Simon Parke is one of the bravest squash players on the international circuit, having survived treatment for cancer when almost at the peak of his career. 

1996 was an extraordinary year for the Oakham-born player - one which started with a diagnosis of testicular cancer, requiring immediate suergery on the 2nd January and treatment which included chemotherapy, and ended in mid-December with his reinstatement as No.1 in England and a triumphant return to the world's top five. 

Parke's determination - coupled with his natural talent & flair - meant that he was back on the practice court within weeks of his surgery, and made his comeback in May in the spectacular Al-Ahram International event in Giza, Egypt, where he beat Irish star Derek Ryan to reach the quarter-finals. 

"I spent time with many others in the hospital who were battling greater challenges than I was, and I realised how lucky I was to have the chance to return to play top-level sports. I am looking forward to taking a little longer now at every event to appreciate what part of the world I am in and to enjoy the experience," said Parke at the time. 

He went on in dazzling style to remind his fellow players that he was well and truly back - reaching the quarter-finals of the US Open, the Tournament of Champions in New York, the Qtar International and the World Open - and making the semi-finals of the Mahindra International in Bombay. In the German Masters, he beat both Australia's world champion Rodney Eyles and Scotland's Peter Nicol. 

Brought up in Yorkshire in the north of England, but now based in Nottingham in the east midlands, Parke first turned professional in September 1988. He made his top 100 debut at 71 in July 1989, breaking into the top 50 at 49 in January 1990. In May 91 he leapt into the top 20 at 16 (from 37), but not until January 95 did he make his top ten debut, coming in at 7. Despite his withdrawal from the circuit in early 96, he maintained this top ten status before achieving his career-best No.4 position in March 1997. 

He first tasted victory on the PSA Tour in March 1991 when he won the Danish Open. It was four years later before he next claimed a Tour title, beating Australia's Anthony Hill to win the Internationaux de France in May 1995 in Paris, three months later taking the prestigious Malaysian Open title, beating compatriot Del Harris in straight games in the final. He rounded up the year by leading England to historic first-time success in the world team championships. 

1997 was a year of consolidation for Parke who qualified for the PSA Super Series finals in England, and went on to win the play-off for third place. He later beat good friend Peter Marshall en-route to his second US Open final - where he lost to Canada's Jonathon Power, his conqueror in the German Masters final a year earlier. 

As the year drew to a close, Simon held on to his No.1 position in England, and fifth place in the PSA world rankings - and peaked in the later stages of the Men's World Team Championships in Malaysia; Leading the England attack for the second successive world championships, he completely overpowered new World Open champion Rodney Eyles in the top string match against Australia in the semi-finals, and then dismissed Jonathon Power 3-0 in the final against Canada to lead England to the title for the second successive time. 

A newly-focused Simon Parke began his 1998 campaign in emphatic style - winning the British National hampionships title for the first time in a highly-quality field which included new world No.1 Peter Nicol. He overcame former England team-mate Mark Chaloner 15/11 15/11 15/13 in the epic 65 minute Nationals climax ,just 24 hours after surviving a titanic 17/16 13/15 15/4 12/15 17/15 encounter with Paul Johnson in 111 minutes, "That match is one I will never forget," said Parke later. 

He became an unexpected star of the Super Series Final in Hatfield, England, qualifying for the event only after the withdrawals of Jonathon Power and Ahmed Barada, then reaching the final against Pakistani's Jansher Khan - "I was pretty disappointed to lose a close four games to Jansher as I thought he was there for the taking. For some reason I like playing in shopping centres - my biggest PSA win was the Malaysian Open, in which the final was played in a shopping centre!" 

His flair, agility and athleticism captivated the capacity crowds at the British Open in Birmingham as he fought back from 2-0 down to beat Mark Chaloner 13/15 8/15 15/12 15/7 15/11 in a one hour and 50 minutes second round match to repeat his National Championships' victory. 24 hours later, Parke contributed to one of the most memorable matches of the 'tournament as he extended Peter Nicol in the quarter-finals, but the Scot was ultimately victorious as he headed to his first British Open title. 

