Andy Grant Loses Battle For Life At Hairmyres Hospital

Scottish boxing has today lost another of its greatest advocates and contributors in Andy Grant.

Andy lost his battle for life this morning at the age of 74 at Hairmyres Hospital in his hometown of East Kilbride after suffering from illness for the last few weeks.

Andy lived and breathed boxing. He was a certificated referee, national certificated judge and an advanced national certificated coach. Boxing was in his blood like you wouldn't believe.

His father was National Trainer for 39 years and Andy himself has been coaching since he was 13 years old.

As well as representing Scotland in the ring himself, he has coached at every level of the sport in Scotland and was even an honorary coach to the Irish ABA.

He founded Holyrood Boxing Club which produced the likes of Joe Land, Walter Douglas, Tammy Douglas, Kenny Grant, Steve Boyle, Donny Hood, Joe Kelly and Peter Bradley. And he also coached John 'Cowboy' McCormack, one of Scotland's greatest fighters, at the Garioch Youth Club.

He was also heavily involved with the Association Of Boys & Girls Clubs in Scotland, and as his close friend and boxing compatriot, Andy Rundell said when breaking the sad news of Andy's death, he saw youth as the future of boxing.

"I was always amazed at his spirit and sense of humour," Andy Rundell said of visiting Andy Grant in hospital. "I was with him last night where he joked about the money I owed him and that he wouldn't accept a cheque! He then asked me to pass his regards onto all in Amateur Boxing Scotland."

Andy Grant was also the boxing coach at Glasgow University, a position he held for 48 years. And it was some 20 years ago that the same man got me back involved with boxing and took me down to Bath where I won gold at the British and Irish University Championships. A tiny detail in Andy's illustrious career, but something that meant the world to me at the time.

So I have much to thank him for - as have many others who crossed his path. Scottish boxing and indeed Scotland will be a much poorer place without him.

Posted by scottish-boxing at April 7, 2005 07:18 PM