Programme Notes 2005/6

Plymouth Albion

This was the last set of programme notes for the season and the last set that Will Warner would be writing as Chairman of Quinssa, so the Committee decided to hijack his page with the help of Nick Melton at Quins. So here is Emma Stewart's version which was published in the programme:

And what a season! The 1st XV won every competition they entered and the 2nd XV reached the A League final, narrowly missing out on our 3rd piece of silverware.

Congratulations and Thank You to everyone at the Club for a successful and enjoyable season.

Today we say goodbye to another season, to ND1, and to some players whom we thank for their efforts and wish well for the future. Quinssa also say goodbye to a founder member and our Chairman for the last 3 years - Will Warner.

No, Will, this isn't what you sent to be published GOTCHA!!!

One of 3 people who created the plan that quickly resulted in the formation of Quinssa, Will was the brave one who was willing to head it up and steer it through its creation.

His undoubted skill was engaging with supporters of both Harlequins and the clubs we played.

He wrote many matchday programme articles and thanks those who contributed - particularly Rob Sheward and David Coldrey - and all those that intend to buy him lots of beers today!

Aside from his 'sensible' skills, Will has also provided hours of entertainment, normally at his own expense:

• He fell asleep in a ditch and couldn't clamber out when he woke up!
• He fell, a la Delboy, out of the door in Peter de Villiers' bar and came back in pretending nothing had happened, soaked as it was raining outside!
• He managed to damage the tendons in his finger whilst putting a duvet cover on!
• He fell in the road whilst carrying some local delicacies and saved these by breaking the fall with his face - therefore jumping the queue at Customs by being taken off the plane by paramedics!

'Delicacies' have always been dear to Will - he has kept Ginsters going almost single handedly for years!

Will did a tremendous job of running the coaches (running the largest ever Quinssa coach trip of 7 coaches to the PPCC Final) and brightened up the raffle with his "It's a pink one" and "£5 for a strip" gags!

The man is his own rolling maul - whenever he moved down the coach a rendition of the Indiana Jones' theme rang out!

Will, you are a legend in your own trousers. As you 'retire' along with the other lesser known Will (!) we thank you for everything you have done - you will be sorely missed.

Quinssa is the independent supporters' association. Full details are at www.quinssa.org.uk and you can visit us at our stand in the East Stand Bar before the match today.

Our AGM is at the Stoop on Thursday, 8th June and our other upcoming event is a London River Boat Trip on Saturday 15th July (2pm-5pm) start/finish at Tower Bridge. Tickets (include food & entertainment) are going very fast so secure yours at the Quinssa stand today.

Back to this afternoon: the noise we created at the equivalent match last season was phenomenal so we can surely up the volume this afternoon. Let's show everyone what loyal, committed and unbelievably loud supporters we are!

We wish you a fantastic summer and look forward to seeing you back at the Stoop, in the Premiership, next season.

Emma Stewart (rugbybird@quinssa.org.uk)
on behalf of Quinssa

and now Will Warner's version: Plymouth Albion

So here we are at the end of the long road. A year ago we were crying into our beers at our plight and all the doom and gloom that surrounded relegation. Now we are returning in better health and with reasonable expectations of not getting into that type of mess again. Crowds are up and they are getting use to us playing attractive winning rugby. It’ll continue next year as well.

Today is a very special day with the Rugby League arm of Quins playing as well. So if you’ve never seen a live game of RL now’s your chance, for free!

Our visitors today are Plymouth, it’s our third meeting of the season and they should provide decent opposition. We hope their supporters who have made the long trek here, players and management enjoy this last day of the season.

Before the game last week four of us were kept very busy taking bookings for the Boat trip, taking membership renewals and a whole lot else. So if you’ve been sent one of those renewal letters then bring it along and do the business before the game in the East stand bar near the stage. We also took a heck of a lot of bookings for our summer trip up barely navigated stretches of the Thames. It’s on Saturday 15^th July with anchors raised at 2pm and being lowered again at 5pm. It’ll start and finish at Tower Bridge and the ever so reasonable ticket price includes food. So trot along and book or follow the guidance on our web site at www.quinssa.org.uk, but hurry, places are limited. We’ve also got a few autograph books left and a couple of Bam Bams, which incidentally, are great for attacking young relatives with, not that I would ever do anything like that.

That leads on nicely to our AGM on Thursday 8^th June. Full details will shortly be emailed to our members. So if you haven’t done so already, make a note of the date. The venue and this might come as a surprise, will be here at Fortress Twickenham Stoop.

So let’s briefly reflect back. Our first away game set a very high standard for hospitality, Pertemps Bees really did put the boat out for us. Virtually everyone else did the same and it’s this warmth of welcome that I shall miss most of all next season when I’m sitting freezing in a football stadium surrounded my tons of concrete unable to get a decent pie or beer. But that I suppose is progress! We’ve done an awful lot of travelling this year and with extended engineering works virtually always going on it’s been difficult to get to some games, but we always found a way, even if it did involve four trains and a lift at 6.30am.

Today is the last we shall see of some players. Some are well known and lauded winners, others not quite so. We thank all of them for their efforts and wish them well. I’m standing down as well so today’s notes are my last. Can I thank everyone who has contributed with comments and photos (particularly Rob Sheward and David Coldrey). Can I also thank in advance all those that intend to buy me lots of beers after the game.

So that’s about it. For the last time this season let’s cheer the lads on and get some practise in for next season. Enjoy the game and see you at the Quinssa stand.

Will Warner
Quinssa chairman
will@quinssa.org.uk

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