In the ring

Chances are, if you have been involved in amateur boxing in the North West over the last few decades, you will have met the genial Scouser - who celebrates half a century in the sport this year.

In December, the Amateur Boxing Association will honour Hart for his unbroken service as a fighter, referee, coach and official. But the 60-year-old, who has been nurturing Boltons boxing talent for the last five years, insists there is plenty of life left in the old dog yet.

"I think they will have to carry me out of that ring when I finally go," said Hart, who has worked with famous names such as Amir Khan, Ricky Hatton, Audley Harrison and Steven Bell during his career.

"Boxing is in my blood. I love the sport. It has been to my detriment over the years, and I could have got a lot more money doing something else, but I wouldnt change it for the world."

Hart was instrumental in setting up the Kid Gloves scheme for the ABA in August 1991, which aims to encourage under-16s to go into boxing by teaching them the rudimentary skills needed in the ring. Up to now, 17,489 youngsters have taken part, and Hart has been able to introduce the scheme to schools throughout England, Northern Ireland and even Bosnia.

His mission now, is to get the Kid Gloves award recognised by the government and introduced into schools as part of the curriculum.

"Kids need discipline, and thats what boxing provides," said Hart. "Parents are often worried their kid is going to have their head knocked off if they start boxing, but the Kid Gloves scheme is no-contact. It teaches you the basics."

Hart currently combines his work at the Lads Club with his role as a chief official for the ABA across the North-west. In a career that has helped him travel the globe, his enthusiasm for the sport remains undiminished.

"People do not realise the social side of the sport. I have been to places I would have never got to, thanks to boxing, and met some great, great friends.

"Some of the kids I teach at the Lads Club hadnt even been to Manchester before they came here and now we are going to places like Australia, Denmark and Canada to forge links with other clubs."

Hart got into boxing as a youngster and carried on competing in the sport as an amateur after joining the army. In total, he fought 379 bouts, winning 260.

He fought former Olympic boxer Roger Maxwell in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, and was never stopped throughout his career.

It was as an army warrant officer that Hart picked up the necessary qualifications to begin refereeing and coaching the sport. He now holds qualifications in many countries, not least Papua and New Guinea, where he might well be the only Englishman to hold a Class A refereeing badge.

Other "homes from home" for Hart include Germany - where his daughter and granddaughter now live - and Denmark, where he was once honoured by the Queen for saving a young boxers life several years ago.

"I was watching a bout over there, and one lad caught a punch and he was out," said Hart. "The referee stopped the fight, but then they tried to pick him up, so I waded into the ring and told them they couldnt do that.

"The ambulance took 20 minutes, so they stopped the boxing, and I stayed with the lad, and kept him cool with the water spray.

"He was out for a good 15 minutes, but he came round in the ambulance. After that, I got the full red carpet treatment and met the Queen."

The next challenge for Hart is to mould promising young boxers such as Dave Court, Danny Boswell and Ben Cunliffe into Commonwealth and Olympic candidates over the next few years.

It is a challenge the Bolton coach is looking forward to."Its what coaching is all about," said Hart.

"Its up to them now, the fights will be coming thick and fast over the next few months, so they will have to work hard."