The gloves are on as Durie’s boxers return
Boxing coach Archie Durie says it was an emotional moment as he was able to reopen his gym after months of lockdown misery.
Seeing people he hadn’t seen for months flocking to his gym left the Rutherglen coach close to tears, and he was so happy he was unable to sleep for hours.
Social distancing is something he and his boxers will need to get used to, but Durie is just happy that he’s able to open at all.
He said: “It was some buzz. I went home on Monday night and was still sitting at 11pm buzzing!
“It was crazy, I was totally unable to sleep, but it was good.
“I saw them all walking down towards the door and seeing all of their faces, people I knew were coming but hadn’t seen for ages, it was emotional.
“It was really good, it was touching.
“I can’t describe the feeling of seeing boys and lassies that I hadn’t seen for months and months, since before lockdown for a few of them.”
Restrictions put in place make things different for Durie and his boxers, but he says they’ll get on with it.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” he said. “I’m on edge because somebody might turn round next week and say ‘Archie, you’re too close’ and we’re always trying to be wary of the social distancing all the time, not crossing into somebody’s range, and things like that.
“We can’t shake hands, people are bumping shoulders and things like that.
“You’re greeting people you’ve not seen since lockdown and you don’t know what to do, especially if it’s someone you’ve not seen for a while, or a close friend.”
Durie says the final part of the jigsaw will be permission for his fighters to compete in the ring.
“I’m going to arrange certain classes just for my boxers, and I’ll work on them and different skills, because it’s only a matter of time before professional boxing is back in.
“Boxing coming back is what I’m looking forward to most in the world.”