Interviews - Danny Quinn
Thurs 31 May 2007
Palmerstown Rangers F.C. Manager - Danny Quinn
Palmerstown Rangers have just won the league. How have you managed it?
It was 8 long years of work; I can’t take all the credit for it. All the players especially Dave as coach and Paj/Buff in assisting me as well as Martin who was manager for the start of the season, everyone involved pulled together and we got what we deserved.
What does winning the league title mean to palmerstown Rangers?
A Lot, as I said, it’s been 8 years coming, I’ve been involved in the club in one way or another every season and it’s just great to finally win something.
What were your initial targets when the season started?
I didn’t really have any. We had a new-ish squad and a new manager so I didn’t put too many targets down. After the first 4/5 games I knew we could be involved in the shake up at the top though.
In just a few short years Rangers have gone from being a mediocre
team to respected opponents. Why is this?
ATTITUDE. When we started the club, it was more as a laugh and a joke, but every year its got much more serious and this season, while we still had some laughs, everything was more “professional”, from the new gear to the new players we actually looked like winners, rather than a rag ball team.
Btw – no offence to those who we’re involved in the team in previous seasons. We did have some cracking players but not enough of them or enough of the winning attitude.
Your side has recently been dubbed by the media as cannibals,
because you did not give any other team a chance to win the league. Would
you agree?
LOL, media? P&C News Exclusives…Ah no we fought from start of the season to the end and there was very little in-fighting which had such an impact on previous seasons.
What are your thoughts about the current Rangers team?
Great bunch of lads, on and off the pitch. I don’t think there’s any of them I wouldn’t sit down and have a pint with and most of them feel the same about each other.
At what point in the season did you realise that winning the league
was a realistic target?
2 big moments for me, the 2nd half display v Aylesbury away and Ste Holmes 1st goal v Castlerock away. Both of them showed me we were the best team in that league and we were going to win it. Although even at 4-2 in the Castlerock game at home I still didn’t quite believe it yet.
What are your expectations for Rangers in Division 2?
Honestly. I haven’t thought about it yet. Obviously I’d hate if we went up and were the whipping boys of the league. Dingle, who won 2A last season have won 1A this season so it is possible. Myself/Martin/Dave/Buff/Paj and maybe a couple of others will sit down in a couple of weeks and plan where we want to go, but the lads can have a well earned rest for the next few weeks.
Do you feel the current set of players will do well in division
2 or will the squad need a few new additions to do well?
I’d like to think they could hold their own. We’ve a good squad and maybe the addition of 2/3 players could push us on another bit. A couple of the lads who have been with us all along are considering “retiring” but I hope they don’t. They’re the players who’ve got us to 1A and they deserve a chance….
What can we expect to see from you and the team next season?
As above, I haven’t thought about it. If I stay as manager and we keep the squad together, who knows…
Will you be trying to entice Jamie Richards back to Rangers now
that the club have achieved promotion?
Jamie’s a good footballer and we want/need good footballers at the club. He hurt a lot of people by leaving to join Glenville and it’d take a lot for him to be accepted back in the cage but initial contact has been made and the ball is in his court. Hopefully a few other ex-players may be returning as well….watch this space.
Were you impressed by the player’s focus and attitude this
season compared to previous seasons?
As I said above, the attitude was the best we’ve had. There was a couple of blips during the season but everyone got stuck in and dragged us through, so yeah very impressed, long may it continue.
How would you describe the mood among Palmerstown Rangers fans?
It was great to see a few of those who have drifted away over the last couple of years return to the Cage for the last few games of the season. Hopefully they were impressed and will be back. Just like to say thanks to all those who supported us over the 8 years.
How does your relationship with coaches Steven Fullam and Patrick
Hartnett work?
It works well. I’d no hesitation when Martin went on gardening leave to give the 2 lads the call. They may not play as much as they used to but they know their stuff and deserved the chance. I had no problem when I missed the Aston Village and the Auburn away games to leave Ian and Roy Evans in charge ;)
What does Rangers signify for you?
Everyone that knows me knows how much football is my life. I’m not the most gifted player so being able to use my “talent” as a manager is the next best thing. Myself and a few of the lads set up this team and just to see it finally achieve something means a lot. Cant really put it into words….
You have four players all vying for the centre midfield position
– Byrne, K. Donegan, Doheney and Dunne. How do you keep them all
happy?
No offence to him but I think Kev may not be fit enough at the moment to play midfield. If that changes he’ll defo be considered. It was tough to juggle the other 3 and I had a few run ins with Keith and Danny about them not playing and Dave bottled a few of the big games so they all got their chance. I really think the 3 of them can play in the one team, whether that’s with Keith up front, Danny out wide or all 3 of them in the middle. The competition for places is really a good thing.
What would you consider to be Kevin Dunne’s best position?
A fit Kev Dunne could be a centre midfielder in most teams. He’s done a job for us up front, on the wing and even at centre back and that versatility really comes in handy. To answer the question though centre mid.
