Still working on this page. If you want to contribute e-mail me.
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Preview of Queens V |
Stenhousemuir | ||
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Venue : Ochilview |
Date : 5th August, 2000 | ||
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Queens Team News | |||
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The pre season stuff's finished now, and it's down to the real business. Over the last couple of games in the undefeated pre season run, the only position that looked up for grabs was right back, and this is the one position that is difficult to call. Barring last minute injuries, the team I would expect to be along thesee lines. Let battle commence! | |||
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Probable Queens Team | |||
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Atkinson |
Martin |
Aitken |
Hodge |
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Sunderland |
Nelson |
Boyle |
Weir |
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Hawke |
Weatherson |
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My Prediction : |
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I think we can do it. In this match at least. I was not at the Penrith game, but from what I have heard, Queens played with much more flair than in the last couple of seasons. To put a bit of a damper on things, Stenny beat Spennymore 5-1 in their final pre season match, and I think they are a slightly better standard than Penrith, so their form looks good too. Even this early in the season, this will be a good pointer as to what kind of season we can expect and to be honest, if we can come away with a 0-0 draw I would take that right now. | |||
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Read Our Rival's Views at : |
Stenhousemuir don't have a site on the Rivals Network. Any Stenny fans reading this who think they could do a job, get in touch. | ||
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How To Get There : |
The best way to get there is as always on the Travel Club bus which leaves Tesco at 11:00 . Anyone wanting to book seats should phone Jim McCormick on (01387) 272102. If you plan to travel yourself click here for directions (Sorry, not available this week due to the lack of a Stenhousemuir site.) . | ||
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Mangle Opponents Face At |
Look Out For the New Site Going Live. | ||
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Two Opponents to Watch : |
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When New Site Live. |
When New Site Live. | ||
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Last 3 Seasons : (Queens First) |
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1997/1998 |
1-2 |
0-2 | |
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1998/1999 |
N/A |
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1999/2000 |
1-2 |
0-2 | |
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So Far This Season (Click for Report) |
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Stenhousemuir's Recent Form : |
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2/8/00
A correction to my Gateshead report, it turns out P Atkinson, who played at right back, was the same guy who has been playing as a trialist for the last few games and has now been signed. By the way, the P stands for Patrick and he was previously with a Professional Club in the North East (can't remember right now, will find out, think it could have been Hartlepool but don't quote me. I have decided holding off with player profiles for this year until I've had a chance to see the new players and will probably wait until the new site is going (see later).
Had a couple of e-mails about John McCaig who it would seem is on trial at Sunderland. Can anyone provide any more details.
Rumour has it that 17 year old John McCaig of the Queens under 18's squad is currently on a months trial with Sunderland. Any Update.
bhamilton [bhamilton@ukonline.co.uk]
I heard that young John McCaig who is presently on a months trial with Sunderland F.C. played his first game with Sunderland Reserves on Sunday against Stenhousemuir (Score 3-3) and played a good steady game. Seems Queens have some hidden talent in the Under 18's. Is there more where he came from????
The new site is now almost read to go live, and believe me, will be worth the wait. Please keep your browsers pointing at www.qosfan.co.uk and remove any links to www.doonhamer.fsnet.co.uk.
Take a note of this date for your diary, its the Sunday after the Dumfries show and our season will just have started. Bring the kids along for a great fun day out, hey, even if you don't have any kids, you'll have a great day yourself. So come on, have fun and also help the South.
Among the attractions planned so far are :-
As you can see, there will be loads for everyone, you can look forward to a great day out in the sun (I guarantee it!), it is hoped that Queens players past and present will be on hand, everybody has to come. The above is only an outline of what it is hoped will be available, I will bring you regular updates when I have them.
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Saturday |
29th July, 2000 |
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The Local Park |
Penrith |
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Friendly |
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Attendance : |
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Queens 4 |
Penrith 0 |
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Boyle (2) |
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(Nixon 45) |
(D Paterson 54) |
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(R Atkinson 66) |
(Muir 45) |
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(Caldwell 63) |
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Unused Subs : |
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I've got a cheek, but I wasn't there and I haven't heard from eDoonhamer yet, so I am going to do a bit of a summary based on what I have read on the Official Site.
It all sounds very encouraging, I don't know how good a team Penrith are but one thing it does show, the guys we have signed from this league are actually better players than the league, if you see what I mean!
It sounds as if we got some flowing football going, and this is something that has been sorely lacking for a couple of years. The one position we don't seem to have settled on yet is right back, yet another player tried there this week, but the rest of the team is starting to take some shape. I am encouraged by what I have heard and seen of Mark Weir, he is still far from the finished article but he is getting there. We badly need someone to provide a bit of width and get the crosses, and it's time for Mark to show he is the man who can do this. I actually seen one of the Euro 2000 managers (can't remember which one) say that the reason Engerland failed in the Euro Championships is that they still rely on players putting in crosses while the rest of the world now tries to go through the middle. Well, I don't think this has quite filtered down to the Scottish Second Division yet, but if it does, we look reasonably OK here too, Denis Boyle finally looks ready to make the jump and Tony Nelson looks like he will be a superb foil for him and actually protect the defence at the same time.
Good to see Weatherson notch again, I think with confidence he and Hawke will deliver the goals.
Before we all get carried away through, please note that next weeks opponents, Stenhousemuir, also had a good win against Spennymoor, who are at least of an equal if not better standard than Penrith, seeing them of 5-1.
It's next week that counts, lets get the job done! | |
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Man of the Match : |
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Read the Opposition's View at - |
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Preview of Queens V |
Penrith | ||
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Venue : Penrith |
Date : 29th July, 2000 | ||
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Queens Team News | |||
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I don't have enough Brownie Points left to get to Penrith
for a pre season friendly but I hope to able to bring you
some kind of report tomorrow (Alex!). | |||
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Probable Queens Team | |||
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Robison |
Martin |
Aitken |
Hodge |
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Heppell |
Nelson |
Sunderland |
Boyle |
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Hawke |
Weatherson |
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At least, that's |
the team I'd like |
to see. |
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My Prediction : |
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We should finish our pre season campaign undefeated with a victory today. It's next week that counts through and I have to say after some of the things I heard on Tuesday night, I'm a bit more optimistic for the new season now. | |||
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Read Our Rival's Views at : |
None This Week | ||
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How To Get There : |
The best way to get there is a always on the Travel Club bus which leaves Tesco at 11:30. . Anyone wanting to book seats should phone Jim McCormick on (01387) 272102. If you plan to travel yourself click here for directions. | ||
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Mangle Opponents Face At |
None This Week | ||
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Two Opponents to Watch : |
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Dunno |
Dunno | ||
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Last 3 Seasons : |
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1997/1998 |
N/A |
N/A | |
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1998/1999 |
N/A |
N/A | |
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1999/2000 |
N/A |
N/A | |
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So Far This Season (Click for Report) |
N/A |
N/A | |
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N/A |
N/A | ||
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Penrith's Recent Form : |
Dunno |
Dunno |
Dunno |
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Dunno |
Dunno |
Dunno | |
Friday's Courier
Well done the Courier, a four page special on Queen of the South is a great improvement on last season's coverage, lets hope they can keep to this standard. The first thing to mention, which I actually heard on West Sound during the week but forgot to report, is that Queens have yet again suffered financially for their lack of on the field discipline, this time to the tune of a £2,000 fine imposed by the S.F.A. (why have they got it in for us?;-)). Lets hope that this is the first thing John Connelly has sorted out.
The four page special kicks of with a picture of the squad taken at the photo call on Tuesday night. As you will see, there are a few of them! (Thanks to Colin Johnston by the way for the use of this picture.)
Underneath is the headline screaming out "SURVIVAL IS MAIN GOAL". Unfortunately, this has to be true for this season. Anything else will be a bonus but far from impossible. John Connolly himself wants to be pushing for promotion next season but will be happy to survive this time out. He says " When I came across and saw the last 4 games, the standard was dreadful. There was no commitment, the spirit was bad and the team looked poor." This is pretty much what I heard on Tuesday, but I also heard he has been much more impressed with the guys still left from last season during pre season training.
Next up is an interview with Chairman, Ronnie Bradford. Highlighted here are his words "I just hope the fans have some patience with us next season as we try to get the formula right". I'll second that, lets face it, we can't be any worse than last year. I know I've cast doubts about the validity of the idea of training in Dumfries, but I will wait and see and really I'm just saying that cause I don't want to seem like a total yes man! In reality, I'm right behind everything the board and management are doing (I advocated most of it after all) and I hope everybody else will give them a chance too. On the travelling front, by the way, I'm told one of the coaches actually brings a van load of players over from the North East, so its not like they are all having to drive.
The next page features interviews with several fans (why didn't they ask me? Not that I'd have given them an exclusive anyway!). On the whole, as usual, the fans are very optimistic. I say as usual, I think the fact that Queens were still the third best supported team in the league last season shows that Queens fans are very loyal, they may express displeasure when things don't go right, but on the whole will remain behind the team.
The final page features a player profile section for this year's squad, which I won't rehash because you know fine you will get better ones here, and basically, they are just a rehash of what Colin has already said on the official site.
Finally, an interview with secretary Shaw. Not much new in this bit.
Thank you Courier, keep up the good work.
Little Bits of News
Graeme Duncan has signed for Queens Park.
Anybody still using www.doonhamer.fsnet.co.uk, could you please start using www.qosfan.co.uk. This site will soon just redivert you to the new site, so it will speed up your browsing experience, folks, and I mean that most sincerely, I really do, what am I going on about?
26/7/00
Queens have been dominating the lives of the residents of Dumfries more than usual for the last few weeks as they feature in a poster campaign for the Dumfries and Galloway Standard. This picture is taken from the board on the Annan Road near the railway bridge. The strange thing is, I'm not sure who the featured player is. I can make out Denis Boyle in the background and I think its Graham Duncan, but I'm not sure. The same thing happened with a picture in the Standard last year. There was a guy in a picture who I just didn't recognize. I was eventually told it was George Rowe, but even then I looked at the picture and still couldn't tell. Can someone put me out of my misery and confirm just who this one is.
25/7/00
I was at Palmerston tonight for the official photo call, and I picked up some interesting little bits and pieces along the way.
First order of business was to get my photo taken with Andy Aitken, who's away strip 'The Only Team in The Bible' will be sponsoring next season. So the bad news for Andy is, if the cheque bounces, it could be topless at Arbroath on 10th February!
I then had a very good chat with Colin from the official site. Although we have been talking to each other via e-mail for the last three years, we've never actually talked face to face, it was good to talk to him at last. Colin was there taking photos for the Official Site and was managing fine with the initial trickle of players until suddenly the North East bus came in and about 20 appeared at once. Colin gave me his note book to jot down the players names as he took their photos, which was a bit daunting as I hadn't a clue who 90% of them were! Not giving in easily though, I simply went to stand beside Craig Paterson and said 'who's that then Craig' to every player! Any errors on the Official Site are down to Craig then!
