Andrew Higginson*

Ten Truths

www.worldsnooker.com
Andrew Higginson celebrates getting into the top 32 of the world rankings by answering our probing questions.

What’s your earliest memory?
Swimming with my dad. I must have been about three years old, sat on the side of the pool with my arm bands on, petrified to jump in. It was only about waist high on my dad. I was sat there literally quaking in my trunks.

Who do you admire most?
My dad. He’s very happy go lucky, life and soul of the party. He’s never down with things, he always looks on the positive side. In sport it would have to be Roger Federer. To have that much pressure on you and the way he deals with it - he’s maybe the greatest sportsman ever. He keeps winning and winning - a true inspiration.

What are you afraid of?
How long have you got! I don’t like deep water, I’m not a lover of spiders and I don’t like heights.

If a film was made of your life, who would you want to play the lead role?
I’d have to go with my favourite actor, Robert de Niro, just for his acting.

What’s your guiltiest, pleasure?
I’d probably say eating sweets.

What was the most trouble you got into at school?
We weren’t allowed into the school premises during lunch breaks and we’d gone into our form room, which was the woodwork room. Like idiots, me and my mates started having a little mess around with the equipment. My mate came towards me with a mallet, so I jokingly picked up one of those metal files with the wooden handles and pretended to throw it at him, like a swiping motion. But as I did it, the metal bit came out of the handle and hit him just below his eye. He needed stitches and I was nearly expelled for it. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, I almost blinded the lad.

What is the most expensive thing you have bought, apart from a house or car?
I’m not really one for buying things. I once spent a couple of grand on a party for my mum and dad’s 25th wedding anniversary.

Is there a piece of music which inspires you?
Everyone on the planet is going to say the Rocky theme, but for me it's maybe more like The Doves, a bit more bassy or a bit more up-tempo to get the blood going a bit.

If you had a time machine and could go anywhere, forward or back, where would you go?
I’d probably go back to the 60s, Beatlemania, and see what all the fuss was about.

If you could come back in your next life as an animal, what would it be?
It can’t be a fish because I don’t like water, can’t be a bird as I don’t like heights. So I would have to go for something like a koala bear. They like their sleep, just like me.