DiSE Boxing PROGRAMME.

Become an elite boxer through England Boxing’s DiSE programme.

DiSE Academy student training in the ring

We are the only college in the North East, and one of only six in the country, to offer England Boxing’s educational programme aimed at competitive amateur boxers.

The Level 3 Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) supports talented and committed young boxers aged 16 to 18. You’ll have the opportunity to train and compete while also studying a full-time qualification in sport or any other subject.

On the successful completion of the two-year programme, you’ll achieve 64 UCAS points in addition to the points from your main study programme.

DiSE is part of England Boxing’s long-term athlete development pathway and you’ll train 12 hours a week with our expert coach, Gavin Rickelton. The 12 hours contact time with the DiSE coach will involve high performance coaching, strength and conditioning and completing the Level 3 Diploma in Sporting Excellence.

To apply for our DiSE programme, you need to:

Be aged between 16 and 18
Show the potential to become elite level
Be registered with an England Boxing-affiliated club only

To find out more about the England Boxing DiSE programme, please click here.

Roll of honour

Cyrus Pattinson – GB Podium Boxer & Professional Boxer.
Joe Laws – English Champion & Professional Boxer.
Bobbylee Burns – England Performance Pathway Boxer.
Megan Bainbridge – European Silver Medallist.
Shaun Huddart – Senior GB Champion, 7x National Champion & Professional Boxer.
Lee Rogers – 5x National Champion & Professional Boxer.
Beau Pape – National Development Champion.
Dionne Mannion – Senior Elite National Champion & GB 3 Nations Gold Medallist.
George Peacock – GB 3 Nations Bronze Medallist & 3x MTK Box Cup Champion.
Zoe Macdonald – National Junior Development Champion, 2x National Youth Development Champion & MTK Box Cup Champion.
Ruby Cutherbertson – Junior European Gold Medallist & Junior Performance Boxam Silver Medallist.

Our partner

MEET YOUR COACH.

Gavin Rickleton

Gavin has over 20 years’ experience in amateur boxing. He started his boxing journey competing for Grainger Park Boys Club in the West End of Newcastle. After graduating with a 1^st class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Sunderland University, he moved into the role of an England Boxing Coach.

He has been coaching since 2010 and is currently a Level 3 England Boxing Coach. Gavin has coached in boxing clubs across the North East including North Benwell ABC, Gateshead Victoria, Forest Hall Boxing Club and he is currently coaching out of Kenton ABC at the TKO Gym in Newcastle.

In 2023 Gavin became an England Boxing Performance Pathway coach and is actively involved in national and international coaching duties with Team England. To date he has coached at numerous international tournaments including the England vs Scotland Duals with Junior Performance, the GB 3 Nations Tournament with Schools, Junior and Youth performance teams. He has also coached abroad with Youth Performance at the Brandenburg Cup in Germany and with Junior Performance at the Boxam Tournament in Spain.

In 2024, Gavin was the lead coach on the Junior Development Programme for the North of England. In 2025, he was appointed as the lead coach for the Junior Development Programme nationally and the number 2 coach on the Junior Performance Programme.