I heard that at least two of Saturday's subs, Dean Muir and Danny Paterson, have now signed and both looked good during their brief run outs on Saturday. It doesn't look like John Dickson will be back through. He has been offered a new contract but hasn't been in touch with the club since the end of last season. Hasn't signed for anyone else through so he might yet be gracing the Palmerston pitch next season.
John Connolly has been impressed with the Queens youngsters in training, particularly Andy Aitken, Mark Weir, Denis Boyle and Brian Caldwell. The word is that having assessed the squad he is more impressed than he was on first sighting and will give the young guys a chance.
Keep checking the Official Site for those photos and I hope to be able to bring you some soon too.
21/7/00
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Saturday |
22nd July, 2000 |
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Palmerston Park |
Dumfries |
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Friendly |
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Attendance : |
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Queens 1 |
Gateshead 0 |
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Weatherston (66) |
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Dean Muir (65) |
D. Paterson (65) |
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Suddick (71) |
Craig Armstrong (80) |
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Unused Subs : |
G. Paterson |
R. McColm |
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Match Report: | |||
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Man of the Match : |
Andy Martin |
Looked assured at the back and never under pressure despite a couple of slightly dodgy moments. |
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Queens meet the new Airdrie, Ole, Steve Archibald and all his Spanish mates 11, in the first round of the Challenge Cup at the Sky High Prices Excuse for a Stadium, or whatever its called, on the 15th of August. The full draw is :
Stranraer v Berwick Brechin v Ayr Albion v Clydebank Ross County v Clyde East Stirling v East Fife Queen's Park v Montrose Stirling v Arbroath Partick v Livingston Elgin v Dumbarton Alloa v ICT Cowdenbeath v Falkirk Airdrie v QOS Raith v Morton Forfar v Peterhead Stenny and Hamilton got byes
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Preview of Queens V |
Gateshead | ||
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Venue : Palmerston |
Date : 22nd July, 2000 | ||
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Queens Team News | |||
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I don't know! This will be the first time I have seen the new look Queens, and I'm looking forward to being able to at least put a face to the names, and start putting together some player profiles for next season. I would imagine there will be the usual pre season mixture of trialists, regulars and new boys, but it really is too early to start making predictions on how Queens will do. On the downside, I was talking to a guy who played against them for Annan and he wasn't impressed at all, he recons the new guys are battlers without too much skill about them and the rest of the team aren't much better. Still, could be exactly what we need in division two. I look forward with interest. | |||
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Probable Queens Team | |||
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Robison |
Nixon |
Aitken |
Hodge |
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Callaghan |
Sunderland |
Nelson |
Weir |
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Hawke |
Weatherston |
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My Prediction : |
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Too early to really worry about the result, we're undefeated so far but the opposition isn't exactly the best and we were at this time last year too! | |||
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Read Our Rival's Views at : |
None This Week. | ||
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Mangle Opponents Face At |
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Two Opponents to Watch : |
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Dunno |
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Last 3 Seasons : |
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1997/1998
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1998/1999 |
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1999/2000 |
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So Far This Season (Click for Report) |
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Gateshead's Recent Form : |
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16/7/00
Here's a couple of rumours that I heard in the pub yesterday (I love investigative journalism!).
Apparently the reason for Stevie Mallan's departure was that he was told by the manager that he wouldn't figure in the first team, but was seen as a reserve team player. Stevie felt this left him no option but to put in for a transfer and move to a club which offered him a first team place. This is perhaps a fair reason, I may have felt the same if it was me.
For those who have been putting posting on the official site calling for the return of Nesovic, you are going to be sorely disappointed! Nesovic is staying in Dumfries at the moment, and apparently he went to Palmerston with a view to getting his foot in the door. However, I hear, he wasn't made to welcome and he was a bit nonplussed about the reception he got as he obviously expected a hero's welcome! Some supporters may not be aware of the hassle surrounding his departure from the club, all I can say is that he certainly didn't behave as a professional, and that is why it is unlikely that he will ever don the royal blue again.
That's all for now!
e-Doonhamer.
15/7/00
I'd rather do a match review, rather than report, today (if that's alright!).
My journey times to North Shields on the north bank of the Tyne, East of Newcastle were about right. However I hadn't banked on having to use local directions to the ground! For starters it isn't sign posted, and don't ask anyone over fifty, as they will send you to the old stadium, which according to locals was impressive, and nothing like the public park on which they now play.
Having met up with fellow supporters in a local bar (the hospitality was good!) it was a short walk to the public park which now hosts North Shields F.C. My first impressions were poor. No entrance gates, young lads walking about with golf clubs, one older gentleman with a large wooden plank, oh no, here we go! However, definitely a case of don't judge a book by it's cover! The boys with golf clubs had no interest in football, they were using the large "green" behind the east goals as a driving range, and the guy with the wooden club was trying to do what the English can't, play cricket!
For this friendly Queens lined up as this: -
1 Mathieson; 2 Robison (replaced at have time by Atkinson with the same shirt); 3 Hodge; 4 Nixon; 5 Martin; 6 Callaghan; 7 Sunderland; 8 Nelson; 9 Hawke; 10 Wetherston 11 Weir;
subs; Boyle, Caldwell, Aitken, Siddick.
Not much to report on the game, Queen's looked lackluster, and appeared to be sussing each other out. There were no real chances in the first half, though Queens had much of the play. The only real chances were blazed over, and the best laugh we had was when the opposition keeper ask for a swig from one of the many beer drinking Queens fans behind the goal! All credit to the away support, who came down in numbers. There must have been around fifty, and gave a decent enough support to Queen's, considering most playing faces are still strange.
The second half was much of the same, and the only real chance fell to North Shields, which thankfully was spooned over the bar.
This certainly wasn't a game to write home about, and the most impressive Queen's players were of the old school. Warren Hawke always looked dangerous, and Mark Weir in the first half provided the runs and crosses of which he has become known. Caldwell and Boyle made appearances in the second half and looked capable. In terms of the new boys, I'm afraid the jury is out! Sunderland looked useful, so did Nixon. Callaghan in the first half provided a couple of decent chances, but Wetherston didn't get much chance to use them. Perhaps we played a team which knew the opposition too well?
The hospitality offered was brilliant! The Queens fans were all invited back to a nearby hostelry, for a buffet and post-match drinks, which was gratefully received. The locals, despite some postings on the official website were all friendly, and this definitely wasn't played on the middle of a "rough housing estate". The game finished nil nil, and any spectator really can't argue with the score.
I spoke at length with John Connelly after the match (without disclosing my identity!), in which he informed me that better is to come, and he thinks we have a better team than the end of last season (no arguments there!), and we have players who are committed. Much of this remains to be seen, however he spoke to me with the confidence of some one who knows what they are doing, and where they are going. There can be no argument that we were poor at the end of the season, but we must improve on this performance if we are to be a force in the Second Division.
e-Doonhamer.
12/7/00
I'm back from my holidays (all refreshed and raring to go!), in Letterkenny, Denis Boyle country, but again I didn't come across anybody who knew anything about him. I have trawled through over 400 e-mails, most of which ended up in the same place as my real mail, the bin, but some of which proved quite useful, had a read through the Official Site and the new 'rumours' site run by Andy Cowan at http://www.qosweb.co.uk, and am ready to summarize what has been going on for the last few weeks.
To start with, some news that I haven't read anywhere else is that John Hillcoat has signed for Dumbarton. I know, to my cost, that a lot of you thought a great deal of Hillcoat, as every time I even suggested a criticism, I was bombarded by hate mail :-), so drop a line to Jason.Drummond@Calanais.com if you want to let him know how good Hillcoat actually was.
Now, onto the re-hashes. Lets start with the ins and outs. Most significant, but not most surprising, was Steve Mallan, our top scorer for the last 5 seasons, requesting a transfer just before I left, the only question in most people minds, would he go to Stranraer or Arbroath. By the time I returned it was confirmed that he would be joining Big Jim (Queens Fan) and our Tam at Arbroath. More surprising is the fact that George Rowe will also be joining this ever expanding little colony of Doonhamers in the Northern outpost. At least there will be a couple of games at Palmerston next season were we will recognize most of the team, even if it is the opposition. Also, Ally McMillan's contract has expired without renewal, and although he is still training with Queens, he will, as recommended by me :-), be moving on. One thing that worries me about this, our 2 senior players, both central belt based, have looked at the prospect of travelling to Dumfries twice a week for training and decided it isn't on. I'm worried that the guys we are signing just now are coming in wide eyed and exited at stepping up to a senior league, but once the reality sets in, will quickly become disillusioned. This training in Dumfries issue, admirable as it is, is the one point about the new management regime that really worries me. I hope I'm wrong. On the subject of bright eyed youngsters, 2 new forwards have been signed from the north east, Peter Weatherson, 20, from Newcastle Blue Star and Jarrodd Suddick, 30, (OK, not exactly a youngster) from Tow Law.
And so, on to the action. Queens won the Annan tournament in what sounds like quite convincing style. I discovered just before I left that Carlisle had pulled out of the tournament and been replaced by Whitehill Welfare, however, I liked my preview so much, I decided not to change it! A Queens side that contained very few names I personally had heard before, seemed to make short work of possibly the best non league team in Scotland with a 4-1 win, featuring a Mark Weir hat trick and one from Brian Caldwell. I have decided that I have been giving Mark Weir too much abuse recently (following his abuse of me at George Rowe's testimonial) and in future will let bygones be bygones and give him a break. He's actually not a bad young player, needs a bit of work to become the finished article, but the potential is there. However, I have to say that the team that beat Annan 3-0 in the final, with a Warne Hawke hat-trick, looked much more interesting and more like what I think could be the strongest side, although I'm saying this before I've seen half the players! The Team was : -
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I'll predict this early, even before I've seen half of them as I said, that this won't be far of the starting line up for our first competitive game. (Who is this Trialist guy by the way?).
Anything else? Let's see, ticket prices are up to £9.00 for adults next season, still the same for everyone else, and I've now received my season ticket so if yours hasn't arrived yet perhaps you should be chasing it.
For anyone who is interested, here is a pretty complete list of pre season friendlies for all Scottish clubs received from the SFA (Not including Queens, interestingly!).
FRIENDLY MATCH LIST FOR SCOTTISH CLUBS - SEASON 2000-2001
For information, here is an updated list of all pre-season friendlies which have been notified to the SFA. All matches to be played on the ground of the first named club, unless stated. Kick-off times are detailed where known.
