The Niall Quinn appreciation thread

Status
Not open for further replies.


One word. Legend.

Thanks for everything Niall, from the goals when you were in your prime, to where you leave us now.
 
You came, you saw , you delivered...

Sunderlands Robin Hood ....
 
We will forever be in your debt for everything you've done for SAFC.

Thanks and all the best to you and your family.

You'll always be welcome back. I doubt you'll ever have to buy yourself a pint in the North East, or San Francisco for that matter!
 
What more can be said, he's an absolute legend and a true gentlemen.

Will never forget bumping into him in the stairwell at the SOL when i was in the box last season. You could tell he was busy and had somewhere to be but still stopped for a chat and a photo.

Thanks for everything Niall
 
Thanks for everything big Niall. We enjoy your carpet ride (and for some lucky fans, a taxi ride that night from Bristol).

Your tremendous goodwill and effort for the club will never be forgotten, a Sunderland legend. :)
 
George Caulkin:

On the day that Gary Speed died, Niall Quinn was due to receive an award from the North East Football Writers' Association. It soon became clear that the awards dinner would have to be postponed - in the circumstances, nobody had the stomach for a night of revelry - and after spending several hours letting people know and making arrangements, Niall came up with a suggestion: let's go to the pub and talk about Gary and talk about football. It is not the kind of invitation you turn down.

Niall didn't know Gary intimately, but the news had struck him hard; when it broke, he went for a windy walk along Roker Beach to collect his thoughts. It put into perspective what was happening at Sunderland, where results were mediocre, the league table prompted discomfort and where Steve Bruce was under huge pressure. It made everybody take a breath and pause.

That evening, three or four of us met Niall in Durham and sat and drank and chatted about our memories of Gary. It was a night I'll always remember (or would, if alcohol hadn't washed those memories away), because it was a bitter-sweet reminder of everything great about our sport. A feeling of coming together, of unity, of warmth, of love. Of listening to a fine football man, tell stories. There was laughter and a few tears, too.

This was the week that Bruce finally left the club. It was the week Martin O'Neill was approached. It was the week all that was going on, as well as Niall's regular duties, and he began it by choosing to sit and chat with a handful of scruffy journalists, in a spit and sawdust pub. There was no paranoia, no division, no ulterior motive, no sense he had to watch his tongue because he was among reporters (we had all known him for years). Because of our awards cancellation, he had the evening free and wanted company. That sums him up.

Niall's achievements at Sunderland are many and obvious and although he leaves behind a talented and committed team, he will be missed sorely. He will be missed because of his inspiration and drive, the trust he inspires in supporters, the feeling that everything will be okay because Niall is there. He will be missed because, whatever his passport says, he is a man of the North East.

Niall finally received his award, at our rescheduled dinner earlier this month. In retrospect, we could have chosen no finer Personality of the Year, an award made in conjunction with the Sir Bobby Robson Association. Niall has the touch of Sir Bobby about him; lyrical, passionate, a man who commands respect throughout sport. I can't think of much better tribute than that.
 
Thankyou Niall, i dread to think where we would be without you, the term 'legend' flies around alot in football today, however you truly are a legend to Sunderland A.F.C. What you have done for this club will never be forgotten.
 
ChrisAshley said:
George Caulkin:

On the day that Gary Speed died, Niall Quinn was due to receive an award from the North East Football Writers' Association. It soon became clear that the awards dinner would have to be postponed - in the circumstances, nobody had the stomach for a night of revelry - and after spending several hours letting people know and making arrangements, Niall came up with a suggestion: let's go to the pub and talk about Gary and talk about football. It is not the kind of invitation you turn down.

Niall didn't know Gary intimately, but the news had struck him hard; when it broke, he went for a windy walk along Roker Beach to collect his thoughts. It put into perspective what was happening at Sunderland, where results were mediocre, the league table prompted discomfort and where Steve Bruce was under huge pressure. It made everybody take a breath and pause.

That evening, three or four of us met Niall in Durham and sat and drank and chatted about our memories of Gary. It was a night I'll always remember (or would, if alcohol hadn't washed those memories away), because it was a bitter-sweet reminder of everything great about our sport. A feeling of coming together, of unity, of warmth, of love. Of listening to a fine football man, tell stories. There was laughter and a few tears, too.

