David White has lifted the lid on Niall Quinn’s ‘Disco Pants’ weekend saying it cost him millions….of lira!
Happy 60th birthday, Niall Quinn
Quinn wrote himself into City folklore during the team’s Italian pre-season tour in August 1992 when he danced the night away with new signing Rick Holden.
Supporters who witnessed Quinn strutting his stuff quickly adopted a tribute track that’s been sung on the terraces for the past 30 years.
White was there for the nightout earlier in the evening as the Blues boys were able to let off steam after a rigorous training camp.
But he had long since retired for the evening when the Irishman showed off his moves in front of astonished teammates and supporters.
But recalling the incident for Quinn’s 60th birthday today, White admits he felt the effects of Quinn’s escapades the next morning.
“I remember the evening – we’d been singing again in a restaurant,” said White.
“Rick Holden (pictured below) had signed the day before. We had a good night and the wider group broke up and some of us went back to the hotel.
City Vault: Enter The Mighty Quinn!
“Then the next thing I know, I’m hearing a Yorkshire accent knocking on the door the following morning saying ‘Window fund. Window fund’.
“It was new signing Rick saying there’s been an altercation between Quinny and Steve McMahon and were being asked to contribute to the broken window that had resulted from the melee.
“I struggled to understand the exchange rate because the first figure I was given was hundreds of thousands – I thought he meant pounds but thankfully it was lira which ended up being about £10 each.”
That wasn’t the only famous moment in Quinn’s City career – far from it.
Who will ever forget the giant centre-forward swapping his No.9 shirt for a No.1 top as he took the place of Tony Coton in goal against Derby in the penultimate game of the 1999/91 season.
After scoring a sweet left-footed volley to give us the lead at Maine Road, Quinn could only watch as goalkeeper Coton brought down Dean Saunders in the box.
Coton was sent off and with no substitute shot stopper to call upon, it fell to Quinn to take the gloves.
He made an incredible save from the resulting penalty to further his status as a cult hero.
White added a second before Mick Hartford gave the Rams a glimmer of hope but the Blues held on for a remarkable three points under the most bizarre of circumstances.
Many couldn’t believe the performance of Quinn in goal but White was far from surprised by what he witnessed.
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“I wasn’t shocked when he went in goal against Derby,” added White.
“It was typical Quinny. He used to go in goal every Friday in training and bet one of the lads a fiver that he could save two out of five penalties that were fired at him.
“Very few of the lads beat him at that. He had the stature and had the background with Gaelic football.
“I remember after he went in, Quinny came out and caught one which was fine for TC watching on from the sidelines but then Quinny bounced the ball a couple of times and pinged this perfect ball forward which I think TC thought was a bit much!
“With Quinny going in goal, I was left playing up front on my own but thankfully I went on to score the second in a 2-1 victory so it was a good afternoon in the end despite what had happened before.”
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The day may have been dominated by Quinn’s exploits in goal but it was in front of goal where he excelled.
And White couldn’t speak highly enough of his quality and talent on the pitch as well as his humanity off it.
“He was right up there with my favourite players to play with.
“We had some top nights out together that always ended up with a singsong – generally Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers – wonderful memories.
“On the pitch we had two different eras together – in the first I made goals for him and in the second he repaid the favour.
“In the first, I quickly realised that if I put the right kind of crosses into the right kind of places, Quinny would deliver the goods.
“Then I played as second striker with Quinny later on in our time together. I was quick and knew Quinny would invariably win the ball, see the space and I always backed myself to get on the end of it and deliver in front of goal.
“I think we formed a formidable partnership. He was a great lad and great teammate and I remember our time together fondly.”
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