On track for impact: Matchroom return to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park as community partnership flourishes

Matchroom Boxing returned to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park for another fantastic Fight Day 5K, bringing together boxing fans, running enthusiasts and local residents ahead of a huge night of world championship boxing in the Steel City.

Hosted at Steel City Stadium, the event saw participants take on a specially mapped course around the Park, with Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn joining the runners for the fourth edition of the event at the venue.

The morning formed part of the build-up to a huge night at Utilita Arena Sheffield, where hometown hero Dalton Smith defended his WBC World Super Lightweight Championship against Alberto Puello.

The Fight Day 5K has become a popular feature of Matchroom’s major fight weeks, bringing people together through a shared interest in boxing, running and physical activity.

While the events traditionally take a relaxed, social approach, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park provided an opportunity to introduce a competitive element, with participants invited to race around its 1km circuit.

The inclusive format remained, with runners and walkers of all ages and abilities welcome to complete anything from a single lap to the full 5K distance, at their own pace.

Having been challenged by Eddie Hearn during his opening remarks, Matchroom fighters Adam Maca and Harley Burrows rose to the occasion, crossing the finish line together in an impressive 19:09.

They were closely followed by Dominic Chesterton, the fastest community participant, who completed the course in 19:30 to claim two VIP tickets to the evening’s boxing and a month’s supply of meals courtesy of Fight Day 5K partner FuelHub.

Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park has become a regular home for the initiative, having now hosted four Fight Day 5Ks as part of its ongoing partnership with Matchroom.

Were you part of the Sheffield Fight Day 5K? Relive the morning and download your photographs from the event.

Matchroom’s relationship with Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park extends well beyond the Fight Day 5K, with the Matchroom Charitable Foundation providing significant financial support to the Park’s community grant-giving programme, the Sheffield Legacy Fund.

The partnership was formally announced in April 2025, when Sheffield boxing stars Dalton Smith and Josh Padley joined former World Snooker Champion Ken Doherty at Stephen Harrison Snooker Academy to celebrate an initial £25,000 donation.

Building on that initial investment, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation has now committed a total of £50,000 to the Sheffield Legacy Fund, supporting grassroots organisations working to improve physical and mental health, wellbeing and social inclusion.

Established in 2023, the Fund awards grants of up to £1,000 to community groups operating within a three-mile radius of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Matchroom’s initial £25,000 contribution alone has supported 26 local organisations, reaching approximately 1,950 people across some of Sheffield’s most diverse and disadvantaged communities.

The funding has supported projects spanning sport, education, employability, food provision and community engagement, benefiting young people, older residents, refugees, people with disabilities and those experiencing financial hardship.

Among the organisations benefiting from Matchroom’s support are several using sport and physical activity to create opportunities within their communities.

• Stephen Harrison Academy received £1,000 towards its annual awards celebration, recognising 55 young people with learning or physical disabilities who completed a 60-hour snooker programme. The Sheffield social enterprise uses snooker to support personal development, education and wellbeing, engaging more than 200 children and adults each week.
• Sheffield United Community Foundation received £1,000 towards its Healthy Families Healthy Futures programme, providing accessible physical activity sessions for approximately 150 people, including those with disabilities and health conditions.
• We Are In Your Corner CIC received £1,000 for its First Steps programme, using non-contact boxing, movement and mentoring to support people facing difficult circumstances. The funding enabled 20 hours of tailored individual and small-group sessions, helping participants build confidence, improve wellbeing and access further support.

Together, these projects demonstrate how relatively modest grants can make a meaningful difference, helping grassroots organisations remove barriers to participation and deliver activities that respond to local needs.

Reflecting on the success of the Fight Day 5K and the wider relationship with Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Alex Le Guével, Head of Community Development at Matchroom Boxing, highlighted the importance of combining major sporting events with investment in grassroots communities.

“It was fantastic to be back at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park for another Fight Day 5K, particularly on such a big day for Sheffield boxing,” he said.

“Sheffield has an incredible sporting heritage and we’re proud of our ongoing partnership with Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park,” he added.

“Through events like this and the support of Matchroom Charitable Foundation, we want to encourage more people to get active and help create opportunities for local communities.”

For Claire Fretwell, Operations Manager at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, the partnership reflects the Park’s wider ambition to connect world-class sporting facilities with opportunities that benefit the surrounding communities.

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Matchroom community back to the Park for another Fight Day 5K,” beamed Fretwell.

“Our partnership with Matchroom is a great example of how we can work together to connect elite sport with grassroots participation and create a lasting positive impact for our local communities,” she continued.

“We’re particularly grateful for the continued support of Matchroom Charitable Foundation, whose generous contributions to Sheffield Legacy Fund are helping local organisations provide support and opportunities for people to improve their health and wellbeing.”

By combining accessible participation opportunities such as the Fight Day 5K with direct investment through the Matchroom Charitable Foundation, the partnership continues to support Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s ambition to create a lasting sporting and community legacy for the city.

For more information, including how to apply to the Sheffield Legacy Fund, please click here.