Holy Family to the Rescue

March 24, !960; At 135 pounds John Gallagher, Referee Joe Scheckley and Charlie Sgrillo at Cambria A.C, Philadelphia.

Jack Dempsey, a trusted friend and sports historian in Philadelphia, had urged, “Don’t miss the Irish boxing night in North Wildwood, New Jersey. You will love it.”

So, in late September, 2009 I drove 60 miles to the large tent on the northern tip of the island. I arrived two hours early. My ticket was the first one sold. Alone, I sat on a folding chair directly behind one ring corner. The lights were dim, forty shades of gray. Silence hung over the four posts squaring the ropes. Hundreds of chairs encircled the canvas awaiting two gladiator teams.

Chiseled patrons began to wander in. As the seats filled, we resembled a crowd scene from Requiem for a Heavyweight. The tent bulged, anticipating. At 7:30, a loud speaker blared with the Irish and American national anthems. Ring lights exploded as on one side, The Emerald Isle presented its finest, The Holy Family Boxing Club. Ten of Belfast’s elite boxers calmly climbed through the ropes. Harrowgate’s blue and white clad fighters lined up facing the lads in green. Both teams were lean and calm and prepared for combat. Where was the nervousness, the excited bouncing? Confidently, both teams cleared the ring.

Ryan Burnett led off for Holy Family weighing in at 112 pounds. A hammer struck the bell. The fighters pounced at each other like un-caged tigers -- in and out. Punches hissed and thumped. The crowd roared in approval. With each flurry of punches, the excitement increased. There appeared no recognizable crowd favorite. Patrons were literally absorbed into the spectacle. The pace was magical. Kelly green and blue boxers bobbed and jabbed at lightning speed.

This annual international contest was the inspiration of John Gallagher, a third generation Irishman. He recently retired as an administrator in the Philadelphia public school system. For over 50 years he has promoted boxing to enable disadvantaged young men to achieve dignity through competition. On March 24, 1960, at the age of 18, John climbed into the Cambria ring in Philadelphia to fight against Charlie Sgrillo. Both were 135 pound amateur lightweights who fought in front of 1500 fans. Charlie won a decision that night. He went on to fight 20 professional bouts. John lost only two of his 11 amateur fights. A lasting friendship grew between the boxers. Respect, a sacred bond, formed because they had risked their skill and dignity.

Twelve years later, John and Charlie founded Harrowgate Boxing Club. Their neighborhood had lacked any facility to instill purpose and confidence in its youth. The city of Philadelphia donated to Harrowgate an abandoned warehouse that had been vacant for years, to be used as a clubhouse. John remembers, “Scraping together from the beginning, we survived through baskets of cheer and socials.” Over the past 40 years, thousands of young and some older men have trained, acquiring life skills and selfrespect at Harrowgate. At the beginning the founders were blessed with the energy of thirty-year-olds. They reconstructed and fumigated the old building. Over a foot of rubble had to be shoveled from all floors. On opening night the building had no plumbing. A single naked light bulb hung over their makeshift ring. Shattered windows were hidden under sheet metal. John remembers with a smile, “It was a triumph when our first fighters climbed into that dim ring. In the haze, two young men circled and stumbled. Harrowgate had birthed its first match.”

In the 1920s and 1930s boxing saw a dominance of Jewish fighters. Then came the Irish, Italians and more recently, Hispanics. Blacks have always been prominent. Harrowgate’s membership has remained a mixture. Young men leave the streets in search of an identity. The sport demands passion. Boxing teaches discipline, dedication and values. Sportsmanship guides young fighters into self-respect and finally confidence. No matter who is watching, a boxer must face a trained opponent alone. He stretches the limits of his skill. Each moment he risks instant humiliation. His combat transforms. His reward is courage, an eternal virtue.

Financially, Harrowgate’s club barely survives. The struggles have been constant. Monthly dues from over 100 members permit use of the facilities. Younger fighters train to compete. Older men work out to stay involved. State and city grants assist in keeping the club going.

John appreciates the outside support. “One year, state senator Mike Stack visited our gym. He was impressed by the kids and our poor conditions. The club received a $60,000 grant, which helped us install bathrooms and showers in the basement. Separate rings and training equipment now occupy the first and second floors. Smaller grants have helped us put glass in the windows, lighting in the rings, winter heating and equipment such as training bags and mats in the gyms.”

In 1998 Harrowgate discovered a unique source of income. Sacred Heart Boxing Club from Newry, Northern Ireland flew across the Atlantic to compete in a show. The following year Holy Family of Belfast provided the opposition. The year 2012 marks the twelfth year for Holy Family against Harrowgate. The show has moved around Philadelphia. Venues included Ortlieb’s Brewery, The National Guard Armory, Philadelphia Navy Yard, Penn’s Landing, Alhambra Fight Club, and Wildwood.

Airfare and housing expenses are covered by admissions and sponsorships. Harrowgate relies heavily on the show for much needed financial support. The Irish boxers arrive in North Wildwood on Wednesday, fight on Thursday night (this year on September 20th) and leave on Sunday. Time is set aside for fighters to interact with locals and learn about America’s culture. They are housed in a combination of homes and hotels. On Friday and Saturday the boxers are encouraged to mix in the community.

Holy Family is the most renown of the 36 boxing clubs in Belfast. During the war (The Troubles) in Northern Ireland, Holy Family served as a bridge to the Sectarian divide. It was the only club that was open after 6:00 PM. Both the IRA and the Commonwealth respected Holy Family’s insistence on training both Catholic and Protestant boxers. All sports, including soccer and Irish football, were also shut down during The Troubles. Today, boxing during the Olympics grabs national headlines in all of Ireland, which has over 500 boxing clubs.

Numerous important fighters have made the trip with Holy Family. Kenny Eagan won the silver medal in the 2008 Olympics. Ryan Burnett, at the age of 17, won gold in last year’s Junior Olympics in Japan. Tyson Furry, a 6’8” heavyweight, has turned professional and is currently 12 – 0. The four Upton brothers boxed together in the 2010 show.

Gerry Storey manages and coaches the Holy Family team. He has coached four Irish Olympic teams over the past 50 years. Gerry received the Laureus World Sports Award on May 16, 2005 in Estoril, Portugal. He also was knighted by The Queen of England, honoring his refusal to separate Catholic and Protestant fighters in his gym. During The Troubles, Jerry was invited into Long Kesh Prison for political prisoners. He refused to allow discrimination between fighters. He trained Catholics in the morning, Protestants in the afternoon.

Holy Family has won over 200 more medals than all the other boxing clubs in Belfast combined. Rather than stage elimination bouts, Jerry selects his fighters for the American trip. Each is a superbly trained skilled boxer. His team has won a majority of bouts every year.

In 2009, Patty and David Nelson hosted the Holy Family boxers in their home in North Wildwood. Patty remembers, “They were delightful, polite young men. They even sent us thank-you notes. We enjoyed having them so much that we invited them to stay for the entire weekend.”

Each September, Holy Family and Harrowgate train for the show in Wildwood. The Irish Boxers now officially open Irish Weekend. For five days the two cultures blend. Americans meet the Irish and can’t resist acquiring a brogue. Financially, Holy Family actually comes to the rescue.

Gerry Storey hopes for the day when, “The Philly guys will journey to Belfast.” Imagine the citizens of Belfast imitating Rocky. “Yo, Da. Would youse guys wanna engage in a wee fight?”