7 July Ghent v Rangers, tbc 8 July Elgin City v Aberdeen, 3.00 Lossiemouth v East Stirlingshire, 3.00 9 July Bray Wanderers v Celtic, 2.00 11 July Berwick Rangers v St Mirren, 7.30 Bohemians v Dundee United, tbc 12 July Deveronvale v Ross County, 7.30 FC Bocholt v Rangers, 7.00 Copenhagen v Celtic, 7.00 13 July Bray Wanderers v Dundee United, tbc Quick 1920 v Rangers, 7.00 14 July Clachnacuddin v Ross County, 7.30 Sachsen Lepzig v Celtic, 6.00 15 July Buckie Thistle v Peterhead, 3.00 Coldstream v Ashington, 3.00 East Fife v Hibernian, 3.00 Golspie Sutherland v Deveronvale, 3.00 Livingston v Heart of Midlothian, 3.00 St Johnstone v Norwich City, 3.00 Blackpool v St Mirren, tbc HZW v Rangers, 7.00 St Patricks Athletic v Dundee United, tbc 16 July Girvan v Ayr United, 2.00 Alphense Boys v Rangers, 2.00 17 July Clyde v Kilmarnock, 7.30 Elgin City v Mansfield Town, 7.30 Livingston v Huddersfield Town, 7.30 Raith Rovers v Dundee, 7.30 Stirling Albion v Heart of Midlothian XI, 7.30 18 July Albion Rovers v St Mirren, tbc Coldstream v Berwick Rangers, tbc Lossiemouth v Inverness CT, 7.30 Vale of Leithen v Hibernian XI, tbc Mainz v Hibernian, tbc Niort v Heart of Midlothian (in Melle), 7.00 19 July Berwick Rangers v Heart of Midlothian XI, 7.30 Clyde v St Johnstone, 7.30 Dunfermline Athletic v Huddersfield Town, 7.30 Livingston XI v Preston North End, 7.30 Peterhead v Celtic XI, 8.00 Queen¹s Park v Norwich City, 7.30 Rangers v Ghent, 7.45 Stenhousemuir v Livingston, 7.30 Stirling Albion v Falkirk, 7.30 Karlsruher v Hibernian, tbc 20 July Brechin City v Ross County, 7.30 Forfar Athletic v Dundee United XI, 2.00 Gala Fairydean v Carlisle United, 7.00 Inverness CT v Mansfield Town, 7.30 St Mirren v Doncaster Rovers, tbc Libourne v Heart of Midlothian, 7.00 21 July Livingston v Rangers, 7.30 Peterhead v Inverness CT, 8.00 Grimsby Town v Dundee, 7.30 Spennymoor Utd v Arbroath, tbc Stuttgart Kickers v Hibernian, tbc 22 July Albion Rovers v Heart of Midlothian XI, 3.00 Brechin City v Dundee United, 2.00 Buckie Thistle v Hibernian XI, tbc Celtic v Bordeaux, 3.00 Cove Rangers v Airdrieonians, 3.00 Dunfermline Athletic v Norwich City, 3.00 East Fife v Rangers Under 21s, 3.00 Falkirk v Preston North End, 3.00 Inverness CT v Aberdeen, 3.00 Montrose v Ross County, tbc Motherwell v Huddersfield Town, 3.00 Queen¹s Park v Kilmarnock, 3.00 Bedlington Terriers v Cowdenbeath, tbc Carlisle United v St Johnstone, 3.00 Derry City v Partick Thistle, 3.00 Whitley Bay v Arbroath, tbc Toulouse v Heart of Midlothian, 6.00 23 July Berwick Rangers v Livingston, 2.00 Buckie Thistle v Airdrieonians, 3.00 Nairn County v Hibernian XI, tbc SV Weingarten v Hibernian, tbc 24 July Albion Rovers v Clyde, 7.30 Clyde v Walsall, 7.30 East Fife v Rochdale, 7.30 Falkirk v Kilmarnock, 7.30 Forfar Athletic v Heart of Midlothian XI, 7.45 Peterhead v Airdrieonians, 8.00 Rangers Under 18 v Tranmere Rovers Under 18, 1.00 (at Science Park, Glasgow) Stirling Albion v Dunfermline Athletic, 7.30 Portadown v Partick Thistle, 7.30 25 July Celtic v West Ham United, 7.45 East Stirlingshire v Livingston XI, 7.30 Fort William v Inverness CT, 7.30 Motherwell v Livingston, 7.30 26 July Albion Rovers v Ayr United, 7.30 Cowdenbeath v Heart of Midlothian XI, 7.30 Deveronvale v Peterhead, 8.00 Edinburgh City v Hibernian Under 18s, tbc Gala Fairydean v Berwick Rangers, 7.15 Partick Thistle v Peterborough United, 7.45 Raith Rovers v Walsall, 7.30 Rangers Under 18 v Dunfermline Athletic Under 18, 1.00 (at Science Park, Glasgow) 28 July Cove Rangers v Livingston, 7.30 Deveronvale v Hamilton Academical, 7.30 Lossiemouth v Falkirk, 7.30 Burscough v Queen¹s Park, tbc Carrick Rangers v Fraserburgh, 7.30 29 July Arbroath v Albion Rovers, 3.00 Berwick Rangers v Hartlepool Utd, 2.00 Buckie Thistle v Brechin City, 3.00 Coldstream v Steelend Juniors, tbc Elgin City v Falkirk, 3.00 Forfar Athletic v Alloa Athletic, 3.00 Forres Mechanics v Cowdenbeath, 3.00 Huntly v Inverness CT, 3.00 Montrose v Livingston, 3.00 Musselburgh Athletic v Heart of Midlothian Under 21, 2.00 Partick Thistle v Chesterfield, 3.00 Raith Rovers v Rochdale, 3.00 Bangor v Fraserburgh, 3.00 30 July Cove Rangers v Hamilton Academical, 3.00 Deveronvale v Brechin City, 2.00 Keith v Livingston, 3.00 Barrow v Queen¹s Park, tbc 31 July Arbroath v Livingston, 7.30 1 August Berwick Rangers v Newcastle Utd, 7.30 Cowdenbeath v Hibernian XI, 7.30 Newtongrange Star v Heart of Midlothian Under 21, 7.00 Petershill v Hamilton Academical, 7.00 Rothes v Inverness CT, 7.30 3 August Preston Athletic v Heart of Midlothian Under 21, 7.00 5 August Civil Service Strollers v Heart of Midlothian Under 21, 2.00 Halkirk v Inverness CT XI, 3.00 6 August Preston Athletic v Livingston XI, 1.00 7 August Craigroyston v Hibernian XI, tbc 9 August Civil Service Strollers v Hibernian XI, tbc Dunfermline Athletic v Arsenal, tbc Middlesbrough Under 21 v Heart of Midlothian Under 21, 3.00
OK, I know I claim to bring you the fastest Queen of the South News on the net, and I know the official site had the fixtures up on Thursday, but I happen to know that they had access to them on Tuesday, or at least other clubs did , so I presume we did too. I know this cause I seen some of them on Wednesday, even although they were not officially released until Thursday at 10:00am (not Queens, I hasten to add, and I'm not saying who cause I don't want them to get into trouble). But since I couldn't beat them for speed, I decided to go for presentation, and I hope you like the new lay out, which gives not just Queens fixtures and results but all the 2nd Division fixtures. Check out the season summary grid, which I think you'll like. Click here to visit the new season summary page.
John Connolly has done a piece on the official site, a kind of state of the nation type thingy, you can read it at http://www.qosfc.co.uk/news if you really want, or you can just stay here and read my excellent summary!
Basically, what he's saying is that last year we were pants, and you can't really disagree with this, my summer league team would have pushed them all the way. He asks us to give the players he is bringing in, and by the way, the eight players mentioned a couple of weeks ago are now confirmed, time to prove that they are better players than the ones they have replaced, and this doesn't seem an unreasonable request to me. We cannot, however, give them too long. The start of the last three seasons has been a disaster, we should have been promoted in two of these seasons and shouldn't have been relegation certainties in the other, if it wasn't for our start. We really, really need a good start this time as confidence and fans backing will be vital. And much as they would love time, I can't see them getting much from the fans.
He also states that 5 or 6 players recently released by Scottish League sides are coming to Palmerston to be watched in training and pre season games, although I can tell you Ally Graham won't be one of them as he has re-signed with Stirling Albion. As I predicted in the past, efforts to sign 3 or 4 players from the Central Belt have been unsuccessful as the players don't want to travel to Dumfries. I, for one, can't really blame them.
He makes the point that Queens are a part time club and so cannot hope to attract players from the Premier or First Divisions who are wanting to remain full time but hints that Queens are looking to return to full time football soon, surely a necessary move now the youth policy seems to have been left behind.
He finishes by saying he does not intend to issue these briefings regularly, I'd just like to tell him that when he does want to do another one this site will soon have a live message board and Chat Room and he will be welcome to use them.
14/6/00
The sharper among you may have noticed a couple of changes to the look of the site. This is not the new look that I have been building up for the last few weeks but is intended as a preparation for you so you get some kind of idea of what you are in for, and without a transition there is a severe danger that the new site, when it arrives, will be just too much for you and totally blow your mind away! I promise you, the new site is that good.
The main idea of the new design is that the latest news is right there on the front page when you first log on , making it easier for you to find what you are looking for, and of course, it is the first place you will find all the news !-).
13/6/00
I can exclusively reveal that Queens will play Forfar in the first round of the CIS League Cup on either the 8th or 9th of August . OK, I'm actually a day behind Colin (and everybody else) reporting this, but hey, some of us have to work (and play golf), I can't do everything. For anybody who totally relies on me for the latest news, here is the draw in full (Queens were actually first out of the hat).
Queen of South v Forfar Peterhead v Inverness Caledonian Thistle East Stirling v Hamilton Queen's Park v Stranraer Cowdenbeath v Elgin City Stirling v Stenhousemuir Partick Thistle v Airdrie Dumbarton v Ayr Ross County v Albion Rovers Clyde v Greenock Morton East Fife v Raith Rovers Montrose v Berwick Clydebank v Alloa Arbroath v Brechin
In what could be an interesting twist to this story, I have heard that Forfar are interested in signing ex-Queens and Hamilton Darren Henderson for next season, a man I have said before Queens should consider, although Ross County seem favourites to obtain his signature.
12/6/00
Engerland ha! For prosperity, lest we forget, they managed to throw away a 2 goal league in their opening Euro 2000 match against Portugal tonight as they tumbled to a humiliating 3-2 defeat! And for you, I missed all this, because I was at Palmerston bouncing some ideas with our commercial team, Margaret and Ian Heuchan, along with a few others, including representatives from the fan club, travel club and council (its a waste of time telling me names, I forget them immediately!), about a planned open day at Palmerston on Sunday, 6th August, 2000.
Take a note of this date for your diary, its the Sunday after the Dumfries show and our season will just have started. Bring the kids along for a great fun day out, hey, even if you don't have any kids, you'll have a great day yourself. So come on, have fun and also help the South.
Among the attractions planned so far are :-
As you can see, there will be loads for everyone, you can look forward to a great day out in the sun (I guarantee it!), it is hoped that Queens players past and present will be on hand, everybody has to come. The above is only an outline of what it is hoped will be available, I will bring you regular updates when I have them.
9/6/00
Quite a few snippets of news for you today, I really should keep some for another day, just to hold your attention, but since most of them are old stories which I have forgot to put on before now, maybe I'd better not.
First up, my old favorite, Steven Leslie. I have heard that Steven was very surprised to be released as he still had a year of his contract to run. If this is the case then I assume Queens actually had to pay to get rid of him. Still on my favorite subject, I also heard a rumor that Livingston were interested in him (not sure if this is past or present tense).
