Niall Quinn is the real Irish football hero and an Arsenal legendary. The Dublin tall striker was with Gunners, Manchester City and Sunderland. He had almost 100 caps in Ireland and attended the world cup twice. Nevertheless, his tale started with an unexpected ordeal at Highbury which no one thought would ever materialize.
Rejected by Fulham and Almost Giving Up
In 1982 at the age of 15, Niall received a two-week trial in the Third Division at Fulham. Then he was playing as a centre-half back and was doing well in most sports. However, when he finally arrived at trial, manager Malcolm Macdonald just informed him to the point: You would not make it as a footballer. Niall was heartbroken. And with that, I sort of gave up the idea, he said. He returned home to Dublin believing that football was all over with him.
The Scout Who Changed Everything
A year later everything got changed. John Molloy was his teacher and shifted him to centre forward. During a final in a large school Niall Quinn scored two goals and looked wonderful. The crowd spectator was Arsenal scout in Dublin, Bill Darby. He was interested in what he saw and asked the 16 year old to go through a trial at Arsenal.
Trial Games and the Big Offer
There was a trial match in which Niall played with young Paul Merson. They won 9-0. Merson had six goals and Niall three. Post-match, Merson made fun of it by saying: Well, me and you are certainties to get contracts, Irish! Manager Terry Neill summoned him only after one week of trial, which was the second week, and Niall was afraid of another bad news.
Tough First Year but Irish Family Helped
Hard First Year but Family (Irish) Saved. Settling in was not easy. Niall had not been in a large academy. He suffered a lot of injuries, ankle twists. He recalls that his first year was not that productive. And yet, Arsenal was like home due to the powerful Irish affiliation.
The Shock Debut Against Liverpool
In December of 1985, when Niall was 19, he was scoring goals with the reserves – 18 in 18 games. Don Howe, the manager, had him going on a temporary loan to Port Vale to make him stronger. But Tony Woodcock was hurt and Niall remained. Friday he found his name written pencilled on the first-team sheet in the big game with Liverpool at Highbury.
He believed he would be spectating in the bench. At the time, it had a single substitute. However, on match day, 14 December Don Howe announced the team: “Number 9… the young Dublin lad… we are going to give him a debut to-day! Niall was stunned. “I couldn’t believe it!”
Scoring on Debut and Fan Mail from Europe
Arsenal won 2-0. Charlie Nicholas had been in assistance by Niall in scoring the first. Paul Davis then fired, Bruce Grobbelaar, the Liverpool keeper, flopped and Niall headed the ball into goal. It was his first appearance and he had scored. It became the first English league match broadcasted in Europe.
By mid-week kitman Tony gave Niall sacks of Norwegian fan mails, Swedish fan mails, Belgium fan mails, etc. His mum who is a teacher informed him: You should write back to all those people individually. So he did!
Looking Back with Pride
Niall Quinn is a magic story in Arsenal with rejection at Fulham and a first-time scoring in a debut against Liverpool. It demonstrates that everyone can transform a skinny kid into a football legend with the help of hard work, second chance and faith in yourself.