First team players at Mansfield Town Football Club were put through their paces at the new Stags’ Boxing Academy.

The new venue, a stone’s throw away from the club’s One Call Stadium on Bradder Way, Mansfield, was set up with the help of a £5,000 donation from The Radford Foundation.

The academy is set to be officially opened this Monday.

Adam Murray’s players were put through a demanding training session by Julian Leivars, father of local boxing star Nico Leivars.

Said Julian: “We are an amateur boxing club, which will be open to the public for all different levels, starting from the age of ten onwards.

“Our main goal is to produce a successful amateur boxing team. However, we will be holding fitness classes and it will be a community boxing club.”

Manager Adam Murray said: “We are looking at improving all areas of our team, with fitness being a key area. The new Stags’ boxing academy has allowed us the chance to work the players at a high intensity in a different environment, pushing them mentally and physically.

“The boys started at 9am yesterday morning and likewise this morning. It is a great add-on to our regular training regime.

“The academy is a great venue which will help encourage fitness and commitment to all ages in our community,” he added.