Jimmy Quinn 1989-1991
A well-travelled and experienced Centre Forward Quinn was signed from Bradford City in 1989, Quinn scored 22 goals in 42 games for the Hammers before moving on to Bournemouth. Quinn’s return will surprise many as Quinn was known as “Jimmy the Tree” because of his lack movement but he played a part in getting the club promoted in 1991.
Quinn moved to Bournemouth where again he scored 19 goals in one season then moved onto Reading where he went onto play nearly 300 games for the Royals scoring just short of 100 goals. Quinn is still fondly remembered at the Royals and was recently voted the clubs greatest ever striker. Quinn moved on from Reading to Peterborough in 1997 and then onto Swindon in 1999, he then moved into non-League football Quinn finally hung up his boots aged 46 having scored 578 League games scoring 210 goals.
Quinn has had some success as a Manger starting as a player manager with Reading in 1994, he has managed Swindon, Northwich Victoria, Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge and Bournemouth, and he also had a spell managing in the Norwegian second tier with Egersunds IK
Quinn had a short lived but successful spell with West Ham and has gone onto have a successful and varied career.
Tim Breacker 1990-1999
Breacker signed from Luton Town for £600,000 in October 1990. Breacker was an athletic full back who went onto play with distinction for the club for 9 years. Despite being an attacking full back Breacker only scored 8 goals for the club in nearly 300 games.
Breacker moved onto to QPR in 1999 where he stayed for two years finally retiring in 2001. After his playing days Breacker has completed his coaching badges and has worked in both scouting and coaching.
His coaching career began at QPR under Ian Holloway and Breacker followed Holloway to Plymouth and Leicester where he was sacked along with Holloway in 2008. Breacker has gone onto work for Millwall, Charlton and Bradford and is currently employed by Bolton Wanderers as chief scout
Scott Minto 1999-2003
Minto began his career with Charlton, making his debut at the tender age of 17. Minto went on to make over 200 appearances for Charlton before moving to Chelsea in 1994.
Minto went on to play a number of significant games for Chelsea despite some terrible injury problems, his final game was the 1997 FA Cup Final in which Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough. Minto was then signed by Benfica, he featured sporadically for the Portuguese giants before signing for West Ham in 1999.
Minto played 14 games in the 1998-99 season in which the club finished 5th still the clubs highest Premier League position, his attacking ball playing style suited the team at the time, but his time with the Hammers was significantly interrupted by injuries and eventually Minto was released by the club at the end of his contract in 2003, Minto’s final game for the club was the 6-0 hammering at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in 2003.
From West Ham he moved onto Rotherham but his career was winding down and another injury interrupted time led to him retiring in 2006.
Minto moved into the media making appearance commentating on live games for Sky’s soccer Saturday, he then presented the Spanish football show Revista La Liga he is now the Presenter of the newly re-branded EFL show, as well as presenting the live EFL Games shown on Sky.