Programme Notes
Saturday 27th September 2003: v London Irish
Don’t be shy – join the party!
Two weeks into the new season and here we are top of the table. Prospects and expectations are high as we greet today’s visitors London Irish for one of the few remaining local derbies in the Zurich Premiership. The Irish still retain Sunbury as their organisational and spiritual home, and only journey to the further reaches of the Thames Valley for “home” games. Today’s match could be very close, particularly after our opponents kick started their season with a mildly surprising win against Gloucester. We welcome their team, management and supporters to The Stoop today and hope that they have an enjoyable afternoon and evening.
When our goat loving managing director asked me to get some feedback after the last home game I think we were all taken aback by some of the comments. For those of you making their first visit to The Stoop today there has been an off pitch revolution in catering and bar facilities. Many favourites have moved or gone and a few new ones have replaced them. So make sure you walk all the way around the ground today to take it all in. We are a bit spoilt here at Quins, the Mighty Quins Village is something special, so are the size and number of bars, wheelie access and the quality of some more basic facilities, such as toilets. Venture further afield and I think only Franklin’s Gardens compares to here. It’s also worth remembering that it wasn’t that long ago that Quins won the best Match day experience award in the ZP. So please be patient, I’m sure that the new team will get it all right very soon.
If I could put in a personal plea, that’s for people arriving at their seats late, or leaving for that half time drink ten minutes before the whistle and arriving back well into the second half. Please don’t! Have some consideration for the others around you who have their view blocked and are greatly inconvenienced. If you have to do it, well at least wait for a break in play.
We ran our second coach of the season to Rotherham last week. An enjoyable and eventful trip it turned out to be. Heavy traffic took the up journey to well over and four hours and on the return trip, disaster of disasters our double decker broke down at the Watford Gap services! Fortunately we had two fans to repair it for us and we still managed to get back before the Saga bash at Twickers finished.
Our next two trips are against Saracens on Sunday 15th October coach leaving at 12.30 and to Bath on Saturday November 22nd coach leaving at 7am (it’s World Cup final day). We intend to run coaches to virtually every weekend game so if you want more details or to book places then see me on the Quinssa stand in the East stand bar, or email me on will@quinssa.org.uk or call me on 020 8643 2145. The coaches are great fun and attract a wide range of fans of all ages and both sexes. About a third of those travelling to Rotherham were on their first trip, so don’t be shy, join the party!
Quinssa are also helping to organise travelling arrangements to Valladolid, just north of Madrid, for our European cup away game on Sunday 7th December. If you’re interested then email Duncan on prof@quinssa.org.uk for more details.
With a fan base spread so widely how do fans keep in touch? Well here are some of the better web sites around. Quins’ have revamped their official site since last year and it’s well worth a look at quins.co.uk. The most active unofficial site is comeallwithin.co.uk which has a lively message board, a wealth of information and many finely written articles. The diamondgeezers.org.uk site is good for the massive archive of photographs and last but not least is Quinssa’s own site at quinssa.org.uk, it’s being constantly updated and is a good starting point for information.
Will Warner
Quinssa Chairman So enjoy the game, sing along when prompted by the sound bites and raise the roof with your cheering of the mighty Quins.
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