History


	SKK Judo Club - History

SKK Judo Club was founded in the late 1960’s by Mike Simms and Bob Noone. Bob was the head coach for SKK Judo Club and was registered ‘blind’, but this didn’t stop him developing as a coach and as a Judo player as he became the first blind person to achieve black belt status in the Northern Hemisphere.

The club was initially set up in what was the former Newton Labour Club in Newton-Le-Willows.




		The Viaduct Athletic Club


		Bob Noone

	After a short time, the club moved premises and relocated to Viaduct Athletic Club in Earle Street, which consisted of two railways carriages on either side of a wooden building that formed the dojo. The carriages contained the male and female changing areas as well as a kitchen. Parents constantly helped with the maintenance of the building.

SKK grew from strength to strength and by the early 70’s had established Junior and Youth sections, which had been successful in competing on the National circuit.
In 1972, Frank Large, who was a very technical adept coach, took over the running of the club and became head coach. He was assisted by a young John Brown.
The club reverted back to six days coaching a week of the Junior section and attracted over a 100 members. The club set up a committee formed by parents who supported the club and organised regular area competitions.

By the mid 70’s SKK was very successful in producing Junior National Champions some of whom went on to represent GB in international competition.




		Frank Large

In 1977, Frank stepped down and Gary Volgar took over. Although the club had a strong membership base, SKK had at that time ‘lost direction’ and needed a new man in charge. A bad time ensued with countless 14 and 15 year olds looking elsewhere to train. In 1979, Gary stepped down and new coach Bill Payton took over.

Having lost numerous top players, SKK Judo Club, went into decline and in 1984, the old building at Earle Street in which hundreds had trained in over the years was condemned and shut down.SKK moved to the boys club at Back Market Street where it continued to run until 1987 with just a small Junior section. In the same year, the club closed due to becoming financially
non-viable.

In February 1988, old boy and ex-GB International and local resident Peter Blood re-opened the club with just a small nucleus of Junior players and became the Head Coach. This is really where the success story of SKK Judo Club began. Peter moved the club to Brunswick Church Hall and then later the now demolished Manor School. Membership steadily began to grow and two Junior and Senior classes were introduced.

Peter had produced double Olympian and European Champion Nigel Donohue. This expertise gave SKK credibility that reflected not only in its increase in membership but as a real competitive club. In 1993, Peter moved the club again to the old Scout Hall in Legh Street and never looked back.
In just a short time the Junior players became very competitive on a National level and the club produced many British Junior Champions. In 1992, Nigel Donohue competed in the Barcelona Olympic Games and was joined at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games by 21-year-old Michelle Rogers who was a Junior European Champion.

In 1997, Peter bought the land and the club ‘lock-stock and barrel’ and in 2002, the club applied for a lottery award through the British Judo Association to demolish the building and replace this with a purpose built dojo.The application was successful and through a long-winded process, funding was finally secured and building work started at the end of 2005. The new state of the art dojo will provide the springboard for many champions of the future.

SKK Judo Club has come a long way since the 1960’s and is now a full time club, which caters for ability of all levels from Beginner to World Class.




		1974 SKK Club Championships




		Bob Noone presenting the trophy

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