Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Gary Haveron recalls brilliant Marty Quinn 'smelling salts' story

When it comes to motivational team talks, Marty Quinn knew how to deliver.

The legendary former Cliftonville and Coleraine boss always extracted the best of his teams.

A league title with the Reds and an Irish Cup success with the Bannsiders is testament to that.

One former player who remembers Quinn with great fondness is Gary Haveron.

Haveron played under Quinn at Coleraine and says players were ready to take the "doors off the hinges" after listening to one of his team talks.

And he hilariously recalled one of Quinn's pre-match dressing room rallies shortly after joining the Bannsiders.

Haveron told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast : "Everyone had the maximum respect for Marty because of the man he was. He was such a strong character and motivator.

"I played for Paul Kirk at Distillery for a few months when I came home from England and Kirker was very much a confidence guy, putting confidence into players.

"He would be saying 'you look great in that white kit' and all that, he was a real motivator.

Gary Haveron in action for Ballymena United back in 2008 (Inpho)

"I remember one of Marty's first team talks when I moved to Coleraine. He came into the changing room and everyone went hush, and Marty went straight to the medical bag and got the smelling salts out.

"You know the way you take a slight sniff of smelling salts and it clears your head? Well, Marty went straight in with a huge sniff up both nostrils, then screwed the lid back on.

"Hr turned around and was foaming at the mouth, the eyes would be bulging. His veins were popping out of the side of his head so much I thought he was going to explode!

"And see by the time he finished, you wanted to rip the door off the hinges and get into the opposition.

"Is it any wonder Packie McAllister got send off as much as he did."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.