Mr BJ catches up with Beanie
Beanie
By Mr Bow Jangles
September 11 2003
Read his interview and find out his unusual middle names, his thoughts on leaving Bris 1st time round & the new Welsh structure as well as life in Bristol with the new squad. A model professional both on and off the pitch he's a Bristol boy through and through even given his birthplace!
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THE BOW FILES: SEAN MARSDEN
Personal Stats Name: Sean Fagan Duckworth Marsden Age: 23 Date of Birth: 17/1/80 Place of Birth: Stirling, Scotland (moved to Bristol when 3yrs old) Nickname: Beanie Position: Fullback Height: 6ft Weight: 14st Playing Career Bristol Shoguns (1998 – 2002 & 2003 – present) Full Appearances: 29 (4 sub), 19 tries League Appearances: 9 (8 sub), 5 tries United Appearances: 23 (1 sub), 15 tries, 1 con U21 Appearances: 7 10 tries Exeter (on loan, 2001 – 2002) Neath (2002 – 2003) Debuts Club/1st XV/League Debut: 5/9/98 v Exeter A Representative ENG U16, U18, U19, U21 (15 caps), inc. U21 WC Background Family Dad: Keith = Pharmaceutical Company Accountant Mum: Sandra = Teacher Brother: Luke = Works in IT Brother: Peter = 5th Form Bristol Grammar Girlfriend: None Schools/Colleges/Uni § Bristol Grammar § UWE (started but not finished) Rugby Clubs Clifton Juniors (flyhalf, centre, fullback and wing) Questions Bow: What’s the story with the mullet Beanie!? Beanie: “It was when I went to Wales I decided to grow my hair…I thought it looked cool! I liked it! The problem was I let it go, there was no style involved I just let it grow!!! Bow: You get more attention off the girls!!? Beanie: “I don’t think it made much difference, I didn’t get much attention anyway!!” Bow: What inspires you to play rugby? Beanie: “I just always enjoyed playing rugby when I was at school, I was always into all sports, I played as much sport as I could whatever it was…..I just enjoyed everything. I played a lot of rugby and did well and went from there. Obviously getting into the England schools set-up, the natural progression was to find a club after that.” Bow: Did you always want to be a rugby player? Beanie: “I never really thought about it to be honest. Like I said I played all sports. I loved football, I still love football. I also like cricket, hockey and athletics, but rugby just came more natural and I was better at it I suppose. I had a place at the national athletics trials when I was 16, but I was playing rugby and had to turn it down. I did the 100 and 200m.” Bow: Who do you look up to at the club? Beanie: “Obviously Haagy and Hilly have achieved a massive amount in rugby so I look up to them. In the players Hilts has got a lot of international experience, but I have respect for the whole squad to be honest…they’re all dedicated trainers…I’ve got a lot of time for everyone.” Bow: Who would you most like to meet in World Rugby? Beanie: “If you’d asked me that a few years ago I would have said Frank Bunce, but that has now happened I’ve met him and played with him, he was an absolute legend. I remember when me and Ross played in the U21 World Cup over in New Zealand, Frank Bunce turned up out the blue and took us out in New Zealand…so I’ve got a lot of time for him.” Bow: Who’s the best fullback in the world at the moment? Beanie: “Liam McDonald the New Zealand fullback. I also think another player who is massively underrated and who has been unlucky with injuries is Kevin Morgan the Welsh fullback, he’s a great player.” Bow: Who would you like to play against? Beanie: “Lots of people, but I’d love to play against some of the Southern Hemisphere wingers like Wendell Sailor, Doug Howlett and Rocococo. They are class.” Bow: What are your aspirations in rugby? Beanie: “My aspirations are very much focused on this season, playing regularly for Bristol, as many games as I can helping them to do well. I’m not looking beyond that at all at the moment, I’m just focusing on this season.” Bow: Who’s the worst and best-dressed player in the squad? Beanie: “The best dressed has to be Paul Hodgson and James Bailey and the worse dressed…………………I’m trying to think of someone else but it has to be Hunty!!” Bow: Who’s the joker? Beanie: “There is a lot of jokers to be honest, but Adam Billig is probably the biggest!” Bow: Who’s the quietest? Beanie: “Alex Clarke I think.” Bow: Who’s coping the most banter in the squad at the moment? Beanie: “Owen Evans is coping a lot. There are a lot of rumours that he’s just got engaged to his girlfriend! So he’s had quite a rough week!!” Bow: Other than Richard Hill, who would you most