| Sheffield’s mighty Quinns
 By David Thorpe
Sheffield United are the sort of Premiership team that most Irish soccer
fans only notice when the team they support are playing the Blades. But
that could change thanks to the impact of two brothers, both of whom were
included in the Republic of Ireland squad who faced San Marino this week.
Alan Quinn, and particularly his younger brother Stephen, have been instrumental
for the Yorkshire side as they have enjoyed an impressive first season
back in the Premiership. Both Quinns were named in the squad as United
secured another win on their quest for survival in the top flight against
Fulham last week with Stephen being named as man-of-the-match after he
created the second goal in a 2-0 victory.
The Dublin-born brothers have taken very different routes to Premiership
success. Twenty-six-year-old Alan was toiling in League Two with Sheffield
Wednesday when his contract expired in 2005 and he made the shock decision
to cross the city and join fierce local rivals Sheffield United.
At the time of the move Alan received a lot of criticism from Wednesday
fans and not surprisingly he was booed during the Steel City derby last
year. He says however that Wednesday didn’t pay a fee for him and
he played almost 200 times for them so they shouldn’t complain that
he wanted to further his career.
“At the end of the day this is a short career and I had ambitions
to play at the highest level possible, particularly as I knew that I wouldn’t
be involved with Ireland if I was playing in League One,” he said.
The Blades got more than they bargained for when they signed Alan as both
his brothers, also midfielders, were impressing in schoolboy soccer and
being chased by a host of British clubs. The presence of their older brother
at Bramall Lane encouraged both Stephen and 17-year-old Robbie to join
the Blades.
This has been something of a miraculous year for the red-haired Stephen.
The 20-year-old hoped to get a few games as a substitute as the Blades
looked to their more experienced players to keep them in the top flight.
Instead the diminutive midfielder has become a first team regular and
fans favourite this season.
He said: “There are a lot of lads looking for a midfield spot at
the moment and they would have been lads who helped the club get promoted,
so I am quite surprised to be ahead of them in the queue but I have worked
hard for my chance and hopefully it will continue to go well for me.”
Not since the O’Leary brothers — Pearce and David —
represented Ireland in the early ’80s have two brothers been part
of the international set-up but the Quinns could make history this week
if they line up against San Marino.
Stephen describes the international call-up as the highlight of his career
to date, saying: “I’m quite giddy at the thought of it to
be honest, everything has happened very quickly for me and hopefully I
will get on the pitch.”
Alan has already been capped six times at international level and says
that nothing beats the feeling of wearing the green of Ireland. He said:
“I had a spell of not being involved at all, so I’m just glad
to be back in the squad. There is a lot of competition for midfield places
but hopefully I can do myself justice.”
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