Founded in 1962 by Alfred James Reilly, Orpington & District ABC has a proud history rooted in Orpington, later moving through several local venues before settling in Pettswood. Over the decades, the club has been based at locations including St Joseph’s RC School, the Rosecroft Working Men’s Club, the Queen’s Head in Green Street Green and Tillingbourne Green, producing multiple England Boxing national champions along the way.
The club’s golden era came between 1962 and 1977 under coaches Peter Hughes and Ted Norris, when it became one of the leading boxing clubs in Kent and London. With Eric Lubbock, Liberal MP for Orpington and an Oxford Blue boxer, as president and later under coach Mick Spencer, who went on to represent Great Britain and earn an Olympic call-up, Orpington & District ABC developed a remarkable list of national champions, cementing its place in local and national boxing history.
Under the leadership of Mick Spencer, who was the club coach in the 70s, Orpington ABC saw tremendous success. Spencer’s exceptional career led him to represent Great Britain and even receive a call to the Olympics. The club produced multiple national champions, including Mick Spencer, Johnny Hillman, Robert Mullholland, Jimmy Cable, Albert Hillman, Johnny Hillman, Alan Cable, and Ray Mason, among many others.
