Marty Quinn
Encyclopedia
Martin "Marty" Quinn is a former Irish League
footballer and a current manager. Quinn is well known for leading Cliftonville to become Irish League champions in 1998, and leading Coleraine to Irish Cup glory in 2003.
-born Quinn began his playing career with Star of the Sea junior club. He then spent eight years as a defender with Cliftonville F.C.
where he won the County Antrim Shield
and the Irish Cup
in 1978/79 and the Gold Cup in 1980/81. In 1981 he joined Distillery
where he played over 200 games and won another Co. Antrim Shield in 1985/86. Quinn left Distillery in 1987 and finished his playing career with a brief spell at Drogheda United F.C.
. He was promoted to first team manager in September 1988 but resigned in November 1989 after a run of poor results. He returned to Cliftonville F.C.
he brought a level of success not seen in nearly a century as "the Reds" claimed the Coca-Cola Cup in 1995/96, the County Antrim Shield in 1996/97, and in 1998 the Irish League
title. It had been 88 years since Cliftonville won the league trophy. Quinn won manager of the year in 1998. In addition he also claimed the Irish FA Charity Shield
with a win over Glentoran F.C.
.
Quinn also came close twice to winning the Irish Cup but lost two finals in three years. In 1997 the club lost 1-0 to Glentoran in the final. Two years later Quinn led the club to a final tie against Portadown F.C.
but the match was never played. The Irish FA ruled that Simon Gribben, who came on as a substitute in the semi-final replay against Linfield F.C.
, was cup-tied
on account of having appeared in the competitions preliminary stages and so the cup was awarded to Portadown with no game played.
in October 1999. He took an unfancied Coleraine side to the Irish Cup Final in 2002/03, in which they beat Glentoran in the final 1-0. Quinn had finally won The Irish Cup after coming close to winning the trophy twice with Cliftonville. The following year, Coleraine were in the final again, against Glentoran, but it was the Belfast side who came out winners. In addition Coleraine have won the North West Senior Cup three times, twice finished as Irish League
runners-up and reached the finals of Gold Cup and Irish League Cup under Quinn's leadership. He continued as Coleraine manager during uncertain times while the club experienced severe financial problems. The club made it to the Irish Cup final again, this time it was against Linfield
but lost in the final. Quinn also won The North West cup twice with The Bannisiders. Quinn stunned Coleraine fans by resigning as manager.
and buying Linfield F.C.
striker Mark Miskimmin. Under Quinn, the Lurgan Blues won the Mid Ulster Cup over Dungannon Swifts. In the 2011/12 season, Quinn again made lots of signings, he signed goalkeeper Andy Coleman, midfielder Conor Hagan and striker Andy Graham from Newry City F.C.
, Peter McCann from Lisburn Distillery F.C.
, Davy O'Hare from Coleraine F.C.
and Jonathan Magee from Crusaders F.C.
. Despite building what looked like a promising squad, Glenavon had a run of poor results and ending at the bottom of the table. Quinn resigned in November 26th after a 1-1 draw against Dungannon Swifts.
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
footballer and a current manager. Quinn is well known for leading Cliftonville to become Irish League champions in 1998, and leading Coleraine to Irish Cup glory in 2003.
Playing career
The BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
-born Quinn began his playing career with Star of the Sea junior club. He then spent eight years as a defender with Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
where he won the County Antrim Shield
County Antrim Shield
The County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
and the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
in 1978/79 and the Gold Cup in 1980/81. In 1981 he joined Distillery
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
where he played over 200 games and won another Co. Antrim Shield in 1985/86. Quinn left Distillery in 1987 and finished his playing career with a brief spell at Drogheda United F.C.
Lisburn Distillery
Quinn's first coaching appointment was a manager of Distillery IIs during 1987/88 where he won the George Wilson CupGeorge Wilson Cup
The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to reserve football teams affiliated to member clubs of the Irish League. Initially it was open to all members of the B Division, both "attached and unattached" The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to reserve football teams...
