Nineteen years ago today, Alan Quinn wrote his name in Sheffield football folklore by becoming the first - and so far only - player to score for both Sheffield United and Wednesday in a Steel City derby. The midfielder’s magic moment came in a 1-0 win over his former club on December 3, 2005, at Bramall Lane.
Three seasons earlier he’d netted for Wednesday on the same pitch in a 3-1 Blades one and this strike was a peach, a left-footed volley right in front of the Owls fans after a good Blades move saw the ball deflected into his path. Quinn’s shot hit Neil Shipperley on the line, but the referee decided the ball had already crossed it and the Blades went on to win 1-0 – and later achieve promotion to the Premier League that season.
"I didn't know what to do when I scored," Quinn said at the time. "I didn't want to make a meal of it in front of the Wednesday fans." Quinn instead celebrated with manager Neil Warnock, who had earlier in the week looked like he was leaving for Portsmouth. "On Monday and Tuesday, we all thought the gaffer was going," Quinn admitted. "We're delighted he stayed and we owed him that for staying. He's just said: 'Now win the league for me'."
But what happened to the Blades squad from that historic derby win, almost two decades later? Let’s take a look...
1. Paddy Kenny
A Blades favourite who still lives locally, Kenny runs his own transport business and is also a successful after-dinner speaker regaling fans with tales of his eventful football career Photo: Nigel Roddis
2. Rob Kozluk
Seen as the joker in United’s pack, Kozluk could play as well and his versatility on either flank was handy for United. After retiring he moved into coaching and also became a scout, working with Derby and Stoke. Has more recently been seen at United games doing commentary work | Getty Images
3. Leigh Bromby
One of three former Owls in the Blades line-up that day, Bromby had two spells at Bramall Lane as a player and also moved into coaching after hanging up his boots. After spells at Leeds and Huddersfield, he became Town’s head of football operations in 2020 before leaving last year | JPI Photo: sub
4. Craig Short
A veteran defender brought in by Warnock to help United over the promotion line with his experience, Short remained in the game after hanging up his boots and is assistant head coach at United’s Championship rivals Oxford United Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images