The Coventry City Former Players Association is pleased to announce that former Sky Blue central midfielder Barry Quinn, who joined the Association at Legends Day 2016 will be cutting his teeth as our ‘special guest’ tomorrow (Saturday 4th February). Barry is pictured (below left) completing formalities being presented with his official CCFPA tie by CCFPA’s Mike Young. Barry, will be at the Ricoh on Saturday afternoon to watch the Sky Blues take on the Lions of Millwall in a crucial League One fixture.
This is a must win fixture if CCFC are to have any hope of climbing off the foot of the table in the next few weeks, and out of the relegation zone before the end of this massively disappointing season. We expect Barry to visit the Family Zone first on Saturday to meet the Junior Sky Blues under the Ricoh stands together with a current squad member and Sky Blue Sam.
Mike Presents Barry (left) with his tie
We will then also take Barry round the supporters lounges where club host, CCFPA member and former Sky Blue defender Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts will conduct a Q&A. Other members/Sky Blues FPs expected at the game are:- Dave Bennett, Ken Brown, Ron Farmer, Stuart Giddings, Ian Goodwin, Micky Gynn, Lol Harvey, Peter Hormantschuck, Brian Nicholas, Gordon Simms, Kirk Stephens, Bill Tedds, Graham Walker, Bob Wesson and Peter Wyer.
After the game Barry will have to brave another Q & A as, in his own inimitable way, CCFPA’s Billy Bell interviews him from the stage of Lady Gs in front of what is sure to be an appreciative audience!
Barry in the Sky Blue
Irishman Barry came to Highfield Road as a YTS apprentice in 1996 from Irish junior club Manortown United turning pro two years later making his Premiership debut when the Sky Blues went down 2-0 at Old Trafford. Over the next five and a half seasons Barry clocked up 91 first team appearances (including subs) though without ever finding the net for the Sky Blues. After four appearances in loan spell with Rushden and Diamonds (January 2004) Barry joined Oxford United on a free in May 2004 (after a loan spell a couple of months earlier) becoming indispensable for them until released in May 2009. He played in over 200 first team league games (netting 6 times) for the U’s before being released in April 2009. Since 2010 Barry has turned out for non-league Brackley Town.
Barry has also represented his country whilst with the Sky Blues. After appearing for the Republic of Ireland right through from their U15s to the U21s he had gained all his 4 Full caps for his country before 2001. Barry also plays for the Sky Blues Legends XI run by CCFPA members and former Sky Blues Dave Busst and Dave Bennett (with the help of committee member Dean Nelson). For those who cannot make the game Barry will also be on the BBC CWR airwaves assisting the live matchday commentary team with analysis from the press box as the game unfolds.