Was talking to a mate who now works at Annan and he was offering to get me some information as Rowan Alexander gets the same bus as him every Friday night, until we remembered that Rowan is of to America for a few months coaching, which I had forgot to mention. I also heard, and no surprise here, that he was one of the applicants for the Morton manager's job.
On the subject of Dumfries' favorite sons :-), the guy he was wanting to replace at Morton, Pele McCall, is on a short list of three for the manager's job at our beloved Carlisle. They deserve each other!
Don't think I mentioned that it was Adam Moffat who scored Queens goal against Stranraer in last night's Soccer Sixes.
Queens ladies have won their Monkey Tennis (Only joking, anybody else watch Soccer AM?) League and are promoted to the Ladies Premier League next season.
Very old news, Andy Thomson has asked for a transfer from Gillingham and wants to come home to Scotland. Despite the optimism, I can't see it being to us.
Queens are thinking of holding an open day towards the beginning of next season. If anybody has any ideas let me know and I'll pass them on.
Someone from Gambler's Anonymous has posted the odds for next season on the Official Notice board. They are :
Partick Thistle 7/2
Arbroath 4/1
Stranraer 4/1 - (eh??????)
Clydebank 4/1
Stirling 4/1
Berwick 10/1
Forfar 10/1
Queens Park 12/1
Stenhousemuir 14/1
Queen Of South 18/1
Oops, doesn't look like they rate us then.
Queens will introduce a student gate next season with an entry price of £6.00.
The CIS Insurance Cup Draw will take place on Tuesday, 13th June within the Maxwell Suite of the National Stadium, Hampden Park at 11.00 a.m.
Few, that's it!
Soccer Sixes, Quarter Finals
Annan 1 Threave 3 Kello 2 Dalbeattie 1 Newton S 2 Wigton 2 (Wigton win 5-3 after extra time) Queens 1 Stranraer 0 Semi Finals Kello 6 Wigton 1 Queens 0 Threave 3 Final Kello 0 Threave 5
The main new face in the Queens team from last night was superstar Mark Weir who obviously smelt silverware and thought he would now grace the tournament. This was bad news for anyone sitting behind the goal (or at least anyone sitting about 10 yards wide and 20 rows behind the goal). Queens beat a Stranraer side who had obviously misunderstood the tournament (they sent their under 15 team) in a 1-0 game that the young Clay Holers came out of with much more credit, although to be fair Queens did reduce them to a backs to the wall game for most of the game. Threave were Posse-less but found a new star, a left footed blond haired striker called Alan or something, I don't know exactly who he was, but he upset my prediction that Annan would win, that's not like me. And he was largely responsible for Queens demise in the semi finals in what was a definite men against boys game as Threave turned their earlier defeat to Queens in the group stages with an emphatic victory, and they were joined in the final by the Ayrshire raiders from Kello (I don't want to claim them for Dumfriesshire, do you?) who comfortably defeated Wigton. The final was a one sided affair as Threave were right into their stride by now and number 11 in particular gave Kello little chance, so well done to Threave.
Check in again tomorrow night for some little pieces of news I picked up over the last couple of days.
7/6/00
Soccer Sixes
Dalbeattie 3 Max High 2 St Cuthberts 0 Kello 1 Annan 1 All Stars 0 Threave 1 Queens 2 Newton S 1 Dalbeattie 1 Annan 7 Stranraer 1 Wigton 1 St Cuthberts 0 Queens 1 Gretna 1 Stranraer 2 All Stars 0 Max High 2 Newton S 4 Kello 2 Wigton 1 Gretna 1 Threave 4 Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Newton S 4 Kello 6 Annan 6 Queens 4 Dalbeattie 4 Wigton 3 Stranraer 3 Threave 3 Max High 0 St Cuthberts 0 All Stars 0 Gretna 1 Quarter Final Draw (To be played through to final on 7/6/00 Newton Stewart v Wigton Kello v Dalbeattie Annan v Threave Queens v Stranraer
A young Queens team qualified for the Quarter Finals of the Soccer Sixes at the Ice Bowl last night and progress to tonight's knock stages (from 6:30). Recognizable first teamers in the Queens squad were Brian Caldwell, Kevin Robison, Geoff Paterson, Adam Moffat and John McCabe. Queens first game was against Threave featuring most of their East of Scotland Division 1 winning team, including former Queens Bill Sim and Michael Posse. Queens scorers were Caldwell and McCabe while Threave's goal was scored with Kevin Robison sitting it out in the sin bin. Their second game produced a draw against what I think was not a full strength Gretna side, Queens goal coming from a young guy I didn't know after a complete mis kick and Gretna's equalizer coming when we yet again had a man in the sin bin (just like the real thing!). Queens interest in the Gretna team was in the shape of former player Jim Brown. The draw was enough to ensure a place in the quarter finals but this was confirmed as group winners when a Michael Posse inspired Threave beat Gretna 4-1 in the last of the group matches, Posse making an early claim for player of the tournament, although there were a couple of good players in the very strong Annan side also, and I'd think Annan must be favorites to win overall.
Other highlights included Sergi Balatacha's (you spell it better then!) All Stars featuring the man most people thought was going to be Queens new boss, Annan manager Davie Irons, playing against his young charges in the first game and I'm sure I saw him tell at least one of them of for an over zealous challenge on him, former Queens man (for those of you with very long memories!) Graham Muir, showing that he hasn't lost it (cause he never had it :-), joking Graham) and Sergi himself, although they went out in the first round without scoring (rumor has it Davie Irons deliberately missed a penalty in the game against Stranraer as they were too tired to want to progress to the next round!). The other highlight was Annan stuffing the Clay Holers (again a very young line up) 7-1, that'll teach them to beat us 5-0 at Palmerston, and we now meet Stranraer in the Quarter Finals, one to look forward to. Get along tonight if you can, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I got home from the Soccer Sixes last night, wrote my usual brilliant report, stuck it in the spell checker, and the damn thing crashed. And of course, I hadn't saved it! SO you will have to wait till tonight for the first instalment, for now you can know that the young Queens team beat Threave 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Gretna to Qualify for the knockout Quarter Final stages as group winners and so book a game against Stranraer.
6/6/00
I have been in e-mail contact with a couple of Blyth Spartans sites to find out more about Andy Martin (There doesn't seem to be much Tow Law or Ashington stuff out there). One of this guys has kindly put my message on to his Blyth Spartans mailing list so I'm expecting to get more info from this, and I got this brilliant response from Anne Donnelly.
Andy Martin signed for Blyth in November 99. He was one of the first signings made by manager Mick Tait. He'd previously played for Gretna in the UniBond First Division and Tow Law in the Northern League.
He made thirty appearances for Blyth last season and scored one goal - in the 1-1 draw at Bishop Auckland. He won three player of the year awards - the Supporter's Club; the Players and the Port of Blyth.
Sorry I don't have a picture.
I don't know whether he's going to sign for you. The last I heard he was still thinking about it. I expect you'll be getting a few North East based players though.
Did you know that John Connolly had played for Blyth after he finished his Football League career ? He didn't play a lot of games but I remember him as a nice chap.
Cheers,
Anne
Thanks very much Anne, were starting to build up an idea of our new team now.
5/6/00
Interesting to read the interview with John Connolly (can I call you John?) on the official site, and it's good to see he keeps up with the latest news by looking at the Queen of the South site, just a pity he picked the wrong one!! So come on John, if you read this site too, drop me a quick line just to let me know. Johnny, Johnny Give us a Wave, Johnny, Give us a Wave!
Next, and following on from the comments made in the interview, I hate be the Prophet of Doom once again, but admirable as the idea is, I can't see how training in Dumfries is going to work. By his own admission, most of these guys are not full time because they have good jobs outside football. Now call me cynical, but in my experience, good jobs usually equals long hours. So these guys are going to be expected to work all day and then maybe twice or thrice a week travel 2 hours to Dumfries, train for a couple of hours, and travel home for a couple of hours. Add to this Saturday and mid week games and after a couple of weeks you have some very tired and probably disillusioned players. As I said, it looks like a great idea on paper but I just can't see it working, how about a compromise, one night a week in Dumfries and the rest of the time in the respective centres (Newcastle, Glasgow?).
An unrelated story which has been doing the rounds for a while but I never put on the site cause I thought it sounded to ridiculous to be true. But as the story refuses to go away, and as I don't want to look stupid if I miss it, I will tell you that I have heard rumors that former skipper (God, that sounds good) Steven Leslie is considering suing Queens for their lack of support following his sending off against Livingston. And I'm not going to say anything else on this issue for fear of being held in contempt of court.
4/6/00
Have heard an rumor that Queens have been showing an interest in Ally Graham of Stirling Albion although Partick do seem to be the favorites to get him.
3/6/00
The North East Revolution has started. Here are details of some of the players who have signed for next season, "subject to International clearance", if you please. Surprisingly, they released this information through the initial site rather than leak it to me! I know I promise the fastest news on the net but I can hardly know before the team, can I? Still, you'll get the fastest rumors on the net here, and the best opinionated a******e comments too.
Andy Martin
Formerly of Blyth Spartans of the Unibond Premier League, 6ft plus 28 year old left sided experienced defender, who is very strong in the tackle, has a great left foot and likes to play out of defence whenever possible, voted Blyth's player of the season.
Phil Nixon
From Ashington FC of the Northern League, 6ft plus 22 year old central defender, wins everything in the air and is very quick on the ground, ex-Doncaster Rovers player, voted Ashington's best player last season.
Tony Nelson
Joins from Tow Law Town of the Northern League, 32 year old tough tackling midfield player, who has been a superb player in the Northern league for many years, ex-Gretna and Penrith.
Stuart Heppell
From Ashington FC, 19 year old 6ft 2ins left sided midfield/winger, plays in a style similar to Chris Waddle, but is very quick when he puts his mind to it, ex-Leicester City junior.
John Sunderland
From Ashington FC, 24 year old midfield playmaker with an eye for goals, likes to get on the ball and runs things from midfield, ex-Blackpool and Hartlepool player.
Stephen Pickering
From Tow Law, 22 year old right side of midfield or right back, who gets his fair share of goals in a season and can play anywhere if required, ex-Sunderland junior.
Ross Atkinson
From Ashington FC, 20 year old midfield dynamo, who never stops running and competing, had trials with Man Utd and Sunderland as a youngster.
Danny Paterson
18 year old left back from Ashington FC, good defensively with a great left foot, likes to get forward and deliver good crosses ex-England FA School of excellence player, who has great potential for the future.
So what have we got so far then. Most importantly, a midfield playmaker with league experience, lets hope he can do a job. Secondly, a left sided midfield player, another position which was clearly perceived as a problem last season. A right sided player, perhaps to give us overlapping options from right back? And a midfield ball winner to replace Cleeland/Leslie. And how will that leave the team looking for next year? Here's my early guess, remembering that I don't know anything about any of the new players, although I will be trying to find out more.
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Doesn't look too bad so far, does it? I have said before, I think the only things we lacked last season were creativity and midfielders who would also defend. Hopefully the new guys will bring this with them and provide us with a successful season.
