JIMMY Quinn was a late starter as far as professional football is concerned.

But the former Blackburn Rovers striker is also a quick learner, as Manchester United may find to their FA Cup cost at Elm Park tomorrow.

And, for a man who might be described as something of a bread-and-butter footballer, he's had his share of jam too.

Though nothing like as much as the highly-priced United stars he will line up against for Reading tomorrow.

The likes of Andy Cole and Eric Cantona could probably earn more in a year than the ex-Ewood centre forward has picked up in a career.

But, even at the age of 36, and with one or two thoughts about what he might have made in a later era, the beautiful game is still the main thing for Quinn. He is in a unique situation too, one half of Reading's remarkable double act.

Quinn and Mick Gooding are joint player-managers at Elm Park where they are planning a few nasty surprises for United's superstars tomorrow.

Reading is the much-travelled striker's eighth League club - counting Swindon twice - so he will have made a bob or two.

Probably without travelling quite as far as when he drove a van for the Post Office and played part-time for Oswestry!

But not as much as he could have earned in today's top flight awash with TV and sponsorship money.

"I wish I was 10 years younger," admitted the man who was in the Northern Ireland squad which went to the World Cup finals a decade ago.

"The money in the game in the last three or four years has become phenomenal.

"I'm not going to knock players, but from what I've seen of current Premiership standards, I could have really been in business at my best. No problem.

"I remember when I was at Swindon in my first season, I was top scorer in the whole of the old Second Division with 31 goals. And I was on £245 a week! "But I've always appreciated everything I've got from the game.

"Some of the young lads today don't realise what a good job they've got. They look at the money there is around and think they've got it made without working for it.

"Not many of them seem to love the game like me and Mick. I'm delighted I'm still playing at 36, and still enjoying it."

Quinn wasn't always appreciated on the terraces during his stint at Ewood but, wherever he has gone, he has scored goals at a modest cost.

And Rovers fans will remember his crucial contribution to the FA Cup run of 11 years ago.

A goalless draw at Portsmouth saw Quinn's double clinch a 2-1 third round replay win, followed by a trip to Oxford in the fourth round.

The head of Quinn claimed a 1-0 success and lined up a rare - in those days - "live" TV fifth round spectacular at Ewood against...Manchester United! United actually enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 success on the way to Wembley.

There they claimed the trophy against Everton with a squad including Kevin Moran, Frank Stapleton and Mike Duxbury, all later to wear the blue and white halves.

But Quinn believes there could be something of a culture shock in store for the present-day Old Trafford superstars tomorrow.

"They say the cup's a great leveller and nothing is going to level things up more than Elm Park," he explained.

"United will really be slumming it. They won't believe our facilities after what they're used to. Wait until they see our changing rooms.

"A few of them will have to stand outside while the rest are getting ready.

"As for the pitch, it's probably the worst in the League. There's more sand than grass and if there's a hint of damp in the air, the ball just dies." Quinn, and Gooding, went close to their greatest achievement at Wembley last May when they just missed out on a Premiership place, despite having finished runners-up in the First Division.

But they have shrugged off the disappointment.

Injuries - they have used seven keepers - have disrupted plans of a repeat in the League but they have already beaten Southampton this season and reached the quarter finals of the Coca-Cola Cup, leading Leeds at Elland Road through a Quinn goal before losing 2-1.

"I think we might just have held our own in the Premiership and this is a great yardstick to test that again," added Quinn.

It would be good to see him return to Ewood at some stage, leading a Premiership team.

But, just for the moment, his priority is to dream up a few nightmares for United at Elm Park.

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