Jeff Mitchell & Family

Our much-loved coach and friend, Jeff Mitchell, is Basingstoke boxing scene’s unsung hero, who selflessly dedicated his life to boxing, sharing the invaluable knowledge to the Boys and Girls of Basingstoke ABC which he had earned during his elite amateur career while managing, training, and supporting the youth of Basingstoke Boxing Club.

Jeff epitomised the sport of boxing. The ever present, other half of Basingstoke boxing clubs core coaching duo, was there for the boxers whether they needed support, advice, tough love, coaching, and countless rounds of sparring, travelling the country for the many boxing competitions he had organised for the boxers from the club through his trusted relationships with boxing coaches around the country - and never for profit, always for the love of the sport and the club. Jeff’s loving wife and children, Lorraine, Nicolas, and Danielle would always be in Jeff’s corner, supporting him in everything he did for boxing.

“I can’t help but feel none of our achievements would have been made if not for Jeff’s selfless contribution to the gym” As well as raising champions in the ring Jeff had inspired and guided many of the senior boxers on a path into a modern era of coaching boxing and building successful businesses of their own, Jeff was also a keen runner, inspiring many to lace up their running shoes and get the miles in. A key member of the local Basingstoke running club now dearly missed by not only his boxing teammates, but his running community, too.

Jeff guided and inspired thousands of people to realise their dreams, and Jeff being Jeff, he would rarely take credit for the positive impact he had made to the lives of so many.

Now it’s time for us to give back to Jeff while he battles his biggest opponent yet: cancer - a fight nobody should ever have to face alone.

So, to show up for the man who always showed up for us, the boxing club will be holding a 24-hour sparring session, and those who ran with Jeff will be running the Basingstoke Park Run on Saturday 28th September.

If you would like to make a donation to our fundraiser, which we hope will provide some comfort to Jeff and his family during this difficult time, your generosity is hugely appreciated.