West Circular Road.

A man totally dedicated to the sport, he played a key role in the career of many Ulster and Irish champions, and was presented with an Irish Athletic Boxing Association award for services to boxing in 2016.

Among those who used to spar his protégé, ‘Pocket Rocket’ McCullough, was Tommy Waite jr from Cairn Lodge - and he has only fond memories of Harry Robinson.

Indeed, in recent years Tommy and his father, Tommy sr, have carried on the good work at the club after taking up the reins at Albert Foundry.

“It was in the ’80s I first started going up to the Foundry every couple of months for spars… Harry was a quiet man, someone who loved boxing.

“He wouldn’t talk much about anything else, or about himself, he just wanted to train you, wanted you to do as well as you could. He was full of encouragement - it was all about you when you were with him.”

Those sentiments were echoed by the County Antrim Board, who described Harry as “a true boxing man who will be missed by all”, while Holy Trinity secretary Thomas Hawkins paid tribute on behalf of the Turf Lodge club, remembering “one of life and boxing’s good guys”.

“Never one to push himself forward for anything, instead he ploughed a long, hard furrow for many years up at the Albert Foundry doing his best to give hundreds of kids a good start in boxing.

“He was a role model to those kids, someone they could look up to and who inspired them in sport and life. The McCullough brothers, Wayne and Alan, were two of the young hopefuls who walked in through the Foundry doors and, through Harry's great work and care, went on to become senior stars.

“With a pleasant, friendly way about him, you knew you were in good company when you bumped into Harry Robinson.”

The same could be said of Terry Young.

A “likeable, happy-go-lucky kid”, Terry’s passing over the weekend came as “an awful shock” to his former Oliver Plunkett coach, Patsy McAllister.

McAllister can still remember Terry and his brothers, Gerry and Jody, moving to the old Oliver Plunkett club on Hannahstown hill in 1970, having originally boxed for Dominic Savio.

Terry proved a solid operator between the ropes, winning the 1975 Irish middleweight crown at the National Stadium and going on to earn his Irish vest on international expeditions with Ireland.

“Terry and Gerry have been down in Ballyhornan for a long time so I hadn’t seen them in years, but I was very sorry to hear about Terry.

“He was a very good boxer and, away from boxing, loved a joke, loved a prank – in them days he used to do a fair imitation of Ian Paisley. That’s one that always sticks with me!

“He had a good career, and he was a good fella to be around. There was always a bit of craic with him – it’s a sad loss for boxing, and the same goes for Harry Robinson.

“What a lovely person, one of the nicest, kindest people you ever met, honest to God. A great boxing man, I was very fond of him.”