Shaun Anderson
My name is Shaun Anderson I was a professional boxer for 10 years. I come from Maybole and went to Carrick Academy from 1981 till 1985.
My first boxing club was in Carrick Academy in the hut that sits to the left hand side of the old building looking from the main road. I started at the age of 10 and had my first fight at the age of 11 in Maybole Town hall, which I won. I went on to have 20 amateur fights in the Maybole club before it closed down due to the trainer dying.
I then had to wait till I was 18 till I could drive and had a car to travel to another club to take up boxing again. I chose to go to Glasgow to the Maharg Boxing club where I went on to win the Western District title and then the Scottish title. I represented Scotland on a few occasions at home and abroad.
I then turned pro in 1992 and won the Scottish Bantamweight title and fought for the British Title, Commonwealth Title and IBO Intercontinental World Title. These fights were all live on either Sky Sports or Eurosport and can still be viewed on YouTube.
I had 44 professional fights before I retired in 2002.
My first boxing club was in Carrick Academy in the hut that sits to the left hand side of the old building looking from the main road. I started at the age of 10 and had my first fight at the age of 11 in Maybole Town hall, which I won. I went on to have 20 amateur fights in the Maybole club before it closed down due to the trainer dying.
I then had to wait till I was 18 till I could drive and had a car to travel to another club to take up boxing again. I chose to go to Glasgow to the Maharg Boxing club where I went on to win the Western District title and then the Scottish title. I represented Scotland on a few occasions at home and abroad.
I then turned pro in 1992 and won the Scottish Bantamweight title and fought for the British Title, Commonwealth Title and IBO Intercontinental World Title. These fights were all live on either Sky Sports or Eurosport and can still be viewed on YouTube.
I had 44 professional fights before I retired in 2002.
Pupil Questions
What were you like as a pupil at Carrick Academy? How does this differ/stay the same to how you are as a person now?
When I was at the Academy I was just middle of the road in all subjects apart from P.E, Metalwork and Woodwork. I would mostly day dream in the classes that I didn't like and in the others try really hard. Now I obviously know that I should have been trying in all the classes as this is where you start your journey in life. I was lucky to be good at sport, if I hadn't been and left school with no "O Levels" it would have been a struggle getting a job.
During your time at Carrick, which teacher/teachers had the biggest influence on you? Why do you think this was the case?
I think the teachers get a pretty good feel about how you are as a person and what your ambitions are and what you’re capable of, so I think my P.E teacher and Guidance teachers were best for me as they would keep me on the straight and narrow as I went through secondary.
Was the career path you took the one that you had originally planned? If not, what were your aspirations at school?
Yes I always wanted to be a Pro Boxer from the age of 11 when I had my first amateur fight in Maybole Town Hall in 1981.
How hard has it been to have success in your field? What has enabled you to achieve your success?
Well I personally think Boxing is the toughest sport of all. I trained 6 days a week since the age of 11 till I retired at the age of 32 with a few years off in between because of no club available near me when Maybole Boxing Club Closed. When I turned Pro I would be running at 4am in the morning, in the gym at 12pm and then travel to Glasgow every night for sparring at 6pm, always watching my weight and never had any alcohol from when I turned Pro at 22 until I retired at 32, never went to any parties, never had a big Christmas dinner as I was always fighting on Burns Night on a show so had to be prepared for it. To be able to achieve this high standard you have to be dedicated to try and make a better life for yourself and your family. When I was growing up we never had much so I wanted different for my kids.
Were there any particular subjects from your time at school that you feel have helped you on your journey?
As I got older I realised that is was not so much the subjects that helped me it was more the teachers urging you to keep going in the classes you were not good at this as you get older make you realise that this is a life lesson not just in a class to keep going but in life in general.
What words of advice would you give the current pupils of Carrick Academy in relation to school and life beyond school?
My advice would be to keep an open mind on what you want to do as a career, pick up as many qualifications and work experience as possible before leaving school and stay on at school as long as possible unless a great opportunity arises.
Beyond school once you have left if you’re into sport you need to go to the best coaches available even if that means leaving your old ones. Also remember when your sporting career ends you may need a fall back in the form of a trade or go back to college or university so don't think education is all over once you leave school that's just beginning.
When I was at the Academy I was just middle of the road in all subjects apart from P.E, Metalwork and Woodwork. I would mostly day dream in the classes that I didn't like and in the others try really hard. Now I obviously know that I should have been trying in all the classes as this is where you start your journey in life. I was lucky to be good at sport, if I hadn't been and left school with no "O Levels" it would have been a struggle getting a job.
During your time at Carrick, which teacher/teachers had the biggest influence on you? Why do you think this was the case?
I think the teachers get a pretty good feel about how you are as a person and what your ambitions are and what you’re capable of, so I think my P.E teacher and Guidance teachers were best for me as they would keep me on the straight and narrow as I went through secondary.
Was the career path you took the one that you had originally planned? If not, what were your aspirations at school?
Yes I always wanted to be a Pro Boxer from the age of 11 when I had my first amateur fight in Maybole Town Hall in 1981.
How hard has it been to have success in your field? What has enabled you to achieve your success?
Well I personally think Boxing is the toughest sport of all. I trained 6 days a week since the age of 11 till I retired at the age of 32 with a few years off in between because of no club available near me when Maybole Boxing Club Closed. When I turned Pro I would be running at 4am in the morning, in the gym at 12pm and then travel to Glasgow every night for sparring at 6pm, always watching my weight and never had any alcohol from when I turned Pro at 22 until I retired at 32, never went to any parties, never had a big Christmas dinner as I was always fighting on Burns Night on a show so had to be prepared for it. To be able to achieve this high standard you have to be dedicated to try and make a better life for yourself and your family. When I was growing up we never had much so I wanted different for my kids.
Were there any particular subjects from your time at school that you feel have helped you on your journey?
As I got older I realised that is was not so much the subjects that helped me it was more the teachers urging you to keep going in the classes you were not good at this as you get older make you realise that this is a life lesson not just in a class to keep going but in life in general.
What words of advice would you give the current pupils of Carrick Academy in relation to school and life beyond school?
My advice would be to keep an open mind on what you want to do as a career, pick up as many qualifications and work experience as possible before leaving school and stay on at school as long as possible unless a great opportunity arises.
Beyond school once you have left if you’re into sport you need to go to the best coaches available even if that means leaving your old ones. Also remember when your sporting career ends you may need a fall back in the form of a trade or go back to college or university so don't think education is all over once you leave school that's just beginning.