like to be coached by? Beanie: “I’d have to say Hully” Bow: What about Bob Dwyer, what was he like? Beanie: “Bob Dwyer was awesome. I was very young at the time and he was really brilliant for the young players. He gave them a lot of time and he was always keen to help them develop and push you through.” Bow: What irritates you most about rugby? Beanie: “Losing….I hate losing.” Bow: What do you think of the City of Bristol? (And its fans?) Beanie: “Bristol is an awesome City, it’s a very underrated City. In the last 5 or 6 years it has developed a lot. Everyone that comes here to live loves it and doesn’t want to move away. I have always got on well with the Bristol fans, I’ve always had loads of time for them. They are superb, very loyal and passionate.” Bow: What do you think about the comments that were made in some quarters that Bristol fans were less than passionate about their club and didn’t deserve a rugby team? Beanie: “I think that is harsh, in my experience all the Bristol boys I’ve met are very passionate and they all love their rugby. Hopefully this season we’ll give them all something to cheer about.” Bow: What are your first memories of Bristol Rugby Club? Beanie: “I used to come down and watch Bristol all the time when I was younger. I used to come down and watch Hully play…..he was a legend, I remember seeing him carve up sides when I was young. I started watching them in the early nineties. They had David John, Ralph Knibbs, Hully and Grizz.” Bow: What would you do if you weren’t a rugby player? Beanie: “I would have probably finished Uni by now.” Bow: What were you doing in Uni? Beanie: “I was doing Quantity Surveying!” Bow: Would you have been a Quantity Surveyor now? Beanie: “I like to think not! I honestly don’t know what I would be doing now.” Bow: Have you got any pre/post match rituals? Beanie: “I have got a lot of funny little things. I always have to change in the same place in the changing room. I had to fight Ollie Hodge out of it at the beginning of this season, it’s my old place from when I last played with Bristol. Hodgey was sat there before the Fiji game…so I had to show him who was boss!!! I also always put my left boot on first and I’ve got a lucky pair of pants! They’re the tightest black pants you’ve ever seen!!!” Bow: What do you enjoy about being a rugby player? Beanie: “I enjoy everything about being a rugby player. We’re playing the sport we love every day. I train as hard as I can but its not like having a normal job…its good fun and you’re round you’re mates doing what you love. I count myself very fortunate.” Bow: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Beanie: “I like to think my pace and awareness are my strengths. I don’t like talking about my weaknesses, I like to keep them to myself!” Bow: How do you relax away from rugby? Beanie: “A bit of golf, I like kicking a football around…anything really, squash, any recreational sports. I like going to the cinema, I can never sit at home and do nothing I have to be out. Oh…and having coffee with Morgs and Marko as well as some of the old boys like Jim Brownrigg.” Bow: Being able to look in from the outside, what are your views on what happened last season i.e. B*th merger, Oxford and the Consortium take-over? Beanie: “Obviously I was still very good mates with a lot of the boys last year and to be honest the mood/aura I sensed was always very downbeat, everyone was always very depressed. Being a Bristol boy the B*th merger wouldn’t have been something I would have liked to see happen at all. I am very passionate about Bristol and I always feel the rivalry with B*th is strong for both clubs. I would not have liked to see that disappear. Same again with the Oxford deal, I would have hated to see Bristol leave Bristol, I think it was important that it stay here that’s massive for the supporters. These things were as important for the supporters as they were for the players…even more so as they’re the people who pay and watch, they’re more important…players come and go but the supporters are always there. As for the Consortium, they are superb…I’ve met all the guys who are involved and obviously there is a link with the ex-players who just love rugby…they’re all guns blazing to be honest. I can’t praise them enough for what has happened this year, everything has been spot on…there is such a good vibe at the club at the moment, theres no negative vibes at all. Its unbelievable!” Bow: And Alan Morley? Have you been able to talk ‘back play’ with him? Beanie: “I haven’t had chance to speak to him about rugby