Ross County midfielder, Rocco Quinn, may have grown up watching Celtic and Hamilton Academical on alternative weeks however, his heart is very much in the Highlands now. The 25-year-old is up against the New Douglas Park side he was once a mascot for this weekend and he reckons that the team spirit at Victoria Park will help Derek Adams’ side win and keep hold of top spot in the First Division.
Quinn said: “I was born in Glasgow and moved out to Hamilton at an early age. They were my local team and I would go and see either Celtic or them playing. My Uncle Brian arranged for me to be a mascot there once and Billy Reid, who, of course, is the Manager there now, was playing but I have no idea what the score was or who the opponents were.”
Quinn moved from mascot to player at the Lanarkshire club as he explained: “I went there when I left Celtic in 2009 and played a few times for them in the SPL and the Scottish Cup. That was a great achievement for me and it was a great achievement by Hamilton to get there and stay there for three seasons.”
The midfielder left Celtic without forcing himself into their first team however, he has won silverware in his career as he explained: “I had loan spells at Kilmarnock and Livingston and I won a winners' medal playing at St. Johnstone on loan. We won the Challenge Cup 3-2 in the Final against Dunfermline at Dens Park in November 2007. That was my first ever national cup competition and it was a great experience.
“Owen Coyle had been our Manager but he had just left for Burnley and his assistant, Sandy Stewart, was in charge for the game. We were 3-0 up quite early with Paul Sheerin, Peter MacDonald and Kenny Deuchar all scoring in the opening half hour.”
Derek McInnes, who this week left Perth for Bristol City, and was the Saints' captain that day, came in to replace Stewart when he took the opportunity to join Coyle in Lancashire and his appointment was no surprise to Quinn.
He said: “You expected Derek to take over because even as a player, he had a presence about him and it is no surprise he has done so well. My boss at Ross County, Derek Adams, is like him in that they are both young Managers and have a great knowledge of the game.”
Quinn returned to Parkhead and had his temporary spell at Livingston where he ironically scored for Livi in a 4-1 Dingwall success before spending half a season at New Douglas Park. He found the net for Accies as well with an equalising goal at Ibrox in a Scottish Cup tie that Rangers eventually won 5-1.
Gordon Chisholm took Quinn to Queen of the South in the summer of 2009 before the former moved on to Dundee and Kenny Brannigan was in charge when the club reached last season’s ALBA Challenge Cup Final. Injury had already ruled Quinn out of the chance of picking up a second winners' medal and a 2-0 success for Ross County made it a doubly disappointing day.
“That was a good game to miss,” said Quinn before adding, “Queen of the South just never turned up that day.
"My contract at Palmerston ran out and there was a great deal of uncertainty over what was happening this season so I started to look elsewhere.
“The Director of Football at Ross County, George Adams, got in touch and, of course, I knew him from our days working together at Celtic. I met him and the Manager fairly quickly after our first chat and they really sold the club to me. It felt like the right move for me and that is how I still view it.”
Quinn was one of seven new faces at Victoria Park at the start of the season and after a sluggish opening, the men from Dingwall have quietly climbed the First Division table into top spot on the back of a seven game unbeaten run that started after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of this weekend’s opponents.
“We are beginning to gel now,” said Quinn ominously before adding, “We started slowly but have begun to find our feet. We are playing some good stuff but we have gone about our business in a quiet and disciplined fashion. We concentrate on working hard and on our own abilities with the Manager helping us take on board what we need to.
“We like to play a certain way which is to get the ball down and pass it. That is what the Manager encourages us to do all the time and that suits me as I like that approach to the game.”
A feeling of belonging was enhanced last weekend when Quinn netted his side’s second goal with a powerful shot from distance at Dens Park as County hit back to win 2-1 against Dundee and the match-winner said: “It was good to get my first goal especially as it was quite a good one. I caught it sweet but to be fair, I have had a few wild ones so it was good to balance things up.”
The Staggies are beginning to look well placed for a run at promotion this season with Quinn reckoning that competition and togetherness can drive them as he explained: “We have a really good squad and have competition all over the park for places. You cannot take your place for granted if you are in the starting XI as someone will be waiting to take your jersey if you do.
“In saying that, we are also very united in what we are trying to do. There is a great team spirit amongst a great set of boys who work hard but enjoy themselves as well.”
Highland life is certainly agreeing with the former Hamilton player who said: “I stay just down the road at Inverness and am really enjoying being up here. It is a great area and Ross County has all the hallmarks of a family club. The people at the club really cannot do enough for you.”
The Accies will pitch up at Victoria Park determined to put a spoke in the dreams of their former fan and Quinn will be ready as he explained: “Hamilton are definitely one of the top sides in this division and they have tremendous facilities at the club as well. To get to the SPL and stay there for a few years tells you all you need to know about the quality at the club.
“They will be fired up for this game and looking to go back to the top at our expense so it should be a right good game but we are looking still to be top come Saturday night.”
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