This was the week that Bruce finally left the club. It was the week Martin O'Neill was approached. It was the week all that was going on, as well as Niall's regular duties, and he began it by choosing to sit and chat with a handful of scruffy journalists, in a spit and sawdust pub. There was no paranoia, no division, no ulterior motive, no sense he had to watch his tongue because he was among reporters (we had all known him for years). Because of our awards cancellation, he had the evening free and wanted company. That sums him up.

Niall's achievements at Sunderland are many and obvious and although he leaves behind a talented and committed team, he will be missed sorely. He will be missed because of his inspiration and drive, the trust he inspires in supporters, the feeling that everything will be okay because Niall is there. He will be missed because, whatever his passport says, he is a man of the North East.

Niall finally received his award, at our rescheduled dinner earlier this month. In retrospect, we could have chosen no finer Personality of the Year, an award made in conjunction with the Sir Bobby Robson Association. Niall has the touch of Sir Bobby about him; lyrical, passionate, a man who commands respect throughout sport. I can't think of much better tribute than that.
Click to expand...

Good read. Cheers for posting that
 
ChrisAshley said:
George Caulkin:

On the day that Gary Speed died, Niall Quinn was due to receive an award from the North East Football Writers' Association. It soon became clear that the awards dinner would have to be postponed - in the circumstances, nobody had the stomach for a night of revelry - and after spending several hours letting people know and making arrangements, Niall came up with a suggestion: let's go to the pub and talk about Gary and talk about football. It is not the kind of invitation you turn down.

Niall didn't know Gary intimately, but the news had struck him hard; when it broke, he went for a windy walk along Roker Beach to collect his thoughts. It put into perspective what was happening at Sunderland, where results were mediocre, the league table prompted discomfort and where Steve Bruce was under huge pressure. It made everybody take a breath and pause.

That evening, three or four of us met Niall in Durham and sat and drank and chatted about our memories of Gary. It was a night I'll always remember (or would, if alcohol hadn't washed those memories away), because it was a bitter-sweet reminder of everything great about our sport. A feeling of coming together, of unity, of warmth, of love. Of listening to a fine football man, tell stories. There was laughter and a few tears, too.

This was the week that Bruce finally left the club. It was the week Martin O'Neill was approached. It was the week all that was going on, as well as Niall's regular duties, and he began it by choosing to sit and chat with a handful of scruffy journalists, in a spit and sawdust pub. There was no paranoia, no division, no ulterior motive, no sense he had to watch his tongue because he was among reporters (we had all known him for years). Because of our awards cancellation, he had the evening free and wanted company. That sums him up.

Niall's achievements at Sunderland are many and obvious and although he leaves behind a talented and committed team, he will be missed sorely. He will be missed because of his inspiration and drive, the trust he inspires in supporters, the feeling that everything will be okay because Niall is there. He will be missed because, whatever his passport says, he is a man of the North East.

Niall finally received his award, at our rescheduled dinner earlier this month. In retrospect, we could have chosen no finer Personality of the Year, an award made in conjunction with the Sir Bobby Robson Association. Niall has the touch of Sir Bobby about him; lyrical, passionate, a man who commands respect throughout sport. I can't think of much better tribute than that.
Click to expand...

Lovely piece, that, especially the last bit. Good writer is Caulkin.
 
As above.

One of a dying breed in football.

A man with integrity, honesty and a sense of decency that has almost disappeared in todays game.

Adios Niall. A legend in the truest sense of the word.
 
Thanks Niall for all your efforts. A legend and a gentleman. Up there with all the greats of our club.
 
Niall,

Thanks to you and your family for being so generous in the time you have given us.

God knows where we would be if you hadn't grasped the nettle on our behalf in 2006.

In every position you have held at our club, you have represented us with passion, commitment and other than when you out of necessity took on too much with the managment role you have delivered.

Nothing that I or any other Sunderland fan can say or do can adequately thank you for the efforts you have made.

Thanks for everything Niall, hope you and your family enjoy your new found time together, you all deserve it.
 
Thanks for everything Sir Niall. You'll be remembered for all the good you've done for Sunderland AFC, and the people of Sunderland.

Thank you :cool:


Legend
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top