ST Joseph’s Boxing Club in Newport recently enjoyed a great deal of success at the Welsh Box Cup at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Unfortunately, the celebrations were muted due to the sad news that the club’s president, Roy Chambers, had died.

Chambers had been involved in amateur boxing at all levels in his 50 years of loyal service to the sport, he held every position at the Welsh ABA Eastern Division before being voted as the head of Amateur Boxing in Wales.

It was during this period as head of boxing that Roy played an integral role in healing the breach between the Welsh ABA (WABA) and the breakaway Welsh Amateur Boxing Federation.

As a result of the latter returning to the WABA fold, seven former Federation boxers took part in the Commonwealth Games for Wales with one, Cwmbran's Jamie Arthur, taking Wales’s first gold since 1958.

In 2003 Roy’s dedication and commitment to Welsh boxing were recognised at a lavish ceremony when he beat off stiff opposition to win the Official of the Year at the Newport Sports Awards.

Roy’s managerial qualities were always in great demand and, whenever the opportunity arose, Roy relished the opportunity to act as Wales team manager.

This was a role that not only involved a great deal of travel but also the opportunity to work with and alongside officials from around the world.

It was this invaluable experience that was a catalyst in the Olympic Team GB’s decision to nominate Roy as team manager for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Roy was immensely proud of this post but alas, due to only one boxer qualifying for the games his role as manager was not deemed necessary; incidentally the sole boxer to qualify for Athens was the one and only Amir Kahn.

However, in true Roy Chambers tradition it was this disappointment that prompted Roy to secure funding from the Sports Council for Wales to appoint a national coach to enhance the progress of Welsh boxers and boost their chances of international success.

At the time this decision was perceived as a visionary gamble although the results have been exactly what Roy had predicted.

Some of the notable results include a Commonwealth gold medal for St Joseph’s own Sean McGoldrick in 2010, an Olympic silver medal for another St Joseph’s boxer Fred Evans in 2012 and more recently the ultimate accolade an Olympic gold Lauren Price in Tokyo in 2022.

Roger Williams, one of the founder members of St Joseph’s boxing club, said: “Roy played a vital role in the inception of our club back in the early 80’s.

“Roy was a fantastic ambassador for amateur boxing; he has left a legacy that amateur sport as a whole will greatly benefit from. He was not only an invaluable asset to our club, but he was also our dear friend.”

Chambers’ funeral will take place on Monday, October 14 at 1:30 pm at St Michael’s Church in Pill. Flowers or Donations to St Joseph’s Boxing Club Newport.