Quinn rescues stranded fans
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View GalleryBy Fiona Thompson
Niall Quinn stepped in to get 80 Sunderland supporters home after their flight was cancelled by airline bosses.
The club chairman was one of the passengers due to travel on the easyJet plane from Bristol to Newcastle last night following the team's 1-0 victory over Cardiff.
A dozen fans were taken off the aircraft and more than 100 were left waiting on board for more than an hour before the captain announced that it was being cancelled.
Staff claimed drunk passengers were causing a security risk, but fans and the club have said they saw no evidence of trouble.
The Irishman and his staff took action and called on a fleet of 18 taxis to make the 310 mile journey back to the North East
A total fare of £8,000 was run up on the taxis, with Quinn and his party also making sure those who had decided to catch the next flight were safe before they too headed home in one of the cars.
EasyJet said it scrapped the 9.25pm flight due to "disruptive behaviour" caused by those who had been drinking and offered passengers hotel accommodation and a transfer onto the next available flight.
Witnesses say two vans of police officers were called to escort fans from the plane and have praised Quinn for coming to their rescue.
http://www.sunderlandtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2207042&SectionID=1107Fans thrown off plane over Niall Quinn's Disco Pants
Audrey Gillan
Monday April 2, 2007
The Guardian
It began with a crowd of fans singing Niall Quinn's Disco Pants, led to the cancellation of an easyJet flight and ended with the aforenamed chairman of Sunderland football club shelling out £8,000 on taxis so they could all go home.
A 1-0 victory over Cardiff in the Championship on Saturday left Sunderland fans in a merry mood. On sighting the chairman - christened Saint Niall for rekindling fortunes at the Stadium of Light - the fans, to the tune of Here We Go, belted out: "Niall Quinn's disco pants are the best. They go up from his arse to his chest. They're better than Adam and the Ants. Niall Quinn's disco pants."
When they continued singing on the plane, easyJet called the police. Some fans were ejected and the flight was cancelled after missing its take-off slot. Quinn and some of his staff had been aboard, while the players had caught an earlier flight.
Around 100 Sunderland supporters were stuck at the airport until Quinn ordered taxis for everybody. One fan said: "It must have cost a fortune but it shows again that he's the most decent bloke in football. I can't think of a single chairman or a single club that would do something like that for its fans ... everyone thanks him from the bottom of their hearts."
A spokesman for easyJet said a group of passengers had been ejected for disruptive behaviour "and the flight was consequently cancelled. The airline offered those passengers not involved a free transfer on to the next available flight and hotel accommodation."
This account was disputed by Quinn, who said there was no disruptive behaviour. "The mood was humorous and everyone was in good spirits after our fine victory. Nevertheless we were faced with a situation where our fans were stranded and needed assistance. The club was happy to provide transport back to the north-east for the group, which included children, elderly and disabled fans, as their safety and wellbeing was paramount.
"We also deny the airline's claim that overnight accommodation was offered and this was witnessed by several independent parties. Thankfully everyone returned home safely and we will now draw a line under this. To any fans who still feel aggrieved, remember the three points came home as well."
The former Ireland international had his disco pants immortalised when he played for Manchester City - released as a single, the song peaked at No 56 in the UK singles chart in April 1999.
It is not Quinn's first act of generosity. In 2002 he donated the proceeds of his testimonial match between Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland to charity. Quinn, who played for both teams during the match, received an MBE. Instead of an appearance fee for the game, all the players received a letter from a sick child.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2048124,00.html