Honour hits the spot for mighty Quinn

AFTER feigning modesty all his career, the truth has finally emerged about Niall Quinn — he always had an MBE in mind.

Never more so since he walked the last four miles to Wembley during a Tube strike to see Ireland lose by a goal to the home team in a 1985 friendly.

The Must Beat England mantra drove him on and eventually he partially achieved his dream, equalising against the old rivals in the same venue in the now legendary European Championship qualifier draw of 1991.

That goal remains the most precious of his career, the misty-eyed former Republic of Ireland striker recalled yesterday, as he admitted to the occasional pang of longing to be back kicking the ball again.

But never mind. After yesterday's ceremonials in the British Ambassador's residence, Quinny now has a permanent memento of the force that drove his footballing finesse.

This particular MBE was designed to inaugurate him as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, but even Ambassador Stewart Eldon was happy to let formalities take a back seat, humbly referring to his guest as the new Ambassador of football, of course.

Niall, who celebrates his 37th birthday tomorrow, was awarded the honour in recognition of his charity work and his generosity in donating the proceeds of his testimonial last year to the children's hospitals in Crumlin, where he was raised, and Sunderland, where he finished out his professional career. He was quick to point out that it was team-mate Gary Kelly who first made the gesture of donating testimonial earnings. Besides, he said: "I never had the money in my pocket to give away so it doesn't feel like I gave anything away."

Niall was surrounded by family for the occasion, including wife, Gillian; children, Aisling aged nine and Michael six, parents Mary and Billy, and sisters, Anne Marie, Gerardine and Rosaleen.

He is enjoying life back in Ireland, building a new house and playing Gaelic for his local GAA club, Eadestown, Co Kildare.

Not that he would knock the country that gave him his livelihood. "England was very good to me. I had a great time there," he said, adding with a grin: "But I loved playing against them."