Can you ever truly enjoy watching your team as a manager?
No…. even at 4-2 v castlerock or v Phoenix when the result didn’t matter I didn’t enjoy it….
Why do you think the team scored so many late vital goals this
season?
A lot of the credit for that has to go to Dave. His training this season has pushed the team along a lot. Also the never say die attitude from the players and the fact that we had some decent options to come off the bench during games, which was missing for the last couple of seasons.
What has managing Rangers taught you about man management?
Nothings ever easy….
What’s the best thing about managing Rangers? And the most
frustrating?
Just being involved. I know I’m not ever going to be good enough to play and I’m ok with that but I love being involved with a club.Not much frustration this season, apart for the odd night when only 5/6 turned up at training but thankfully that was the exception rather than the rule.
What's the biggest challenge in being manager for Rangers?
The expectation of some of the players. In previous seasons we had players who hadn’t played for any other teams, but this year we had lads who had won titles all they way up as schoolboys and were used to winning. It was a challenge but also a help when it came to the big games.
What's your preferred formation for the team?
3-5-2…. Ever since the great pats team of the late 90s (and the current team), I’ve loved that formation. I didn’t think we had the players to play that at the start of the season, but with the emergence of Jay Keegan and Karl Gannon as potential centre halves and the selection problems in midfield mentioned earlier, maybe its worth a shot for next season.
Were you impressed with the team’s home record in ‘The
Cage’ this season?
2 points dropped out of 11 games. You can’t not be impressed. Pity we couldn’t get the 100% but that bogey team Hot Press saw to that.
Funniest moment on the pitch you have seen while managing Rangers?
2 of them come to mind straight away, both from a few years back.
- Andy Quearney comes on as a sub, playing right wing, runs straight on at his man who has the ball and forgets to stop, the ball is well gone and he clatters into the full back. Yellow card within 10seconds.
- Current Keeper Don, goes up for a corner in last minute v Shanghan. Charges at the ball and smashes into the biggest bloke on the pitch and knocks him out….
What do you consider your best qualities as a manager?
I can talk to players that some others cant. When people like Nataro/O’Dowd/Dunne go off on one, there are very few people they’ll listen to but I think I’m one of them.
Do you think that the current squad of players are better than
the squad of past seasons?
Yes, we’ve had some cracking players over the 8 seasons but this was defo the best squad. We had 14/15 players good enough to be in the first XI and I don’t think we ever had that.
What are the teams strengths, and weaknesses?
Strengths : attitude, fitness, and they can play a bit.
Weaknesses : not many but sometimes against the lesser opposition they
go out and expect to win.
What does the future hold for palmerstown Rangers?
Better standard of football and hopefully a few more trophies.
What was your view on the standard of division 2A?
Last season was the best I’ve seen it so it doesn’t compare with that but when u look at it, we finished on 59 points and there is a massive scrap of 4/5 teams for 2nd place, so it’s a fairly well balanced league with teams on their day who can beat anyone.
What match this season, has been a personal favourite?
I think the Bank Holiday Monday Derby v Athletic. It wasn’t the best of games but there was a lot riding on it, and we’d just been beaten 2 days before. To come back from 1-0 down to win 3-1 against the rivals who’d been giving it loads all season was great.
Is the team atmosphere better this year than in previous seasons?
I think the atmosphere the first couple of seasons was the best, we were all mates who were out playing for something to do on a Saturday and then would all be back in the pub for the night after it; it was a great spirit even though we were losing every week. This season it was good too, but more professional attitude.
How far can the club go?
Anywhere the lads want. I truly believe most of the lads could still play at a higher level (not that I want to lose any of them)….
Looking back over the last season, what images really stick in
your mind?
I haven’t got a great memory but I remember the celebrations when the 3rd goal went in v Athletic and when the 4th went in v Castlerock. Also the night out in Citi Bar, it was great to look around at the 20 or so lads (and a few of the WAGS) all singing “Championès!!”. On the flip side, I don’t think I’ll ever forget Keith hitting the crossbar from ON THE LINE v Hot Press in the AUL Complex.
What do you want to accomplish with Rangers?
I’ve done it. Just to win something, we laughed and joked about it when we set the team up and for it to come through, still seems unreal. That’s not to say I don’t want it to happen again….
What has been your greatest disappointment in football?
Apart from Pats NEVER winning the cup and City NEVER winning anything???, the only one I can think of is that we didn’t get the cup yet.
People see you as a calm, level headed type of person. Do you
ever have to raise your voice?
LOL…. I don’t think the league referees would agree with that….Ah no, I have calmed down a lot in the last couple of seasons. I can still roar and shout wit the best of them but sometimes there’s a different way of going about things.
Finally, have you got any words to say to Rangers fans before
the summer break?
Cheers for your support, enjoy the break, keep an eye on the site for
any player news and we’ll see you all again in August…