Boxing: Hatton united with home-town club in seeking knock-out

If Ricky Hatton had not proved so adept with his fists, today could have seen him contending for a second-round knock-out in the FA Trophy with Hyde United rather than preparing for an eighth defence of his world light-welterweight title.

Born in the town that lends the Hitman his nickname, the 24-year-old grew up supporting his local side as well as his beloved Manchester City, who play their reserve games at Hyde's ground, Ewen Fields. He was once a student midfielder at City's school of excellence and might well have found a career at one his clubs had boxing not taken priority. His father, Ray, was a City reserve left-back in the title-winning 1967-68 season, and his grandfather, John, played for City's B team during the war.

"I was with City as a 13-year-old at the same time as Jeff and Jim Whitley, who both went on to the first team," said Hatton, who cheerfully describes himself as "not the most skilful player, but a bit like Danny Tiatto or Roy Keane, solid and good at passing."

His distraction was that by 14 he already had three schoolboy boxing championships to his name. "My attendance at the football went down. I carried on playing until I was 16 but boxing came first."

Hatton's principal aim now, after a year establishing himself as the most exciting young fighter in Britain, is to become the world's undisputed champion light-welterweight, an ambition on target for fruition next year when he hopes to get a shot at a unification bout. And in his spare time he will yearn for success for both City and Hyde, where he has been the president of the supporters' club for the past two years.

"Everyone knows I'm a big Man City fan [Kevin Keegan handed over his First Division winner's medal in May as a sign of appreciation] but there's nothing more important than supporting your local team," Hatton said before Hyde's trip to Leek Town today. "I was born in the area, I'm very proud of where I come from. I'm not going to forget my roots"

Hyde United's roots go back to 1885, when a forerunner of the club was formed. That team is best remembered for losing 26-0 to Preston in an FA Cup tie in the 1887-88 season, a result that still stands as the heaviest defeat in first-class English football. The current club, who play in the UniBond League Premier Division, one division above Leek, have had their moments, not least three Trophy semi-final appearances. But recent seasons have not been good. Relegation was avoided last year only because other teams' grounds were deemed of insufficient quality for the top division. This season has also been rocky, with Hyde bottom of the table, nine points adrift of safety.

A new manager, the former Manchester United and England winger, Gordon Hill, is hoping to turn things round and Hatton believes that a good Trophy run could be just the way to start a comeback. "[Hill] has seen so much football at a high level, it could be just what Hyde need," he added. "I'm sure it'll come good at some stage."

Hatton's camp have been confident since he was a teenager that he would come good. His manager and promoter, Frank Warren, described him as "the nearest thing I've ever seen to a certainty" before he was out of his teens, while his trainer, Billy Graham, has long said his potential is unlimited.

Hatton agrees with most observers that his most impressive single advance came in October last year when he destroyed the former world champion, America's Freddie Pendleton, in two rounds at a packed MEN Arena. Four wins since, including a points decision in June over Ulster's Eamonn Magee in front of Britain's biggest boxing audience for years and September's controversial victory over Stephy Smith, when Smith's father and trainer, Darkie, entered the ring and forced an abandonment, have taken his record to 30 wins from 30 bouts, 23 inside the distance.

Hatton's next defence of his World Boxing Union title comes on 14 December against the unbeaten Brazilian Antonio Mesquita at Newcastle's Telewest Arena. Beyond that, so the plan goes, lies a meeting at some stage with the Australian-based Russian Kostya Tszyu, the World Boxing Council champion, widely recognised as the man to beat.

And before it? Two weeks' further preparation at his gym, which is in Hyde (obviously). Maybe a few games of darts for his local (in the Hyde & Denton district league). And perhaps, if things go well this afternoon, a little celebration in honour of Hyde flooring Leek and taking their own next step towards the big boys.