Presentation as Caithness Boxing Club head coach stands down

Caithness Boxing Club founder Liall Mackenzie has been honoured by the club committee after standing down as head coach.

At a presentation on Saturday, coach Garry Falconer handed over a shield and gave a speech recognising the "incredible time and commitment" Liall has given to the club over the past seven years.

The club said in a statement: "Simply put, without Liall the club would not exist.

"We wish Liall all the best and hope he will never be a stranger to the club. The doors will always be open and we sincerely hope to see him back in some capacity in the future."

Last autumn, Liall announced he was quitting the pro ranks to focus on helping the next generation of local boxers.

Caithness Boxing Club provides coaching sessions for three age groups – 9-11, 12-17 and 18-plus – and some of its members have shone at national level.

Liall, who recently started a new job, said this week: “I've taken a clean break for three months. I probably will go back in some kind of capacity, helping out and coaching where I can, but it'll just be around my full-time work and it won't be very regular.

“As the boxing club has taken up so much of my life for so long, I just need to concentrate on myself for now.”

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