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A £30,000 donation secured after a York man beat a property tycoon in an arm wrestle will help complete work on a new boxing gym aiming to get people off the streets.
The donation from Patric Cassidy, director of the Cassidy Group and former fiancé of actor Patsy Kensit, will help open the doors of Charlie Malarkey’s New Ways Boxing Club at the New Earswick Sports Ground.
Charlie’s cousin, Simon Malarkey, of Castlegate-based Building Services Advisory Partnership (bsap), secured the £30,000 after working with Patric on previous projects – and winning the arm wrestle.
Patsy Kensit (Image: Ian West/Press Association)
But Simon told The Press it is likely Patric would have made the donation “whether I had beat him in an arm wrestle or not”.
“I don’t think he wouldn’t have paid if he had beaten me,” Simon said. “I did win, [but] I don’t think the £30,000 was on it.”
“He’s a smashing fella,” he added of Patric. “I’ve worked with him for a long time – it’s a fantastic gesture.”
Donor says boxing club will be a 'community achievement we can all be proud of'
A spokesperson for the Cassidy Group said it is “proud to support this outreach programme, and the fantastic grassroots work that Charlie and his team are doing”.
“Our £30,000 donation will help establish the boxing club, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds across York and North Yorkshire.
“We hope the club will provide a positive and inspiring environment where young people and adults alike can develop confidence and new skills, while bringing the community together.
“We are delighted to support an initiative that can make a lasting difference and give people something positive to be part of – a community achievement we can all be proud of.”
Patric Cassidy, director of the Cassidy Group and former fiancé of actor Patsy Kensit (Image: Supplied)
Simon, who is also chairman of New Earswick Sports Club, said he hopes the boxing gym will be open in early 2027.
Former professional boxer Jamie Warters will help coach once the club opens and has said he is eager to get started.
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Simon said businesses have been “really generous” with donations and helping to complete the site.
The project received funding from David Skaith, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and York St John University has donated gym equipment.
Inside Charlie Malarkey's New Ways Boxing Club at New Earswick Sports Ground (Image: Haydn Lewis)
“I think it will be absolutely fantastic,” Simon said of the gym. “It will be a great facility used by a lot of locals, a lot of the junior football and rugby clubs as well.
“I see it as a bit of a game changer for the area.”
Charlie, who has worked for the Salvation Army for 17 years and leads its early intervention and prevention team in York, said: “The police have been in touch with me and said they have kids as young as 11 who are desperate for it to open.
“No one is making a bean out if this, it's a charity working for the community.”