A boxing club in Tallaght in Dublin has said it can no longer accept new members as it has run out of space.
Jobstown Boxing Club currently has around 140 members on its books and has turned away around 50 children since last September.
Officials from South Dublin County Council met with the club yesterday to discuss funding options.
During training one evening, more than 20 juniors were being put through their paces, with space at a premium.
Senior boxers were facing the same issue in another room.
The club's secretary, Amanda Spencer, said space is the problem.
"We don't have the proper space for them to do pad work. We've no skipping area and no kitchen. We've one toilet," she said.
"We don't even have a kitchen to have a cup of tea or to get some water. We've no dressing room, no changing room. You have to go home dressed in the clothes that you've just trained in because there's nowhere to change."
"I know if they weren't here in the boxing club, I'd hate to think what did get up to out in the street, because there's nothing else for them"
Such is the lack of space, the club says it is turning away new members - around 50 children since last September. It says options for children in this area are limited.
"Jobstown doesn't get great recognition. You wouldn't see Jobstown on the news for anything other than crime," Ms Spencer said.
"The bad stuff does happen around the area … there is a lot of good stuff as well.
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"For us to turn children away, we're putting more kids on the street for more crime and to get up to no good. If you have somewhere, a space here, where they can all train, then they're not on the streets."
It is clear Ms Spencer thinks her club is "100%" making a difference.
"We've a load of lads here, and they're good lads, but I know if they weren't here in the boxing club, I'd hate to think what did get up to out in the street, because there's nothing else for them," she said.
"And when there's nothing for kids to do, they'll make something to do on the streets."
The membership has grown steadily over the years and now stands at 140, and despite the challenges, the club produces success.
Among their ranks, they have a world youth champion, an elite champion, 45 Irish national champions, and five European medalists.
The club's best is super heavyweight Adam Olaniyan, who won the World Youth Championship in Montenegro last year.
He received a hero's welcome back to the club but is now feeling the pinch.
The club's ring is not up to standard and is too small for him.
"The facilities, they're not big enough. I don't want to have to leave the club, like I've never thought about leaving the club, but I'm getting to the stage now where my career is starting to progress and I need that extra space, but we just simply don't have it," he said.
"People have suggested move club, but I have such a good relationship with my coaches, it'd kill me to leave."
Mr Olaniyan has been a member of the club since he was eight and trains there every day. He lives locally and says he knows how important it is to the community.
"Jobstown is always in the papers for one reason or another, and it's just because kids are bored. Kids are genuinely just bored," he said.
"They're out on the streets, they're messing, they're robbing, they're stealing. They're doing what they shouldn't do when they could be in here, morning, noon and night, training, putting that energy into something positive, but we genuinely just can't facilitate that.
"It's sad to see all the other kids on the street getting in trouble. It's shocking. The club deserves a bigger premises."
The club has plans to extend on its current site and is now looking for funding, including corporate sponsors. Until then, the club says it cannot take on any new members.
In a statement to RTÉ News, South Dublin County Council said it was holding a "scheduled meeting" between officials and the club yesterday.
Speaking afterwards, Ms Spencer said what funding is open to them and how to apply was discussed, but she said her impression was that any extension project could be as long as three years away.
"We'll still be turning kids away," she said. "Three years is just too long."
Jobstown Boxing Club, well used to fighting, is now facing another type of battle.