2/6/00
You may already know this but though you might be interested in the following quote from the Dumfries and Galloway Standard.
Annan will be hosting their own mini tournament.
Topping the bill are Scottish Premier Division new boys St. Mirren, who are promising to bring a strong squad for the competition. Making up the numbers are Carlisle United and Queen of the South.
Quote ends. They really rate us then, making up the numbers indeed.
The dates are 8th and 9th of July. Unfortunately, I'm on holiday so won't be of much use to you for reports etc.
1/6/00
Living up to the advertising, here is 'the fastest Queen of the South News on the Net!' (OK, its taken straight from the Standard).
John Connolly has returned from his holidays and announced that when pre season training begins on 24th June it will be in Dumfries, as it will be from now on.
There is no announcement on signings yet although they reckon they have 8 or 9 players already 'in the bag'. Not all are from the North East, as widely speculated, Mr Connolly reports that he has been looking at the Central Belt, Ayrshire, Carlisle, Workington and elsewhere (is Dumfries one of the 'elsewhere's?). If this is the case then training in Dumfries makes sense as it will be the central point. A source tells me that at least one player is coming from Gretna but as he doesn't know who that's not really a lot of use!
The first pre season (end of season?) action is the Millennium Soccer Sixes on 6/7 June (see 23/5/00 story), just as well cause we're unlikely to have many more players than that by then.
The first full team games have been confirmed as the Annan tournament against Annan and Carlisle on 8th and 9th of July (would you believe I'll be on Holiday again? Life in the Jet Set!). Before I go through I'll try to do a preview, check it out cause I've got a brilliant new feature for next season which I think you'll like. On the 15th July we go to play North Shields away and then follows our first home game against Gateshead on 22nd July. The Challenge Cup begins on 26th July but we're hoping for a bye, and if so another friendly will be arranged. I have heard that the draw for the League Cup 1st Round has been delayed because Kilmarnock have gone into a draw for a place in the EUFA Cup as the fair play winners and they are waiting for the outcome of this before doing the League Cup draw.
27/5/00
With the European Championships fast approaching, give this site a visit and cheer on our British representatives, England :-). http://www.soccerEuro2000.net. (You might also get a hint of what my new site is going to look like!).
Have been reading a list of released players from Scottish Clubs and among the interesting ones are Darren Henderson (Hamilton), Tom Black (Stranraer) and Paul McGrillen (Stirling Albion). For the full list visit http://www.footballtransfers.co.uk/.
25/5/00
Glass & Glazing will be the new sponsors of Queen of the South next season following tonight's prize draw at Palmerston, which will probably be news to them too as they couldn't make it tonight. The full results are :-
Glass & Glazing Shirt Sponsorship Lowland Group Match Sponsorship Reid & Adams Directors Club Membership Heathhall Garden Centre Executive Club Membership Oakbank Services Executive Club Membership Giles Insurance Brokers Executive Club Membership Maryfield Road Nursery Executive Club Membership Atlas On Line Autographed Ball John Beattie & Sons Autographed Shirt Abacus Insurance Mascot (after Northern Garage returned the prize)
Yours truly's's name remained firmly planted to the bottom of the barrel from which the names were drawn, surprise, surprise, as did the Doonhamer's Travel Club, which is a bit of a shame cause it would be nice for Queens to be sponsored by the fans. Congratulations through to Glass and Glazing on what I'm sure will turn out to be a most valuable prize.
Personally, I'm quite happy with the season ticket and regular mention in the program as this site's about to take of anyway, just you watch this space!
Had a very nice chat with Ronnie Bradford who was very supportive of the site and actual seems to read it occasionally, better watch what I'm saying! Seriously, at the risk of sounding like a right creep, I have nothing but respect for the present board. I heard that over 70 firms entered the draw, which is over £21,000.00 pounds into Queens coffers, not atoll bad and probably more than they could get through ordinary sponsorship. Well done Margaret, Ian and Puff (Mungo on the M.I.C.) for their efforts in arranging it all.
23/5/00
I have now registered the domain name www.qosfan.co.uk and you can now access this site threw this name. If you prefer you can still use www.doonhamer.fsnet.co.uk but I think you'll agree, qosfan is sooo much cooler!
In the long run I plan to offer @qosfan.co.uk e-mail addresses i.e. BigJim@qosfan.co.uk of DiscoDes@qosfan.co.uk (to pick a couple at random). I know there are free services on the Net which will let you do this but at the moment there are reasons why I can't use these. I will however keep checking and let you know when they are available.
Pre season match news -
Nothing new here, it's all taken from the official site, but here's a round up of definite and maybe pre season friendlies so far.
6th and 7th June, 6:30pm, Millennium Soccer Sixes , The Ice Bowl, Dumfries against various local teams.
8th and 9th July , Annan Athletic four team tournament, Annan, The hosts have invited Carlisle United, Queens and one other team.
A guy from Gateshead says we are to play them at Palmerston on 22nd July at Palmerston.
I will keep you up to date if I hear more.
15/5/00
I don't know if this is old news already or if anybody cares but supposedly Steven Leslie's going to Stranraer next season. Look forward to at least 4 games next season where we're playing against 10 men for 80 minutes after he gets sent off (couldn't agree more that were better rid of him as if you didn't guess)
Speaking of the Clayholers, that guy who left a message on your site about our joke team with no fans (2086 at our last home game) compared to his (238 at their last home game) - looks like all those years of sheep shearing (I may have amended this bit!- Stuart) down there have affected his eyesight, or maybe it's down to having to look at all the ugly birds in Stranraer all his life. Look forward to seeing them in Division 3, where joke teams with crap support belong.
Great site by the way, apart from that the bit you click on to send e-mails doesn't seem to work. (Thanks for letting me know, I'll have to look at fixing it.)
Walt Adamson [9505170a@student.gla.ac.uk]
Hi,
Read with interest the report in D&G Standard regarding the "New brush sweeps clean" style of chop and change. Normally this practice is reserved for Miners, Doc Workers or Ford/Rover car workers and has finally reared it's ugly head in Dumfries. I presume Ronnie "I'm the Man" Bradford is getting tough and well 'ard in the office!!!
Will Mr Lachie Thomson (Pie Man) be safe? Will Ronnie kick some ass here too??
I hope not as the aforementioned Mutton Meister is my old man......no more pies please Dad!
Hope you enjoyed your well earned break in sun, great site and see ya in a couple of weeks when yours prodigally returns to Dumfries for a wee break from sunny Jacksonville (Home of the Jax Jaguars....WHO)
Cheers,
Stuart Thomson ThomsonStu996@aol.com (Slightly Edited!)
13/5/00
Hi, Sports Fans, I'm back from my week by the pool in Majorca reading Bill Lechie's excellent book, Penthouse and Pavement (a free and well deserved plug there, I recommend you read it). My big mate, Billie, sums up perfectly what it is to be a fan of a smaller team instead of one of the hoards of 'supporters' who head to Glasgow every week to watch the big two, WE DON'T EXPECT TO WIN. However, Bill knows nothing, I'll bet he's never phoned home having taken a fly holiday before the end of the season, to find his team, supposedly playing to impress the new manager for next year and get new contracts, have been doofin' well splanjed six blarffing 1 (read the book if you don't understand). Bill, unsurprisingly, loves to tell you about the day St Mirren won the cup, and I couldn't help thinking back to the fans bit in the program when they are asked what their favorite Queens game was. Almost without exception its the Ayr cup replay which ended 5-4 over 20 years ago, the League Cup game in which we beat Premier League Dundee 6-0 over 20 years ago or the Challenge Cup Final (Which we lost). Success starved or what! Still, as the song goes, I'll be back next week (you know what I mean).
A lot of what I was going to say here has been pre-emted by the fact that Queens have already named the players to be released for next season, I thought they'd have waited for my opinion. So instead, I'll tell you whether they got it right or not.
John Hillcoat - I'm afraid a look at the goals against column tells it's own story. While Hillcoat is far from being the most responsible person for this, with Mathieson back he is unlikely to feature much and probably doesn't want to be a sub. That is assuming we can hold on to Mathieson, which in my opinion would show exactly what is wrong with Scottish football if a big team doesn't snap him up.
Charlie Adams - I read somebody on the Official Site criticise him for a lack of commitment. In my opinion, this is one thing you certainly can't accuse him of. He gives 100% every game and even when he is on the bench, celebrates each goal more than any of the other players. Unfortunately, this just hasn't been enough, and the light weight nature of his game has seen him knocked of the ball too easily. We will miss his pace and adaptability but overall I think we had to let him go.
Alistair Brown - Never really heard of him so can't say!
Graham Duncan -Never looked much more than a stop gap, and although he improved as the season went on, he isn't really what we need in midfield, his distribution just wasn't up to it.
John Gallagher - Must be pretty p****d off, only just arrived and being shown the door already. What was the point of signing him in the first place (I don't think they fancy Mark Weir much either and was a bit surprised not to see him in the list).
Alan Kerr - Might just have given him the benefit of the doubt, he never really looked fully fit through and this was probably his downfall.
Ken Eadie - By far our best outfield player but just can't do it anymore. Gave us a good six games this year but we need more than this and was very honest to recommend himself for release.
Steven Leslie and Marc Cleeland - I've deliberately left these two till last. I'd heard the board were very unhappy with Queens disciplinary record (did I remember to tell you through?) and felt that referees were taking Queens games with the preconceived idea that we were a dirty team. I'd also heard that the board felt this was mainly due to a couple of individuals. Also been plenty of rumors about Leslie taking out his frustrations on inanimate and not so inanimate (Chairmen allegedly) objects. So it came as no great surprise to see them on the list. I've made my views on Leslie very clear and I'm sure no one will be surprised to learn that I agree with this decision, you may be more surprised to learn that I disagree with Cleeland who I thought had shown signs of maturing this last year and also looked a much better player. Cleeland, and Kerr , at a push, apart, I have to agree with the decisions made.
As for players to come in, I have said in the past the North of England was the way to go, we can't compete in the central belt, and, romantic as the notion is, Dumfries can't do it on it's own. I, for one, won't be surprised to see Jim Thompson back at Palmerston next season and I was glad to see a message on the Official Site actually agreeing that Darren Henderson would be worth trying.
I will do an end of term report next week some time when I will give my opinions on the players left and who else I think should be released (there are still a few!).
P.S. On the last day of my holiday, as I was waiting for my bus to the Airport at 3 a.m., a bus of newcomers came in and on it was a group of single guys, mainly young but a few older ones, who were very well oiled and desperately trying to get of the bus so they could head for the nearest all night bar. Now, I'm useless at recognising footballers in their civvies (even ours) but I thought one of them was Paul Kinnaird, so I was wondering if this was Ross County's end of season celebratory Holiday. I'm trying to find out if they are actually away.
I found your reference to Stranraer FC, the Town, and its support, as "Clay holers" insulting.
I think you will find that there were 100 Stranraer fans at Palmerston, not "20" - which, is more than you took to Stair Park, by the way.
The truth of the matter is that QoS are the most god-awful excuse for a senior side Scottish Football has ever seen.
