Essex does of course already have one club at a higher level than London League - Hainault Bulldogs of the RLC Premier South Division, who I believe play at Barking RUFC. Why they didn't call themselves Barking Bulldogs I'll never know. Someone clearly has no sense of humour!

Hainault now play in dagenham.

Brentwood still has the Elvers playing at Holly Trees, however they only go up to under16. I think they rent their pitch from the council but it is marked out with RL markings all summer.

Might be worth talking to the people at Elvers about using their pitch, if that happened I would certainly be interested.

Sogs are you offering to lead the line?

I'd be happy to give it a go, from the wing, centre or full back position

Don't know how convenient Brentwood would be but we are fairly easy to reach, junction 28 of the m25, where it meets the a12, good train service from Liverpool Street.

I feel like I'm trying to sell a house here

I'll email the person who started this thread when I get a chance, it will probably be tomorrow, would be great to get an RL team in Brentwood again, we have a decent RU club and could possibly tap some of their players up for summer rugby

Not wishing to be a Essex RL bore but there was a 2 other Essex clubs in the late 80's Essex Scimitars and Tendring ARLFC both teams played in the London ARL.

The Scimitars played at Canvey, Rainham, Averly, and ended up at East London RUFC where they folded. We actually reached the LARL plate final on year which was played at Wasps old ground. Colin Fenn the ex Fulham skipper played for us. As did Martin O'donoghue who went on to represent the USA at RL. We once made the front page of League Express for staying at the Adelfi Hotel during the Chester Sevens apparantly Ray French felt that we should have been "camping on pitch" like all the gritty northern teams.

Tendring the other club were from Clacton, coached by Albert Fearley. the 2 teams played a couple of games for the Essex Cup.

Good luck to you, it is hard work running an RL club in Essex but worth if it comes off. A good base imo would be one off the new towns maybe Harlow or Basildon, lots of ex northerners and pretty tough towns!!!

Brentwood has one of the worst pitches.

True, "The Wreck" is on a massive slope, but I'm pretty sure that the Elvers are in charge of the pitch, so would be easier, and possibly cheaper than sharing with any RU teams. Saying that I don't know for certain if Elvers or the council actually own it. Either way its a suggestion, I will email EssexRL shortly so he has definitely seen it and can then look into it further

I play wing for the Skolars U14's. You have no idea how hard it is not to get tackled into touch on that pitch.

You show great awareness, you could give some helpful tips to Curtis.

That's what I'd call a real home field advantage

Unless things have changed over the last year or so the pitch is council owned
and they are responsible for its upkeep and markings etc etc.

The Council still own it then, nothing has changed I'm sure of that

I thought it was part of the school.

No the school has a Mini pitch that is part of their grounds, the main pitch is on council land, but because the Elvers started at Holly Trees the school still lets them use the facilities to change/eat/drink.

you have anything in the Enfield, Watltham cross, Epping areas