Two England Boxing-Affiliated Coaches Nominated for UK Coaching Awards
November 11, 2026 | by Chris Boyd
England Boxing is delighted to announce that two affiliated coaches, Ryan Ashworth and Liam Byrne, have been nominated for awards at the prestigious UK Coaching Awards.
The finalists, selected by an independent judging panel, will come together at the Queens Hotel in Leeds on Thursday 3 December, where the winners will be announced.
More than 250 guests from across the world of sport and physical activity are expected to attend the ceremony, including UK Coaching’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
Regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the coaching community, the UK Coaching Awards celebrate the outstanding contribution of coaches at every level of sport and physical activity.
Ryan Ashworth, of Westway ABC in Scarborough, has been shortlisted for the Community Coach of the Year – Community and Young People Award, in recognition of the welcoming and inclusive environment he has created for young people at his club.
His nomination highlights the importance he places on listening to participants, building trusting relationships and adapting sessions to meet individual needs:
“Ryan creates an open and supportive boxing environment where children and young people feel heard, valued and confident expressing themselves.
“He builds trusting relationships by asking open-ended questions and listening carefully, using participants’ feedback to shape their experiences. Ryan adapts sessions to provide fun, inclusive challenges for different ages, abilities and individual needs.
“By sharing his own experiences of success and failure, he also encourages young people to believe in themselves and understand their potential.”
Liam Byrne, a coach at Winton ABC in Dorset, has been nominated for the UK Coaching Young Coach of the Year award.
His nomination recognises his person-centred approach to coaching, taking the time to understand each boxer’s individual ambitions and supporting their development both inside and outside the gym:
“A Level 1 England Boxing coach, Liam gives every boxer space to share their goals, concerns and ideas.
“He takes time to understand what boxing means to each individual, whether they want to compete, improve their fitness, build confidence or make friends, before breaking their goals into realistic steps.
“Drawing on his experience as a full-time youth worker, Liam places physical and mental well-being alongside sporting development, helping young people take ownership of their individual boxing journey.”
England Boxing would like to congratulate Ryan and Liam on their nominations and wish them the very best of luck ahead of the awards ceremony.
