BEING a wrestling fan since the age of 12 I didn’t take much persuasion when I was given the chance to meet one of the world’s most famous superstars.

After all, it is not every day that Olympic gold medallist and former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion Kurt Angle pops into a small wrestling club in East Tilbury to meet his fellow sportsmen, watch a training session and reveal his hopes to make the 2012 US Olympic wrestling team in London.

But that was what happened at the Bucket O’Blood fight club, which was only started 15 months ago, in the Thames Industrial Estate by veteran wrestler Jon Ritchie.

Jon has built up the club through word of mouth and his reputation.

And it is fast growing, offering training in both amateur and pro-wrestling, Greco-Roman, catch and shoot wresting, boxing and Mai-Thai.

Jon and his dad John Hall, a former wrestler and trainer at the club, also trained Wade Barrett, who is currently in the WWE.

For those who don’t know the difference between amateur and pro-wrestling, amateur is the “real stuff” as I would call it at the Olympics, and the WWE is pro-wrestling, more for entertainment.

When Kurt turned up to the packed club on Saturday afternoon, he watched a training session by John Owens and gave a 15-minute talk to young hopefuls at the club.

He said: “This kind of club is exactly like the place where I started my training before I went to college. It is like going home in a way, getting away from all the spotlights and getting back to basics.

“This gym has everything you guys need to succeed and some of you will be able to make it if you have the determination.

“You have great coaches here and you may think the training doesn’t matter, but let me tell you it does.

“I have been at the top of my game in both amateur and pro and it takes great dedication.”

After the talk a painting in the gym was revealed of Kurt winning gold at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and he said: “I feel like crying. I am so touched and it reminds me of that proud moment and how I felt representing my country.”

In an exclusive interview, Kurt told me how he got into wrestling, about his personal life and why he left the WWE and joined rivals TNA.

He said: “In the WWE I did not have a life. TNA suits me because I have more of a say in what I am doing, like the Olympics or my food business.

“With the WWE I had to give up my life and family for money, and you work so hard you don’t do anything else.

“Amateur wrestling is my first love and that’s what I am hoping to get back into with the Olympics.

“I did try and keep it under wraps, but now the secret is out. I will be 43 if I get a chance to compete, but it is on my terms and it works for me.”

Kurt explained being at the Bucket O’Blood club reminded him of his early days in the sport.

He added: “I used to train for ten hours a day, but not any more. Wrestling is the best form of self-defence.

“The people at this club have everything they need to start, but they also need to visit different clubs and countries.

“England has not got that many wrestling clubs so this place is like a gem. Back home we have clubs every couple of blocks and the kids can get college scholarships so there is more motivation.

“There might be one or two students here who make the big time, but they have got to really want it like I did.”

Scott Langley, 22, from East Tilbury, who helps run the club, said: “It was a massive honour to have someone so well-known come to our club. It has been a real morale boost to have such a big star here.”