The ex-club doorman offering security to the stars

Iain McCallister sits in his boardroom, with a giant photograph of Tyson Fury covering the wall behind him. He is wearing a blue suit, white shirt and blue tie and is sat a table with his hands clasped together. — Image caption,
Iain McCallister and his team have just returned from Saudi Arabia where they provided security for Fury's fight with Oleksandr Usyk

John Bray

BBC News, Solihull

27 December 2024

Heavyweight boxers Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury might be from the different eras of the fight game's history - but when it came to their personal security outside the ring, they both found the same man for the job.

Thirty years ago, Iain McCallister was a doorman at one of Birmingham's favourite haunts, Liberty's nightclub on Hagley Road.

When his father Sam retired from West Midlands Police, the pair decided to set up a "small security firm".

Three decades on, Mr McAllister is head of a major security firm with a £67m annual turnover, employing 1,700 people, with operations that has included providing security for the King's coronation in 2023 and the Queen's funeral.

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Image source, MAN Commercial Protection
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"In 2000, Mike Tyson came over to fight in the UK twice," said Mr McCallister. "We ran the security at both events, did loads of media stuff with him. He was based at The Grosvenor in Park Lane, London and he was sparring in the ballroom. For me as an ex-boxer, to see him up close was brilliant. He was great with us. I enjoyed working with him."
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"When people say who's the most iconic sportsmen of all time, many would say Muhammed Ali (right) and for many, many years, the top place in sport was boxing's heavyweight champion," said Mr McCallister.
Image source, MAN Commercial Protection
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Mr McCallister took over security operations in 2001 for British boxing promoter Frank Warren. MAN staff have been to Saudi Arabia seven times in the last 14 months for boxing events
Image source, MAN Commercial Protection
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"When we do presentations to potential clients, they always want to know about the boxing," said Mr McCallister, seen here leading Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol into the ring

Based near Solihull, Mr McCallister's contacts book is not just full of boxers. Staff from MAN Commercial Protection, external can also just as easily be seen at music concerts with some of the biggest stars.

The move into the world of pop and rock music came in 1996 when Mr McCallister was invited to a meeting at The Custard Factory in Digbeth.

That conversation led to a long-term relationship with Birmingham band Ocean Colour Scene, external.

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Mr McCallister looked after Ocean Colour Scene on their biggest-ever tour, when they supported The Rolling Stones and The Who and played at the Oasis concert at Knebworth, in August 1996.
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Ocean Colour Scene's Steve Craddock, centre, who went on to play guitar alongside Paul Weller, is, says Mr McCallister, "the best guitarist for me".
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At the height of Ocean Colour Scene's popularity, the band played five nights at London's Astoria, supporting bands included Toploader and Travis. "On the fourth day I was at the sound check and there was a young man rehearsing on the stage and he'd got a big mop of curly hair and he was on the piano," said Mr McCallister. "I said to Chris Craddock (Ocean Colour Scene's manager) 'who's that Chris?'. He said 'I don't know son, but they'll never make it'. That was Coldplay."
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"I did a lot of work with Paul Weller," said Mr McCallister. "Did quite a lot of countries with Paul and I very much enjoyed working with him. I got on very well with his dad John, who was an ex-boxer."
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"To be honest, looking after Oasis and working with them, there've been lots more bands that've been harder work," said Mr McCallister. "I saw Liam in September this year in Riyadh. I saw him at the sound check, had a catch-up - good as gold."

But a life of tour buses and airport lounges was not sustainable.

"I identified in the early 2000s that to build this business up to where it has got to, I needed to come away from the touring because you can't get anything done if you are travelling," said Mr McCallister.

"From a personal security point of view, looking after the bands, it was great, great times and a big part of the growth of MAN Commercial."

In 2024, the company now has a major focus on CCTV work, including the region's extensive bus network, and buildings security, as well as developing its own on-site training academy to continually drive up standards within the industry.

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Mr McCallister has kept security lanyards from jobs that he has completed across the world.
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The lanyards hang in the office at his Shirley headquarters, as a reminder of major sporting and music events.
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Mike Tyson took just four minutes to emerge victorious from his first appearance on British soil. British champion Julius Francis lasted until the second round, but not beyond the 243rd second of the fight in Manchester.

So which is the biggest passion? Boxing or music?

"Oh, boxing without a doubt," said Mr McCallister. "It'll always be boxing.

"I appreciate music, but boxing is what people mention with MAN. Boxing has been great for us.

"It's a sport that I've always been involved in and always will."

MAN Commercial Protection staff can be seen on duty at major sporting venues like Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And the company was involved in the security operation at the Queen's funeral and the King's coronation.

Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, stands in front of King Charles to place the crown on his head, during his coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey

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MAN Commercial Protection also provided security at King Charles' coronation, in May 2023

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