Former Hull boxer Tommy Coyle to host annual school uniform event

Free school uniforms are to be handed out in Hull by former boxer Tommy Coyle.

The ex-Commonwealth lightweight champion set up a sporting foundation when he retired from boxing in 2019 and has led a number of initiatives for underprivileged children, including a mobile boxing gym.

“If you’re in a position to do good then I believe you should,” he said.

The event at Coyle’s gym, TC60, on Humber Street will take place on Thursday from 10:00 until 13:00 BST.

Coyle said he would be giving out unbranded uniforms of all colours and sizes with no questions asked for those who attended, working with places such as Transwaste Recycling, Cranswick and MKM.

About 400 uniforms were given to families last year, and he said it “does tend to go up year on year”.

Speaking on BBC Radio Humberside, Coyle said: “It’s such an expensive time of year. Everything is going up in price. Uniforms are a fortune this year.

“It’s a bittersweet day – bitter in the sense that so many people need support but sweet in the sense that we can come together to support the community.”

Coyle added that his reason for doing it was “a bit of a personal one”.

“It goes back many years, and there was a form of bullying taking place as certain people didn’t have certain makes [of clothes] at school,” he said.

“I think everybody should be able to feel included at school whether they’ve got branded or unbranded uniform.”

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