Quinn was capped 46 times for his country and is one of Northern Ireland's top goalscorers, scoring twelve goals at senior level.
The pinnacle of his league football career was winning the Second Division "Golden Boot" award for the 1993–94 season, having scored 40 goals for Reading, who were promoted as champions.
He made his full debut at the end of the season, forming an attacking partnership with Paul Rideout, in a 3–2 win over Oxford United on 4 May.
After scoring 23 goals in 83 appearances for Rovers, Lou Macari persuaded Quinn to return to the County Ground in December 1986, for a fee of £50,000.
Quinn missed the play-off final replay versus Gillingham through injury, but Swindon sealed promotion to the Second Division.
During his time at the club, Quinn scored eighteen league goals in forty-seven games, playing a part in their return to the First Division.
[3] Quinn was a full international for Northern Ireland for 11 years, winning 46 caps and scoring 12 goals, making him one of the highest scorers in their history.
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first Quinn was appointed joint player-manager of Reading with Mick Gooding in December 1994 on the departure of Mark McGhee to Leicester City.
Quinn scored the final goal in a 4–3 defeat to Bolton Wanderers, making Reading the only team to finish second in English football's second tier and not get promoted.
Swindon Town were rock bottom from mid-November until the end of the season, breaking a club record of nineteen games without a win in the process.
Quinn moved to recently relegated Shrewsbury Town at the start of the 2003–04 season, and secured their immediate return to the Football League by winning the Conference playoff final.
On 15 September 2006 Quinn was appointed manager of Conference National strugglers Cambridge United, signing a two-year contract, with his former Peterborough teammate Steve Castle as his assistant.
Quinn led his Cambridge side to the play-offs in the 2007–08 season – beating Burton Albion 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-finals to set up a final against Exeter City at Wembley.
In June 2008, Quinn parted company with the club by mutual consent after lengthy talks with chairman Phillip Law.
[7] After 121 days on 31 December, Quinn was sacked after a run of poor results, including a 2–0 loss at home to fellow relegation battlers, Barnet.