Steve Mallan is nothing but a cheat, and Andy Aitkin has to physically attack other players to stop the opposition scoring.
You also have a feeble travelling support, and despite being full time, still rely on HAMILTON to actually stay in the league!
Sorry, I'll change my attitude immediately!!!! Come on man, read the site, it's all tongue in cheek. Anyway, you Clay Hole hicks should be pleased that we actual bother to look upon you as rivals :-). Lighten up! (P.S. are there any other Clay Holers who read this site and think it's insulting? Personally, I'd be very worried if you lot started being nice about us.)
What's with the player of the year award? You've missed out Peter Donald.....
robert stalker [r_stalker@yahoo.com]
News of an interesting new Queens page. It's by an ex-Doonhamer who has started a Bolton Wanderers site but with a Queens section. Give it a look.
I have a QoS page on my site, it is a bit poor just now but I will soon be adding to it, I will put a link on to your site if that is ok as there is no comparison to the content you have
James
Visit my BWFC site at
6/5/00
As you read this I am sunning myself in Majorca (unless you have found out that I cheated by posting this on the Friday night). For a report on the Alloa game go to the Official Site.
Alloa 6 Queens 1 Arbroath 3 Partick 2 Hamilton 1 Stirling 0 Stenhousemuir 2 Ross County 2 Stranraer 2 Clyde 1
5/5/00
The SFA have rejected Hamilton's appeal against the deduction of 15 points for their failure to show up for the game at Stenhousemuir, leaving Queens once again safe from relegation and back in the 2nd Division next year, at least until the appeal to the European Courts! I feel like I've said enough about this already and can't think of anything else, except it all feels like a bit of an anti climax. Never mind, bring on the Berwick.
4/5/00
Queens won the Southern Counties Challenge Cup last night with a 5-2 extra time victory over Tarff Rovers. Scorers for a near full strength Queens in normal time were Boyle and Mallan, Rowe had to be substituted after only 5 minutes to be replaced by Kerr who was in turn sent off in the first half following the incident which lead to Hillcoat saving a penalty. Queens turned the 2-2 full time score into a 5-2 extra time win as their superior fitness allowed Duncan, Boyle and Mallan to add to the scoring. Previous commitments stopped me from attending but the Official Site has a very good report (this is becoming a habit!)
2/5/00
I have heard that Connolly is bringing a number of his own players to the club, but one player on his way back to Palmerston is Thomson. Now this may just be speculation with his attendance at the game, and supporters dance, but let's just say Thomson has been doing a good impression of someone who is more interested than Queen of the South than Arbroath in the last couple of weeks.
I have also heard confident noises coming from a few places, mainly outside of Palmerston, and pessimistic noises from Hamilton, about the outcome of this Friday's 'Trial'. We await with baited breath.
I read in Saturday's papers that Aberdeen have been told they cannot appeal over their ticket allocation for the Scottish Cup Final. According to the SFA, they have no right of appeal! Ahem, so what is the score with the Hamilton appeal then?
Thanks to e-Doonhamer for much of the above info.
An almost full strength Queens team reached the final of the Southern Counties Challenge Cup last night after a narrow 2-1 victory. Queens went down just after the break but an own goal and Charlie Adams strike saw them through to face Tarff at Palmerston tomorrow (Wednesday) night. There is a good report on the game on the official site.
30/4/00
Last night (29th) saw the Annual Doonhamers Travel Club Player of the Year Awards Night. A good turnout of fans, players and officials saw the following prizes given out :-
Travel Club Player Of The Year - Stevie Mallan
Travel Club Young Player Of The Year - Sandy Hodge
Langley Muir Memorial Award for "Away Day" Player Of The Year - John Hillcoat
Ian Corbett Memorial Award for Goal of the Season - Sandy Hodge (v Clyde at Palmerston)
Female Supporters "Rear of the Year" - David Mathieson (I take it this is players only and not fans or I'd have walked it! -Stuart)
Also present were representatives from the QoS Fan Club who gave out their own awards :-
QoS Fan Club Player Of The Year - Stevie Mallan
QoS Fan Club Young Player Of The Year - Geoff Paterson
Unfortunately, of the Award winners, only David Mathieson and Sandy Hodge were present.
Players in attendance :-
David Mathieson, Andy Aitken, Dennis Boyle, Steven Leslie, Kevin Robison, George Rowe, Sandy Hodge, Mark Weir & Paul Stewart. ( Oh! and Jim Thomson !! )
Re QoS v Hamilton
You probably did see Jim Thomson in the Stand. He was certainly there as I spoke to him. Also, I don't want to pick holes (well, all right, I do) but today's goal was George Rowe's third of the season, not his first. He also scored the first in the home 3-3 draw with Stirling Albion and the second in the 5-2 defeat at Arbroath.
Ewan
Oops, should have checked my facts first, you are of course correct about George's goals, I had convinced myself that he hadn't scored this season and that it was due to the extra responsibility. Still not the return you would usually expect from George through.
I'm of on my holidays next Saturday, and so is e-Doonhamer (not together!). I was going to get a report done and try to get someone to post it on the site but I have decided that it will be easier just to do what Colin did for the last Alloa game and direct you to his site (I know for a fact there is going to be a report on there. So, if you've checked in here looking for a report on Alloa then click here to be taken to one.
Normally, this site isn't really worth checking during the close season but this time could be different. For a start, God and the SFA (is there any difference in their own minds) only knows what league Queens are going to end up in next season and so long as the buggers don't decide while I'm away I will bring you the news as soon as I hear it.
Also, I have been signed up to join a network of Fan Based Sites, and this should start sometime during the close season, and believe me, will much improve the site (I know , you didn't think it was possible but it is!).
After much thought I decided that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I don't think the advertising is too intrusive, indeed, I find a lot of the links extremely handy, and hope you will too. In addition to this I have gained the following advantages :
Keep checking in, I promise you won't be disappointed. Hopefully, you won't have long to wait.
29/4/00
Clyde 4 Arbroath 1 Partick 0 Alloa 1 Queens 1 Hamilton 1 Ross County 3 Stranraer 1 Stirling 1 Stenhousemuir 0
28/4/00
I'm supposed to be doing a preview of the match against Hamilton this weekend, but were am I supposed to begin when I can't even work out what we're playing for? Is it a meaningless end of season game for a team safe from relegation against the team already relegated, is it a meaningless end of season game for a team safe from relegation (Yes, I did mean to say this twice as it could apply to both teams) or is it a vital battle between the 2 bottom teams in the second last game of the season? It is ridiculous that the SFA/League have allowed this situation to occur. Hamilton are not our enemies in this, they are battling for their own survival and it's not really their fault that we have been dragged in. The blame lies squarely with the suits, both the a fore mentioned SFA/League and the Hamilton board. I, for one, will be doing my workers united bit and applauding the Hamilton players onto the pitch (that will be the only time), but how many of you wouldn't withdraw your labour if you weren't being paid. Once on the pitch, we have to assume the later option, i.e. this is the relegation decider and we have to give it our all, both on and off the pitch.
Team news for tomorrow has kind of dwindled into insignificance among the other events of this week. The Courier is as useful as it has been for the last few weeks in this respect with only a fans column by Counsellor Bill Nimmo (he doesn't mention any team news!) and very little else. I actually bought the Standard but of course I left it at work. From what I can remember there wasn't anything in it you haven't read hear first!!!!!!!!! Steve Mallan is suspended still (back next week) so there are unlikely to be many team changes, it has been suggested that both Eadie and Rowe will play so it will be interesting to see who takes charge of the team, has Connolly started already does anybody know or does he not start till the end of the season.
If anybody cares what Hamilton are saying (or just wants to wind them up like Alex Wilson!) click on this link - http://www.hamiltonaccies.co.uk
27/4/00
I can't keep up. See the message below from Alex Wilson and it would appear our future is far from clear. As I said yesterday, Division 3 might not be that bad an option for next season, but not knowing until August is!!!!! Looks like this one could run and run.
Back on the managerial front, I have been thinking about the appointment and am coming to the opinion that it could well be a very good move. I think the board have probably known for some time that Eadie and Rowe were going to resign at the end of the season and have been looking for a replacement for a while. I don't think this has been a rushed decision. I have been saying for some time (I bloody have, check back!) that we should be recruiting players from the North East and West of England rather than trying to battle for signatures of Central Belt players with the 30ish senior clubs in that area. If you lived in Glasgow and had an offer from Queens or Clyde, who would you sign for? There are less senior clubs in the North of England and a very high quality Non League scene. There must be a host of players with the ability to play Scottish Second Division and hopefully this new guy will be able to attract a few. I have been racking my brain for memories of John Connoly. I seem to remember having a football card in the late 70's of him as a left half at Newcastle United but can't actually remember him playing. (Translation for younger readers - Football Cards were the predecessors of Pokomon, the 70's were an era when rebels were punks, a bit like the Spice Girls (NOT!), left half was left side of midfield and Newcastle United were the Toon Army).
I notice David is becoming " apprehensive" about the supposed meeting on Friday, check out his two e-mails to the Hamilton website. It's a pity he supported the view that Hamilton were hard done by, it only helped their case in my opinion.
According to the Teletext and Border tv tonight, Hamilton have their 15 points back, the Appeals committee will meet on Monday after the Queens match on Saturday, no doubt to set the new figure so that even if Queens win on Saturday they will not catch them up, so could you please change that bloody headline you've had for the last few days that Second Division football is assured?
Alex Wilson
26/4/00
Things are moving quickly down Palmerston way! No sooner had I posted the undernoted messages than I go to the official site and they are announcing the new management team. I Hope Colin doesn't mind (let me know if you do and I'll remove this) but here is what they are saying.
With effect from the end of this season ex-Hearts and Everton player John Connoly, presently Manager of English non-league side Ashington will take over as Manager of Queen of the South. John will bring his present player/coach Ian Scott with him.
I find this a bit worrying, especially as the previous news posting on the official site states that Rowe and Eadie have resigned now " to allow new arrangements for next season to be considered fully and put in place. " Either this has been on the table for some time and Queens already new who they wanted (I hope) or this is a rush job (I hope not). Just shows you through, I was convinced it was going to be Davie Irons, never listen to rumours.
I'm not even going to mention the debacle that has become of the finale to the season, except to say that we must win on Saturday.
It is interesting to see in the papers that the usual suspects are in the frame for the hotseat at Palmerston, Davie Irons and Ian McCall must applied for every job in Scotland, whenever anyone is sacked, or resigns in Scotland, these two names come up. Personally I would like to see Ray Stewart take the job, he has enough experience, and is a motivator. The only drawback is that he would have to be full-time, but I believe that we require a full-time manager anyway. Judging by Ronnie Bradford's comments on the official site, he has enough ambition to go for someone like this. Let's hope so.
e-Doonhamer.
Ken Eadie has announced that he will be joining George Rowe in resigning his managerial post at the end of the season. He says that they worked well as a team and he does not want to continue without George. In the one inch of column space this story warranted in the Sun Ian McCall is being put forward as the favourite to succeed them (no way) and as I mentioned below Davie Irons as another possibility (yes way). Watch this space.