yet as when I’ve met him its been quite rushed, but he was obviously a try machine and I wouldn’t mind picking up a few tips from him.” Bow: So what? You’ve got about 400-odd tries to go before you get near his record!! Beanie: “Yea, this season I might be struggling but you never know!!!” Bow: Do you see yourself coaching or managing at the end of your career? Beanie: “I don’t think so to be honest. I always watch rugby, I think I’ll be stood in the stands watching” Bow: What do you think about the prospects of Bris this season? Beanie: “Everyone’s excited about the potential of the squad, but its hard to gage until you get into the league. I think we’ll definitely be up there, but there is some massive games so realistically we should be looking at top 4 but you never know what will happen!” Bow: How did you’re rejoining Bristol come about? Beanie: “Well I was still around Bristol a lot last year watching etc..and when Pete Johnson was trying to put the squad together he called me and I was more than happy to come back.” Bow: Did you have any other offers? Beanie: “Yea, I was talking to a few other clubs coz I wasn’t really sure what was gonna happen with the regional set-up in Wales and obviously Bristol, you’ve got to keep your options open. Bristol was always my first choice. I was still talking to the Ospreys when Bristol came through, I may well have stayed there but as soon as I knew Bristol were interested I wanted to come back.” Bow: What’s your funniest moment in rugby? Beanie: “A couple of years ago Sherri went to take an up-and-under he missed it by a mile and fell on his arse. Then later on in the game he got the ball in open space with room to run and for some reason he threw a long pass for the first time ever and it went over the wingers head! That was funny!” Bow: And your darkest? Beanie: “It has to be, for one reason or another, when I went out on loan to Exeter. I wanted to be playing for Bristol and I was forced to go out and play first division rugby. It probably turned out to be a blessing in disguise though, looking back now I think good things came out of it.” Bow: Who do you owe the most to for your career? Beanie: “Rick Sellers, the Bristol Grammar coach who also coaches the U21 forwards. Paul Hull and Bob Dwyer.” Bow: Who do you think will be the surprise package in the squad this year? Beanie: “I think theres gonna be a few. Its hard to pick out one but I think Coxy will have a big impact this year, James Bailey and Adam Billig too.” Bow: What’s the difference between English and Welsh rugby? Beanie: “The English game is much more professional in the way they train, the training is far more intense, which makes the games more intense.” Bow: Which player would you have bought with you from Neath? Beanie: “Shane Williams, the winger/scrum-half. He’s tiny but he’s so elusive and quick with great skills.” Bow: So why did you move away from Bristol the first time around? Beanie: “It came to a stage when I wasn’t playing many games, I needed to get more experience of first team rugby in a new environment and it did me the world of good to be honest. It definitely helped me develop as a player and I feel a far more confident player because of it.” Bow: Do you agree with the new Welsh Structure? Beanie: “Yes, but I think it will take a few years before you’ll see the fruits of it, but it will work….they needed to do something.” World Cup Semi's: England v France, New Zealand v Australia Final: England v New Zealand Winner: New Zealand Dark Horse: Argentina Favourites Colour? Blue Food? Chinese TV Prog? Friends Footy/Cricket Club? Bristol City/Glos Film? Dumb & Dumber, Happy Gilmour Drink? Tea Woman? Kelly Brook Music? A big variety! Stuck on a desert island with? Kelly Brook! Describe yourself in 3 words: Loyal, passionate, joker Either/Or Lager/Bitter? Lager Eastenders/Corry? Eastenders Nurse/Teacher? Nurse Footy/Cricket? Footy Rock/Dance? Rock B*th/Glos? Glos Robinson/Lewsey? Robinson Curry/Chinese? Chinese Night in/out? Out Beach/Snow holiday? Snow Australia/New Zealand? Australia Britney/Christina? Christina Bum/Boobs? Bum Mullet/Crewcut? Mullet Cat/Dog? Dog Smiles/Brains bitter? Smiles Bow: A message for the fans? Beanie: “Yes, I’ve said it a few times this year, but the atmosphere so far has been awesome, better then ever. Hopefully this year the boys can give something back to the fans. It’s a local side, 100% Bristol through and through with supporters and players all gunning for the same thing….its more of a community now. |
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