He is 6ft 3ins tall, he owns a pair of disco pants and they are the best. Apparently they start from his knees and go all the way up to his chest. He scored 78 goals for City, saved a penalty and was born in Dublin exactly 45 years ago today. It is of course City's beloved Irishman, Niall Quinn.
Niall Quinn was signed to City by Howard Kendall from Arsenal (our feeder club even back then!) for 800,000 quid and made his debut 6 days later against Chelsea, and scored to earn City the draw. The very next season Kendall was replaced by player coach Peter Reid and with the help of twenty league goals for Niall, City saw themselves finish fifth and above United. Quinn, in his first full season was awarded the Fans Player of The Year. His twenty goals that season included a perfect hattrick against Palace on April Fools Day.
His goals were great but the game that personally sticks in my mind was the April 20th 1991 game at home to Derby County. After scoring Citys opening goal with a sweet left foot volley. Later in the game City goalkeeper, Tony Coton was sent off for bringing down Dean Saunders. Back then teams very rarely, if ever would name a substitute goalie and so it befell Quinn, with his Gaelic Footballing background. Quinn saved and City won by a David White goal. Derby were relegated from the top Division and City finished, like I said earlier, ahead of United by three points.
He and david White struck up a nice partnership and scored goals for fun. However in 1993 Quinn suffered a cruciate knee ligaments which forced him, not only out of the City team for a while but also the 1994 Irish World Cup. When he did eventually get back to fitness, City had purchased Uwe Rosler and Paul Walsh and so the big mans chances were restricted somewhat.
In 1996 under the managerial disaster, Alan Ball, City were relegated and Quinn was sold to Sunderland for 1.3million. His last game in a City shirt was the home draw against Liverpool. Even though City finished on the same points as 'safe' teams Coventry and Southampton, but were relegated on goal difference only and this was the start of City's dark times.
Quinn, as I said, moved to Sunderland although this was a forced move as the player wanted to stay and help City back up. He was forced out and our loss was Sunderlands gain. He went on to be a legend there too (scoring on his debut - against City!) before heading a consortium to take control over Sunderland. The same year that he was entered in Manchester Citys inaugural Hall of Fame. To speak to the mans character, Quinns testimonial game at the Stadium of Light attracted a full house. Of the gate reciepts, Quinn donated a cool million to charity.
The rumours started whirling a few weeks ago that Quinn was being lined up as Garry Cooks replacement as Manchester City's CEO. It certainly would have been interesting to see what he would have made of the actions last Tuesday of one spoilt, rich Argentinian.
Happy Birthday Niall Quinn.
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