I'm feeling apprehensive about Friday. The first decision was ridiculous and the fact the meeting has been thrown together at short notice is worrying. There must be the possibility Hamilton's deduction will be adjusted so that Saturday will effectively be a play-off. Part of their reasoning the first time seemed to be that they put Hamilton in a position where they could 'play their way out'. They might be tempted to take the same view this time.
There is a bandwagon rolling, which is that there has been an injustice which must be addressed. Unfortunately, most of the comment I have seen approaches the problem as though it only affects Hamilton.
In reality, most Press coverage of Football is one-dimensional (and focussed on Rangers/Celtic etc), so we shouldn't be surprised at the simplistic coverage. However, simplistic or not, it does create an impression there is pressure growing on the League to 'do something'.
I would like to think Queens are taking the appropriate steps to protect their position.
Would Rowe/Eadie have resigned if they thought relegation was still an issue?
David Main
It looks like you'll get your wish and Queens will be relegated after all when Hamilton get their points reinstated, so you needn't feel ''hollow" or "empty" anymore, if you visit the Hamilton website you'll find they already know the composition of the appeals panel, and guess what? One of the two representatives of the League Clubs is none other than a member of Partick Thistle's Board, whose club benefits to the tune of 50,000 pounds a year from Hamilton for "ground rental" I believe. Real impartiality there, what?
The Scottish news tonight said that Hamilton will have their 15 points reinstated on Friday, so that's us 8 points behind them with 2 games to go. Happy now?
Alex Wilson.
Thanks Alex, I totally respect your views and admire the fact that you will air them here as well as on the Hamilton site. I really don't want to get into a slagging match but at the same time I will accept any criticism dished out, in fact the more feed back I get on here, the better. Believe me, I will be as delighted as anyone if we stay up, however we do it. However, I am a football fan. If I wanted to see who was the best at Polictical Debating I would go to Edinburgh to book a seat in the viewing area of the Scottish Parliament.
Would Division 3 really be such a bad thing for next season. Take a look at the other teams who will be left in this division and you will see that Partick are the only other team likely to even approach 4 figure gates. Despite the number of Highland teams in the 3rd Division next season, the two new teams are likely to attract larger crowds to start with at least and a hopefully successful 3rd division team may prove to be a bigger draw than a mid table second division team. I would also give us the chance to rebuild our team in a less pressurised environment. As I said, I don't want to go down, but it wouldn't be the end of the world and I'd still much rather we pull together and manage to stay up on merit. Lets hope for a big turn out at Palmerston on Saturday with everyone getting behind the team.
25/4/00
George Rowe has fallen on his sword and resigned from his position of co-manager at Palmerston to spend more time with his family. Thankfully, he will be staying on as a player. Personally, I think he has made the right decision. His appointment was only ever supposed to be short term and in hindsight should really have remained at the originally intended rest of last season. He and Eadie did a good job of making a good but under performing side fulfil its potential last season but they have failed to turn an average side into a good side this season. His personal form has also suffered this season. I'm sure George will make a good manager one day, hopefully a good Queen of the South manager, but his time hasn't come yet.
The future of Ken Eadie is now interesting. Personally, I'd like to see him given the chance to show what he can do as his own man. He has so much experience at this level of football and is greatly respected so will hopefully be able to attract quality players. The widely muted alternative around Dumfries is Davie Irons, currently bossing Annan. There have been numerous rumours of players being told not to sign for Annan if Irons is the reason they are signing. Davie has a similar level of experience to Eadie but I don't think he is quite so widely respected. He is however local, knows the local scene, and the non league scene, which could well be where we should be looking for our new players.
On this subject, I reckon we are maybe only 2 players short of being a good team, a creative midfielder and someone who will help Mallan by getting 15 goals in a season. The first isn't easy to find, we let a good one go in Townsley, but lets not forget we got him from non league and hopefully we can do the same again. As for the forward, I know this won't be over popular, but Darren Henderson may be looking for a new club and, most of you will admit, is a bloody good player.
Queens are putting round 4 possible designs for their strips for next season, for the fans to choose. I have seen them, there is a plain blue on, a blue and white striped, and blue with a lighter blue strip and a blue and white quartered on. My personal favourite is the plain one. The designs have been passed around on the bus on the way to Arbroath and will be put the vote by the fans. I think they will be voting on the official site and I may also host a vote if Queens think it is worth it.
I really don't see how you can argue that Accies' appeal can't be allowed as Queens "need to plan for next season". There are still 2 games left and, had it not been for the ridiculous SFL management committee decision on Thursday, you would still be waiting to know what division you'd be in next year - planning wouldn't be likely until the very end, unless it was for your rightful place in Division 3. I wouldn't worry too much - I'm sure the SFA will back up their bum-chums at the SFL and we'll be left to our fate with the dross of Scottish football.
George Grandison
Point taken, I don't think I expressed myself too well on this one. I don't mean that Accies should not be able to appeal, I just don't think it should be Queens who suffer if the SFA/League go back on their decision. They have in effect now told us that we will not be relegated and whatever happens to Hamilton, I don't think they can go back on this, especially if the decision is not made before Saturday so we don't know what we're playing for. How they would get round this I don't know.
24/4/00
Queens have announced a cut price scheme for the final home game of the season against Hamilton Accies on Saturday. Entry fees will be :
Adults £4.00 Children £1.00 O.A.P. FREE
There will also be a bumper entertainment package featuring the Dumfries Town Band pre match and at half time (still no dancing girls through).
So go on, come along and bring a friend (I can't cause I haven't got any) to show Hamilton why we are staying in this division.
23/4/00
I agree with your comments that Queens should not now be relegated, having been told they're safe effectively. As an Accies fan, I obviously believe the SFL decision to have been grossly unjust - it seems they were more interested in punishing the players for striking than investigating the underlying reasons why this happened, and our owners are getting off without anything happening. I think if the SFA reverse the decision as they really should (but probably wont), then you are RIGHT - that they can't then suddenly do an about face over Queens status either. The SFL have really made a mess over this and deserve to be first against the wall when the revolution comes (after Accies owners of course).
I also must say, though I can understand the sentiment, I think a few Queenies haven't got the full picture if they think Accies are "cheats" because they failed to turn up at Stenhousemuir. Our players were not being paid their wages (the owners were effectively pushing their own debt/cash flow problems onto them) and in some cases there was a real danger of certain people defaulting on their mortgages. It wasn't about bonus payments, as some newspapers have lazily echoed from somewhere, but their FULL WAGES were repeatedly delayed starting in October. On one occasion they went NINE WEEKS without seeing anything in their bank accounts.
Being handed crossed cheques for March 31st then being told their was no money in the bank to cash them with was the last straw. I don't think there was anything else they could do (the owners were warned when the players came to the brink of action the previous month, and agreements made to resolve that situation were reneged on at the end of March).
Sadly, it may be that Airdrie will go bust and give an unwelcome opportunity for the SFL to retain BOTH clubs in Division Two. The game really is in a dreadful state, and it's not down to the players or the fans.
Putting on another hat, our Association is also part of the Scottish Independent Supporters Coalition (SISCO), a recently formed, independent supporters body looking to see that supporters have a real voice at their clubs, and in the game generally. One aspect of this is in trying to persuade the Scottish Parliament to adopt the "Supporters Direct" package currently set up in England and backed by the Government. This package provides legal advice and support to supporters clubs setting up trusts independent of their clubs, whereby they may be able to make financial input to their clubs in return for fair treatment, and perhaps even a seat on the board (This has been done at Northampton and Partick, and Bournemouth is now completely owned by the trust.
SISCO meetings usually take place in Falkirk on a Sunday, and we're hoping to get SFA Chief David Taylor to the next one. If anyone's interested, contact me at accies@freeuk.com .
I'll say it again - I think it would now be totally ridiculous to tell QOS they're to be relegated if the original Accies decision is reversed. It's the SFL's mess, and no fault of either players or fans.
Donald Anderson (ASA - Accies Supporters Association)
What's everyone depressed about? We didn't go on strike or not pay our players, so Hamilton, be it the players or the Board's fault, brought it on themselves. Do you think that they would be bothered if the boot was on the other foot and we were at fault with something that cost us points? Let's get a grip and accept our good luck and get better prepared for next season. I'm going to have a bloody good laugh next Saturday anyway!
Alex Wilson
Alex has been brave enough to post his views on the Hamilton site ( http://www.hamiltonaccies.co.uk) so I assume he doesn't mind me putting his name to this or his comments on 21/4/00 which I originally posted anonymously.
22/4/00
I have just heard on Radio Scotland that Hamilton are looking at the possibility of an appeal against the deduction of 15 points. As sorry as I feel for Hamilton, this can not be allowed. Queens now need to start making plans for next season. We cannot do this if we don't know what league we will be playing in next season. Let's not forget, we maybe deserve to be relegated but we have done nothing else wrong and so do not deserve to be punished by being thrown into an uncertain position. To ensure this, Queens should sign up at least one player now on 2nd division wages, that way if the league do cave in we have a very strong case to stop them from reversing the decision, or relegating us at least.
Alloa 2 Clyde 1 Arbroath 1 Queens 2 Hamilton 0 Ross County 3 Stenhousemuir 2 Partick 0 Stranraer 3 Stirling 1
I have to admit I feel a bit flat as our victory at Arbroath and Hamilton's defeat at Ross County means we have avoided what seemed like our inevitable relegation, but what a disappointing way to do it.
21/4/00
Some more comments on the Hamilton decision. I have kept it anonymous just now, if you want your name added to it let me know.
I don't think it's the most important game this season, I think it could be the most important game in QOS history. I believe that if we go down to Div 3 this season it will be the death knell of the club and it will only be a matter of time until we cease to exist in Scottish Football because we will starve from the lack of funds and publicity that we need to survive in the new cut throat setup that now runs Scottish football. C'mon Queens, lets beat the cheating clubs like Hamilton who get rid of their fans and grounds so that they can pretend they pay over inflated wages and then cheat their own employees just so they can climb up the league.
Wer'e on a mission from God. Let's do it!
I'm supposed to be on a new regime were I do a preview of the next match a couple of days in advance, however, events this week have kind of overtaken that. So, for our trip to frozen Arbroath this week, which I won't be making but no doubt e-Doonhamer will, we will definitely be without the suspended Steve Mallan but as far as I know all other players are available. However, this game has disappeared down the insignificance plug hole, a win would be nice but, if we beat Hamilton next week, deserve it or not, we will be saved. Let's hope we don't let indifference take over and give this game enough effort. To read about Arbroath click here.
20/4/00
We've got God on our side, We're The Only Team in the Bible. We may just have got our miracle. The league have today deducted Hamilton 15 points for their strike at Stenhousemuir a couple of weeks ago, which will leave them 4 points behind us with the game at Palmerston a week on Saturday now definitely the most important game of the season. A win in that one and we're saved for sure. While it will be a very unsatisfactory way to survive, because we've got more money than Hamilton, at this stage we have to accept anything. Hopeful, we won't now go into a series of appeals and legal actions, although from what I have read so far it sounds like Hamilton are resigned to their fate. It would be very unfair on Queens if this did happen as we need to know for sure as soon as possible what league we will be in next year so contracts can be arranged and new players signed. Now, lets all cross everything and hope that we can actually take advantage of this bit of luck this time.
