Poster Profile 41: SimonC

By The Prof
November 23 2003

Board Name:	SimonC
Age:	42
Location:	Great Bookham, Surrey
Occupation:	IT Director for an International Insurance Broker When people ask you what you do it is always a turn off when you say “I work in IT” and even less when you say “I work in Insurance”. Combine the two and it’s deadly!
Why did you choose your board name?:	Because it’s my name. I’ve nothing to hide.
How long have you been supporting Quins?:	Since I was 12 or 13. However, for the past four years have seen 95% plus of the games.
How did you start supporting Quins?:	When I started playing rugby it was my best known local club.
If you play(ed) rugby what position did/do you play?:	no.8
Best ever Quins game:	Brive away; Shield Quarter Final. 16,000 sell out but only 50 of us. We were given great seats in the centre of the stand, treated extremely well in local bars, made a lot of noise and won a great game. I’ll always remember Euroquin getting worried that if it went into extra time he would miss his train back to Brussels. By the end of the game he was standing in the aisle with his rucksack on waiting for the final whistle and a run to the station.
Favourite off pitch Quins experience:	The Morocco trip last year for supporters and players. It was far tougher than anyone had been lead to believe but this did create a hell of a challenge and really bought the group together. The way some people acted out there gained my utmost admiration for them.
What is the most ridiculous rugby related thing you have done?:	Once with a mild hangover I attempted to single handedly tackle an eight man flying wedge (when they were still legal) by diving horizontally at the fast approaching mass of bodies. You most likely had to be there to understand it but I ended up stopping the move but with an even bigger headache.
Favourite Ground (after The Stoop):	Any ground when full and Quins are playing. Although I hate Loftus Road with a passion.
Favourite Quins Player:	Jason Leonard. You have top have the utmost respect for anyone who can adapt to the changing requirements of a sport the way he has. Dippy runs him very close; some of his ball skills are second to none.
Favourite Non-Quins Player:	Johnny Wilkinson. A player so professional that he enters that very odd area that he is so good that the English start to criticise a sportsman. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching J-P Rives play.
Most likely to say?:	(Quietly to myself: Please don’t suggest we go clubbing now)
Least likely to say?:	Can we go clubbing now?
What are your non-rugby pastimes?:	I have been a leader in the Scout movement for over 20 years. I play vollyball weekly and I am a trustee of CICRA (Crohns in Childhood Research Appeal) charity.
Favourite Film(s):	I only watch them in planes and usually have forgotten them by the time I land. I once won tickets to a Star Wars film and regretted taking the prize.
Favourite TV Programme(s):	Any documentary but ideally a sports documentary. Living with the Lions from the SA tour was great.
Favourite Book(s):	Any sports biography. You can never predict how people will come across. I believe I understand Austin Healey more after reading his but Neil Back’s was soooo boring!
Favourite Music:	Varied tastes but the most played CDs are Barenaked Ladies and Catatonia.
Favourite Food(s):	I used to be a great pudding eater but now I prefer a decent fish dish.
Favourite Drinks(s):	Bitter. Good quality champagne and port (after all I am Quins supporter).
Favourite Quotation(s):	“When the going gets tough the tough get going.” But far too often I’ve found they’ve gone!
Favourite Place(s) to visit:	Bryce Canyon (far better than the Grand Canyon) Sydney
When you were young what did you want Jim to Fix for you?:	Let me visit the Everest Base Camp.
Tell us THREE things about yourself that we wouldn't know. BUT, TWO of these should be true, but ONE should be totally made up:	1. I once got stuck under a pub pool table during a rather silly game. 2. I once fell out of a tree house and stayed asleep in my sleeping bag. 3. It took my nursery school teacher 2 weeks to work out which 3 year old used to lock her out every time she left the room.