Niall Quinn and Tony Cascarino were the two tallest footballers I ever met — and I met them both on the same day.
Quinn, a Dubliner, stood 6 ft. 4 in his stockings, and Cascarino was two inches over six feet.
I met them at Mick McCarthy’s first-ever training session. I told Niall that one of the things that surprised me watching the team’s first practice under Mick’s guidance was the sheer amount of short passing they undertook in small confined spaces. That wasn’t a style Mick himself indulged in during his playing days.
Niall commented that at this first practice it quickly became evident how comfortable the players were on the ball. That whetted my appetite for the upcoming international. I’d known Mick since his time in charge at Millwall.
Tony Cascarino, “Big Cass” (or, to give him his full proper name, Anthony Guy Cascarino) was a very different kettle of fish from Quinny. The big striker was born in St Paul’s Cray in South-East London. His accent immediately stamped him as different. His father was Italian, his mother English.
Cass played for the Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 1988, and in the World Cups of 1990 and 1994. In England he played for Gillingham, Millwall, Aston Villa, Celtic and Chelsea. And in Europe he had spells at Marseille (61 goals), Nancy (44 goals) and Red Star 93.
Between 1985 and 1999 Cass made 88 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, scoring 19 goals — not bad for a guy who, it later transpired, wasn’t really qualified to play for Ireland at all! But that’s another story for another day.
For me, he was a happy-go-lucky man it was a delight to talk with, and a talented player who provided problems for any defenders he came up against.
Two talented tall guys I have very pleasant memories of.
