Clydebank Post | News | Don't tear down my Olympic dreams

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 22nd August, 2007 10:30

Don't tear down my Olympic dreams

By Colin Hutton

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Champion boxer fights to keep home

THE Olympic dream of the area’s brightest sporting talent could be in jeopardy with his home set to be demolished.

Robert ‘Rocky’ Wright is almost certain to go to the 2008 Beijing Games, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Amir Khan, but his whole training regime could be damaged if he is forced to move away from the area.

The Wright family live in a Plean Street high rise in Yoker and love it there, despite most tenants being delighted that the decaying multi-storeys are to be pulled down.

Robert Wright snr, 42, told the Post: “The flats have been good for the 16 years we’ve been here and although a lot of people said they’d be happy to see them go, they were fine until about five years ago when they started to go downhill a bit.

“The problem is there’s nothing in the flats for children to do and the boxing has really helped us keep the kids busy.

“We don’t really want to move from the area because we know everybody and also because of Robert’s training — the facilities in the area are great for him and he’s got his own gym in one of the flats downstairs.

“In a nutshell, the flats could be described as Still Game — we’ve got our very own Isa’s and Naveed’s.

“But once you shut the door you’re in your own world so it doesn’t matter what the flats are like outside.”

17-year-old Rocky has been a revelation on the boxing scene since he started seven years ago, winning three British Championships in a row and countless other trophies and medals, but he is understandably worried about what the future might hold.

He said: “If I had to move out of the area it would be very difficult for me and would upset my training pattern.

“At the moment when I go out running everyone knows me and just lets me get on with it but if I went somewhere else I wouldn’t feel as safe going out running.

“Outwith this area I would feel a bit uncomfortable and as my preparations build up for the Olympics, I don’t want anything to get in the way.”

The light-flyweight champion and his family are increasingly concerned about where Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) may relocate them.

But ever-optimistic mum Liz, 36, said: “Robert wants to be the next Amir Khan and then we might be able to say to the housing people, ‘we don’t need a house, we can get our own’.”

Peter McLean, Estate Coordinator for Clydeside Tenant Partnership, said: “We are confident that we will be able to offer the family a property that has had or is due to get a new kitchen, bathroom and rewiring as well as overcladding, internal close upgrading and a new controlled entry door.

“We have already interviewed the family to clarify where they wish to live and have added them to the list for the type of home in that area.

“We would like to reassure the family and all our other tenants who are similarly affected by the clearance, that we will do our very best to find them suitable alternative accommodation in their desired area.

“At the moment we are unable to give an exact date for their move as this depends on houses becoming available in their chosen area.”

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