In August, he reached the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open, where he lost to Jonathon Power, then stayed on to prepare for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games - only to fall ill and spend five days in a hotel bed. His shaky start to the Games in Malaysia led to a surprise third round loss to Welshman David Evans - but he was later rewarded with a silver medal in the Mixed Doubles, partnered by fellow Yorkshire county stalwart Suzanne Horner. 

Knocked back again by Evans in the first round of the Al-Ahram International in Egypt, Parke went on to reach the last four in both the US and Heliopolis Opens in November - dismissing world champions Rodney Eyles in straight games in the quarters of Egyptian event, only to have to concede the semis to Power after again falling suddenly ill. 

He had recovered well enough nine days later to compete in the first round of the World Open in Qatar, where early wins over John Williams and Omar Elborolossy led to a third round match against Australian turned Scot John White. Despite beating him in five in the first round of the US Open, Parke this time squandered a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2. 

Simon was a quarter-finalist in his first two PSA Tour events of 1999, losing to Peter Nicol in the Tournament of Champions in New York in January and to another Scot Martin Heath in five in February's Flanders Open in Belgium. He gained revenge with a 3-1 victory over world No.5 Heath in the all-important decider in the European Team Championships final in Austria at the beginning of May. His emotional win gave defending champions a England 3-1 win against top seeds Scotland. 

Disappointment at narrowly losing 3-2 to England team-mate Paul Johnson in the final of the 99 British Nationals in February was tempered by two successive victories over Canada's world champion Jonathon Power in March in the Dunlop SRA 'England v Rest of the World' Test series in England. 

The hosts lost in the three-day event 3-0, but Parke was victorius throughout the series after beating Australia's Dan Jenson in the opening match, he then overcame Power 9/6 9/6 8/10 6/9 9/5 in 66 minutes on the second day, and fought back from 2-1 down to triumph 9/7 7/9 7/9 9/2 9/4 in 41 minutes in the third. 

The new Libertel Open in Holland in May also provided Parke with a powerful opportunity to triumph over higher-ranked opposition. After a 3-0 first round victory over Australian's Dan Jenson he reached the quarter-finals where he faced 4th seed and England team-mate Paul Johnson. Parke won 15/7 15/10 10/15 15/8 in 52 minutes, in what was a revenge match after losing closely to the England No.1 in the National Championships final in February. 

In the semi-finals, Parke met arch British rival and former world No.1 Peter Nicol. In the closest and one of the most exciting matches of the tournament, Parke made Nicol fight for every point before the Scot clawed his way to a narrow 15/11 13/15 15/13 15/12 victory in 79 minutes. A tired Nicol conceded afterwards: "It felt more like 7-6 then 3-1!" 

Two months later, Parke again had the misfortune to face the top seed at his seeded position - this time the event being the Hong Kong Open and the player Jonathon Power, in their first meeting since the 'Rest of the World' Test series. Power gained his revenge in 64 minutes, but had to fight back after Simon took the opening game. 

Parke's bad luck in PSA event draws continued in the World Open in September, when he was seeded to reach the last eight in Egypt but drawn again to meet Power. The pair's confrontation again produced a blistering four-game encounter - which again was won by the Canadian, this time in 71 minutes. The World Team Championships followed, and Simon was again selected to lead England in their second successive defence of the title. The squad confidently reached the semi-finals, but came back unstuck against an inspired Welsh team - with Parke crumbling to David Evans as England lost 2-1, but providing some consolation with a straight games win over Dan Jenson as England beat Australia in the play-off for third place. 

Parke's PSA draw voodoo stayed with him into the Heliopolis Open in Egypt in November. After twice coming from behind to conquer Rodney Eyles in the opening round, he met up with the top seed Peter Nicol in the quarter-finals! By all accounts it was the match of the day - with Nicol having to claw his way back from a game down before overcoming Parke in four. 

Simon acquired a new house in 1998 - "moving house was the most significant event of the year for me" - as well as a new girlfriend (Chloe) and a little Border Terrier (Leo). His main interests outside squash include "decent alternative music, cutting edge movies and Premier League and International football". 

His ambitions for 1999 were to win at least one major title, and to be happy. He achieved the former in great style, winning the US Open in December after beating both of the world's top two players - Peter Nicol in the semi-finals then Jonathon Power in the final. In January 00, he confirmed the latter by announcing his engangement to girlfriend Chloe!