. He was promoted to first team manager in September 1988 but resigned in November 1989 after a run of poor results. He returned to Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
Cliftonville
At Cliftonville, where he acted as reserve team manager and then assistant manager before taking charge of the first team in October 1994, initially as caretaker before being appointed full-time the following month. In five years in charge at SolitudeSolitude (football ground)
Solitude is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Cliftonville. The stadium holds 6,224, but is currently restricted to 2,180 under safety legislation. The stadium was built in 1890....
he brought a level of success not seen in nearly a century as "the Reds" claimed the Coca-Cola Cup in 1995/96, the County Antrim Shield in 1996/97, and in 1998 the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
title. It had been 88 years since Cliftonville won the league trophy. Quinn won manager of the year in 1998. In addition he also claimed the Irish FA Charity Shield
Irish FA Charity Shield
The Irish FA Charity Shield is a now-defunct football competition which involved teams from Northern Ireland that was held on an occasional basis through the 1990s and early-2000s...
with a win over Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
.
Quinn also came close twice to winning the Irish Cup but lost two finals in three years. In 1997 the club lost 1-0 to Glentoran in the final. Two years later Quinn led the club to a final tie against Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
but the match was never played. The Irish FA ruled that Simon Gribben, who came on as a substitute in the semi-final replay against Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
, was cup-tied
Cup-tied
Cup-tied is an adjective, used primarily in association football, to describe a player who is ineligible to play in a knockout cup competition after transferring from another club during that competition.-Application:...
on account of having appeared in the competitions preliminary stages and so the cup was awarded to Portadown with no game played.
Coleraine FC
Quinn was appointed manager of Coleraine F.C.Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
in October 1999. He took an unfancied Coleraine side to the Irish Cup Final in 2002/03, in which they beat Glentoran in the final 1-0. Quinn had finally won The Irish Cup after coming close to winning the trophy twice with Cliftonville. The following year, Coleraine were in the final again, against Glentoran, but it was the Belfast side who came out winners. In addition Coleraine have won the North West Senior Cup three times, twice finished as Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
runners-up and reached the finals of Gold Cup and Irish League Cup under Quinn's leadership. He continued as Coleraine manager during uncertain times while the club experienced severe financial problems. The club made it to the Irish Cup final again, this time it was against Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
but lost in the final. Quinn also won The North West cup twice with The Bannisiders. Quinn stunned Coleraine fans by resigning as manager.
Bangor FC
Quinn made a shock resignation from Coleraine FC to become Bangor FC manager. Despite Bangor being favourites to go down that year, he defied the odds and had a very successful rein at City. At one point during the season, they were top of the league. Although that didn't last, he still brought them to a hugely impressive 7th spot before resigning due to Bangor deciding that they wouldn't renew their Premiership licence for the 2009/2010 campaign. Bangor were the first club with which Quinn failed to win a trophy.Glenavon FC
He was appointed and remains Glenavon manager soon after resigning as Bangor manager. Quinn then went on to again prove his genius, narrowly keeping the club in the top tier of Northern Irish football, losing just one of his first nine games at the helm. In the 2010/11 season, Quinn wasted no time adding new faces to the Lurgan Blues squad. He signed goalkeeper Andrew Plummer who played under Quinn at Bangor, and bringing in Pat Jennings from Shamrock Rovers as backup. He also signed Glentoran defender Kyle Neill, along with Neill's team mate Willow McDonagh. Quinn also brought in Gary Hamilton on loan from Glentoran F.C.Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
and buying Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
striker Mark Miskimmin. Under Quinn, the Lurgan Blues won the Mid Ulster Cup over Dungannon Swifts. In the 2011/12 season, Quinn again made lots of signings, he signed goalkeeper Andy Coleman, midfielder Conor Hagan and striker Andy Graham from Newry City F.C.
Newry City F.C.
Newry City is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1923, is based in Newry, County Down and plays its home matches at The Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
, Peter McCann from Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
, Davy O'Hare from Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
and Jonathan Magee from Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
. Despite building what looked like a promising squad, Glenavon had a run of poor results and ending at the bottom of the table. Quinn resigned in November 26th after a 1-1 draw against Dungannon Swifts.
Cliftonville
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
1978/79, - Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
1978/79, - Gold CupGold Cup (Northern Ireland)The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
1980/81.
Cliftonville
- Coca-Cola Cup 1995/96,
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
1996/97, - Irish League 1997/98,
- Irish FA Charity ShieldIrish FA Charity ShieldThe Irish FA Charity Shield is a now-defunct football competition which involved teams from Northern Ireland that was held on an occasional basis through the 1990s and early-2000s...
1997/98.