After a summer recess when sports fans were revitalised by England's passage to the Euro finals, the return of Wimbledon, a Lions tour and a delayed Olympics, Ralph Henderson has returned to the pages of Thurrock Nub News to reflect on the latest developments in the world of rugby.

"In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure dome decree

Where Alph, the sacred river ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to a sunless sea."

"KUBLA Khan" or "A Vision In A Dream" was a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a masterpiece written in 1797 which became one of the most frequently anthologised in the English language.

Thereafter, Xanadu became a metaphor for grandeur and opulence.

It has been suggested that Coleridge's inspiration for the poem was a book with an impossibly long name, written by the clergyman, Samuel Purchas in1613! The book, Pilgrims or Relationship the World and Religions observed in All Ages and Places Discovered from the Creation to the Present", describes Xanadu.

"In Xanadu did Khubilai Khan build a stately Palace, encompassing sixteen miles of plain ground with a wall, wherein there are fertile meddowes, pleasant springs, delightful streams and all sorts of beasts chasing and gaming, and in the midst thereof a sumptuous house of pleasure which may be moved from place to place."

In 1941, Orson Welles directed what is generally regarded as one of the greatest films of all time," Citizen Kane" from which these words emanate: "Xanadu or Chandu is in China. Khubilai Khan (correct spelling, unlike Coleridge's version) was the grandson of the great Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire. He built the pleasure dome between 1255-1259 on the banks of the River Shandd, hence Xanadu !

On a point of trivia, it will not be lost on Dennis Stone (aka Alice Cooper) that in 1968, the pop group, Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich had a U.K. No. 1 hit with "The Legend of Xanadu"!

To suggest that Thurrock bears any resemblance to Xanadu is perhaps a "flight of fantasy" rather than a vision or a dream, although it is not difficult to imagine the opulence of Belhus Mansion when built in 1526 near the source of the River Mardyke.

With its gardens landscaped by Capability Brown, the Tudor House was visited by Queen Elizabeth 1. (Some say frequently in her dalliances with the Earl of Essex!)

Nowadays, part of the site is occupied by another of Thurrock's long established teams, Thames. Once you have penetrated the veneer of industrial exploitation, there are numerous places of great natural beauty.

Thurrock's position to the north of the Thames has left a legacy of unique historical significance and the views of that mighty River from the top floor of Grahame Thomas's old home at High House, Horndon on the Hill are breathtaking..

Nevertheless, industrialisation and the inevitable urbanisation highlighted the fact that the lack of open spaces would restrict the physical development of a burgeoning population!

On 30th January, 1936,upon the death of King George V, it was decided to commemorate his reign by setting up the King George's Fields Foundation. The aim of the Foundation was "To promote and to assist in the establishment throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of playing fields for the use and enjoyment of the people. Every such playing field to be styled 'King George's Field' and to be distinguished by heraldic panels commemorative of his late Majesty."

Henceforth a King George's Field' became a public open space dedicated to the memory of George V 1865- 1936.

The field at Blackshots, home to many of Thurrock's sports teams, was one of just 344 in England. Wales, with its smaller population, "green and pleasant land" and fewer "dark Satanic mills", only needed 35!

Sport, often defined as "activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment", is also a great diversion from the destabilising vicissitudes of life!

Sadly, Thurrock is known to some, as good at "Cement, roads and pound shops" and that is precisely why the enhancement of the Blackshots area as a "Hub of Sport" is massively significant.

Thurrock's Director of Rugby, Martin Jones, who played for London Welsh, Eastern Counties and Public School Wanderers, (as well as coaching in the English Premiership) has set up the new Thurrock Rugby Academy with Junior Chairman, Ken Laybourn, to ensure continuity and progressions through schools and club rugby in the local environment. Attendance and involvement at the training sessions has been outstanding with Academy Manager David Harries and Felix Leonard-Fox setting exciting standards.

Click to read all about Thurrock's new academy

It is of great personal interest that both of the clubs I was privileged to represent as a player, have both embarked upon great development schemes at precisely the same time as volunteers have found time and opportunity during the pandemic to revisit their passions.

The game of rugby is ever evolving, but many of the core values are enduring:

"There are those of us who are of an age to treasure memories of victories at Twickenham and Paris and can even recall at least one New Zealand team that lost a game somewhere in Wales. In our hearts though we know that the beauty of the Welsh game was that it was a village game played by village boys and that in those villages, both urban and rural, talent was nurtured initially in school and youth sides.

"In the recent dark days of national failure and in an era when television attempts to seduce us away from our primary loyalties many Welsh supporters have found solace in going back to their roots. Games are lost at Cardiff and Wembley, and even attractive traditional fixtures at Stradey and Rodney Parade may be abysmally attended, but there is still pleasure to be gained from dropping in at games at Merthyr or Dunvant.

"There have been afternoons at Abertillery when the valleys have never looked so lovely, and during games at Bonymaen one has looked up at the familiar, ancient and snow-capped moors and realised yet again that it is from those hills that we will derive our strength."

Peter Stead - "Heart And Soul, The Character of Welsh Rugby", 1998

In the post-pandemic era, we are discovering that loyalty and a pride in a player's original club has returned as a community feature. Abertillery Park is a beautiful venue, with a capacity of 25,000! In its heyday, a town band would perform in the famous old bandstand and draw crowds to the ground like "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"!

Many of the world's greatest players had played against a club which once boasted three Lions in the same team (Haydn Morgan, Allan Lewis and Welsh captain, Alun Pask). This famous venue had hosted New Zealand (where the legendary Don Clarke kicked one of the world's longest penalties), Australia who were beaten 6-5 by Abertillery and Ebbw Vale, Fiji (with whom Abertillery and Newbridge drew 11-11),South Africa and Japan.

Yet with the re-organisation of Welsh Rugby it had fallen into disrepair. The team had lost its old clubhouse in the town and the club's memorabilia and International shirts had been sent back to their owners!

Fortunately, just before the "regionalisation'" of Welsh Rugby, a new grandstand had been built at Abertillery Park. As the pandemic took hold, teams of volunteers and old players set about building a new clubhouse under the stand.

The outcome is nothing short of miraculous and will go some way towards restoring former glories! At the first game, the club's youth squad were present in their Abertillery colours and were inspired by the occasion! Club secretary Rhys Davies, said: "The creation of the clubhouse on the ground will offer a massive boost to both the club and the wider community who will use it moving forward."

This really is brilliant for the club and is something that will have a hugely positive impact on both the team and the community of Abertillery in general. This really is an important facility to us and will help us strengthen the club at all age levels in the future!"

Thurrock, too, has great new opportunities and the opening of the new Rugby Academy has provided an exciting elevation of expectations. Martin Jones, Thurrock's Director of Rugby said: "All good clubs have academies to safeguard their future development. This is a vital component of what we are building and we are already reaping some of the benefits of wider community interest. The links with the schools are crucial and are the key to identifying and unlocking talent!"

"When former Second-Row Jon Langley came back to his old club, he emphasised that the only way forward was to build firm and secure structures by investing in the schools and youth. Hopefully, in the words of Julius Caesar: " Ambition's debt is paid!"

Thurrock Kick Off their season with an away game to Westcliff (Essex's top team in England's Division Two) on Saturday. The first League game is away to Eton Manor on the following Saturday.