ONE of the most disappointing nights in Aberdeen’s season could well turn out to be the most significant in Paul Quinn’s. The defender, of course, could have no way of appreciating that at the time. Back in late September his only thought – as he trudged down the Easter Road tunnel, an unused substitute as Aberdeen were knocked out of the League Cup by Hibernian – was that another decent chance to win a trophy had passed him by. If only he knew how fate would twist and turn in the months ahead.
Signed that summer from Ross County, Quinn had featured in Aberdeen’s previous match away to Hearts in Tynecastle and would be back in the starting line-up for the next league match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Ahead of the Hibs cup tie, however, he felt his knee was troubling him and thought it only prudent to let manager Derek McInnes know. It would prove to be the shrewdest phone call of his career. A few months later, his short stint at Aberdeen having not worked out as both parties had hoped, Quinn was back at County. And, importantly, he was not cup-tied either. That allowed him to make a second “debut” in the semi-final win over Celtic and now – all things being well – he will stride out again at Hampden this afternoon for the final. The irony that it is Hibs who now stand between him and the first cup medal of his career is not lost on the 30-year-old.
“If we manage to get our hands on the trophy it will certainly be the best little niggle I’ve ever had,” he laughed. “I had to phone Derek McInnes the night before as I had a sore knee. He hadn’t named the team and I told him I was struggling a wee bit and to keep that in mind. We had a few games coming up so he said ‘OK’. We lost a defender [Graeme Shinnie] in the opening period and it looked as though I was going on but I didn’t. It’s strange how it unfolds. Hopefully it’s fate.
“I had no idea if he was going to pick me or not. He wasn’t going to name the team until we were meeting to travel down. I just gave him a ring to let him know, a heads up. I didn’t want to go into the game and, if I was playing, come off early with an injury. There was a bit of experience and maturity used there between myself and the manager. Looking back it could be the most important phone call of my career. If I had been a wee bit younger I would have tried to limp through it. Let’s just say I’m glad I used the head instead.”
It would not be the only occasion when he was grateful for McInnes’ understanding. A few months later, and no longer commanding an automatic place in the Aberdeen team, the defender went to see if there was any way he could re-sign for County. It would have been entirely reasonable – Quinn admits – if McInnes had blocked his path, telling him he couldn’t let him leave at this point in the season. Aberdeen were, and still are, chasing a championship after all. Instead, the manager gave him the green light.
“We had a great relationship and honesty was a big part of that,” added the former Motherwell player. “We spoke as many as four, five or six times about it and then it was time to have a few days to think about things. It was a mature relationship. There was never any animosity about me leaving, staying, playing, results or whatever.
“A lot of other managers and clubs might have said, 'We’ve signed you and pay your wages so we’ll look at it at the end of the season'. And Aberdeen haven’t exactly got a huge squad. With Andy Considine playing left-back at lot it leaves just one centre-back on the bench. So I was grateful they looked after my best interests when it wasn’t in Aberdeen’s best interests. That to me was putting the player first before the club. And I was the first to thank Derek for doing that. That’s why I’d like him to be successful.”
That success could yet include a first league title for 31 years. Quinn’s 13 appearances in red should be enough to guarantee him a medal and, after scoring the winning goal against Celtic at Pittodrie back in September – his only Aberdeen goal – he would be entitled as any.
“I don’t know if I’d claim to be part of it,” he adds modestly. “I have a lot of friends there and I would like to see them go on and win it. It would be a massive achievement for them and I would have played some part of it.”
It is not his most pressing priority right now. Instead the chance to win another medal - to go with the one claimed as part of Doncaster Rovers’ 2013 League One title-winning squad - looms large. He knows days like today don’t come around too often. He was part of the Motherwell team beaten in the final by Rangers 11 years ago and wants to try to savour this day more than he did back then.
“It kind of passed me by last time,” he added. “I never really soaked it up and enjoyed it, whereas this time I’ve looked forward to it as I’m older and a lot more experienced. Any time you get to a cup final or a game of any importance – Europe or the play-offs down south – you have to try to enjoy it and soak it up. This time I’ll enjoy it a lot more than the last time. It went by so quick as a youngster. It was a sore one to take losing the way we did but I was privileged, at that age, to have taken part in a cup final. It was fantastic just to get on with all the family there. At that age you’re not sure whether you’ll play but I managed to get on the pitch. That was my first time playing at Hampden which is a big thing for any kid.
“I won League 1 with Doncaster but I’ve not won a cup. I’ve had a few chances and I know how sore it is when you have to wait for another chance. It doesn’t come around too often. So we have to always make the most of it.”
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