I have been too busy since Tuesday night to give an opinion on the Stenny Hamilton result. At the time I thought it would have been better for Hamilton to have lost as we still had them to play and they were likely to be deducted at least 3 points. However, today's events have rather overshadowed this match, and who knows, the punishment might not have been as much if they had lost.
Someone who won't be too bothered about today's decision is Graham Armstrong who has been unceremoniously dumped by Stenhousemuir, despite almost certainly saving the villagers from their deserved relegation this season. A slagging match has now ensued in the National Press. AH, coverage for our league!
Read what the poor Hamilton Guy has to say by clicking here.
So the Scottish Football League have got balls after all? Like everybody else, I'm gobsmacked by the size of the penalty, but we must take it and get on with making the most of our second chance. It must begin on Saturday, as we can expect the Hamilton players to come out fighting for their remaining three games. They will feel that they don't deserve to be relegated, and they will be right. However it is the current Accies board that has put them in this position, and it is with Bill Sherry and co that the blame must lie. Incidentally, according to Sky Sports tonight, Hamilton Accies have NO right to appeal, the decision has been made and it won't be changed.
From Queen's point of view after Saturday's debacle we hardly deserve a second chance, but we must grasp it with both hands. We must get right behind the team for the remaining three games, but a week on Saturday is crucial, I would urge every Queen's fan, where ever they are to go to the game if they can at all make it. I expect that the Hamilton fans will travel en-masse to Palmerston, and no doubt they will demonstrate against their board. Hopefully any demonstration will be peaceful, and won't interrupt the game.
This is could be the most dramatic climax to Queen's season in a long time, I hope we remember it for avoiding the drop, and not for throwing away a second chance. I've a funny feeling that we are all going to be humming the tune to The Great Escape for the next few weeks.
e-Doonhamer.
In response to my question of why Jamie McAllister wasn't named in the under 21 squad :-
jamie just misses out now on u-21's last season was his cut off,as there is no doubt he would have been capped if he was eligible.
Mark Blount
18/4/00
Stenhousemuir 0 Hamilton 1
This could be Queens biggest week of the season, without us even kicking a ball. Tonight, Stenhousemuir and Hamilton replay the game which was postponed a few weeks ago due to the Hamilton players strike. Victory for Stenhousemuir would leave us 8 points adrift of our nearest rival with only 3 more games to play. This could all change on Thursday, however, when the League meet to decide what punishment to dish out to Hamilton for the aforementioned strike. To finish the week we finally get onto the pitch to play Queens Old Boys, otherwise known as Arbroath, in the far Northern reaches of the empire. Unfortunately, this trip could be a taster for what we can expect next year.
Queens are through to the semi finals of the Southern Counties Challenge Cup after beating Dalbeattie 3-2 on Monday night. The goal scorers were Weir and Eadie with a couple and apparently, David Mathieson kept us in the game with some brilliant saves.
Chris Doig has been named in the Scotland Under 21 side to play Holland next week. I was surprised not to see the name of Jamie McAllister on the team sheet for this one, he is under 21, isn't he?
I for one, was a bit worried about the Ross County player stretchered of on Saturday so I e-Mailed a Ross County site to find out. HEre's what he says : -
Brian 'Dobbin' Irvine might be out for the rest of the season - he's very badly concussed, and out for our promotion party (please,please, please!) on Saturday for definite. Kenny Gilbert, the player he clashed with, played on after getting 6 stitches.
Adrian
15/4/00
Alloa 4 Stranraer 0 Arbroath 1 Hamilton 1 Clyde 7 Stenhousemuir 0 Partick 1 Stirling 1 Queens 0 Ross County 3
Former Queens players feature heavily in the nominations list for the PFA player of the year awards. Jamie McAllister is nominated as Young Player of the Year, Tommy Turner of St Mirren (That is the guy who played for us, is it?) is nominated in Division One and Darren Henderson of Hamilton is nominated in our Division (Seriously!!).
13/4/00
Would you believe I was approached by Border Telly this week to do an interview about this weekends game against Ross County at Palmerston? Well, I was! Unfortunately, I couldn't do it due to work (although my boss said I could use his room, but he would be standing in the background chanting Stranraer), but media empire, here I come! This is a vital match (where have I heard that before?), a quick check of my prediction table from a couple of weeks ago shows I had it down as a draw, but we need so much more than that now, like a small miracle (or maybe even a big one). This will not be easy through. The last time we played them at Palmerston, that little git, Paul Kinnaird (at least he had the sense to leave Stranraer) took us to pieces and with Ross still looking to secure promotion, it sure as hell ain't going to be easy. Ain't I the optimist! I have been looking back and I'm pretty sure George Rowe is back this week (I've said that for the last 3 weeks through), Aitken I think still has a couple of games to go and Mallan is due to start a 3 match suspension, which I think might start on Saturday (what a great investigative reporter I am).
11/4/00
Alloa 3 Queens 1
Queens travel to Alloa for the first time this season (we go there for the last game and the previous game was postponed) hoping that Alloa can put in the same kind of performance which has saw us take 4 points of them so far this season but also gifted 3 points to Stenhousemuir on Saturday. However, it can't be ignored that Alloa are very close to securing promotion so they can't be that bad a team and we will be doing well to come away with any points tonight, having said that a win is vital for us. Don't know much team news, I thought George Rowe was about due back but Colin Doesn't mention it on the official site so I may be wrong, he does say McMillan may well play for the injured Stewart and that a midfield place is up for grabs. I hope to be able to bring you at least one report (possibly two, neither from me through) but I will be keeping an eye on Ceefax and will try to bring live updates for my overseas readers view the latest news bit on the home page.
9/4/00
An interesting piece in the Stirling program gave the average home gates of the second division sides, and as expected, Queens are shown as third (well, actually, they are shown as fourth, but if Clyde playing 15 games to a total of 15,893 fans makes an average gate of 1,509 then I'll have to send my 'O' Grade Arithmetic back!), and our highest gate of the season isn't as artificially inflated by Partick as the other teams. Stranraer have by far the lowest average gate, even Stenhousemuir beat them. Relegate them instead of us!
A related article gives the estimated away support at Stirling games. Queens only had 60 at the last game, according to this, but my estimate for yesterday is Queens 150, Stirling only 350!
Just remembered something else I meant to say. I read the report on the game at the Stirling site I link to. I too thought their number 6 played well but he was being slated on here. Turns out this was his first game back after a six game suspension for being sent off three times against Clyde in his last game. And we think we've got some hot heads!
8/4/00
Hamilton 1 Clyde 1 Ross County 1 Partick 3 Stenhousemuir 2 Alloa 1 Stirling 2 Queens 2 Stranraer 0 Arbroath 0
That'll be the prediction table ripped up then!
7/4/00
A strong Queens team, as far as I can tell from the brief report in the Courier, beat St Cuthberts Wanderers 8-2 at Palmerston on Wednesday night in the first round of the Southern Counties Challenge cup. Scorers were George Rowe (4), Charlie Adams (2), Geoff Paterson and Allan Kerr. Andy Aitken scored an own goal.
Andy Aitken and George Rowe are both suspended for tomorrows game at Stirling, leaving us looking a bit short at the back. Let's hope the ball never comes to that end of the pitch.
Read a report in today's Glasgow Herald (Ya!) that Allan Preston has been forced to quit the game due to a hip injury. It says he hasn't played for St Johnston for a year and a half but yet again there is no mention of him ever having played for Queens. Was it definitely him?
5/4/00
Fixture list, check. Crystal Ball, check. Right, here goes.
The preview of this weeks game is more than just that, as far as I'm concerned its the preview and review of our whole season. The Stenhousemuir game a few weeks ago could have been a turning point, but we blew it. However, we have been given chance. Loose on Saturday, however, and its difficult to see where any more chances are going to come from.
Stirling have been playing poorly recently, leaking more goals than us at our worst, but lets not forget, the last time we played them at Palmerston, the slaughtered us. So what way will it go. As I said, it can only go one way as far as we're concerned, and that's a win for us. If we say the battle to avoid the relegation place is between us, Stenhousemuir, Stirling and Hamilton, the rest of the season, maybe, could go like this :
Queens 28 pts Stenhousemuir 31 pts Stirling 35 pts Hamilton 35 pts? Stirling (A) 31 Alloa (H) 32 Queens (H) 35 Clyde (H) 35 Alloa (A) 31 Clyde (A) 32 Partick (A) 35 Arbroath (A) 36 Ross Cty (H) 32 Partick (H) 32 Stranraer (A) 36 Ross Cty (H) 36 Arbroath (A) 33 Stirling (A) 32 Stenny (H) 39 Queens (A) 36 Hamilton (H) 36 Ross Cty (H) 32 Hamilton (A) 40 Stirling (H) 37 Alloa (A) 37 Hamilton (H)? 33 Stenny (A) 38
Interestingly, Hamilton still have Queens, Stirling and Stenny to play and a lot could depend on these results and how many points, if any, the are deducted for their strike at Stenny. If I'm right, and I'm sure there are web sites up and down the country giving totally different opinions, then, with luck, it will all be over by the time we meet Alloa on the last day of the season and we will be as good as safe. Lets hope so,cause I've just realised that I'm of of my holidays on the 6th of May, so will be in sunny Majorca as the game goes on, and I think e-Doonhamer also has something else on that day, so I will be struggling for a report on what could be the most vital game for years. Anybody know any cheap Internet Cafes in Majorca! Lets hope it doesn't come to it.
4/4/00
Alloa 2 Hamilton 0
It seems Hamilton's players have extended their industrial action in the form of a work to rule. The were awarded two penalties last night but as nobody is paid to be the penalty taker, they missed them both!
1/4/00
No April Fools Jokes, there's enough foolishness on here at the best of times!
Alloa 2 Arbroath 1 Clyde 3 Queens 1 Partick 1 Stranraer 1 Ross County 5 Stirling 1
Stenhousemuir's home game with Hamiltion was postponed at the last minute when Hamilton failed to turn up, their players having staged a strike. This of course puts Quuens into a confussion position as the league decide how to deal with this unique situation. In theory, Stenhousemuir should be awarded the game, as far as I can pick up on the radio anyway, but this would be very unfair on Queens. Surely, Hamilton have to be punished in some way, from a Queens point of view, the heavier the better, and points, not cash.
31/3/00
My new mate, Bill Lechie's paper, the Scum, is reporting that Raith Rovers are looking at David Mathieson "to provide competition for Guido Van Kemp"! Dream on, you'd need to swap you whole team, and then some, to get him.
28/3/00
Arbroath 2 Alloa 0 Clyde 1 Stranraer 1 Ross County 2 Stenhousemuir 0
26/3/00
Oh, turn down that computer! I'm going beyond the call of duty to bring you a report this morning on George Rowe's testimonial dinner last night.
As I suspected, the Gascoigne rumour proved to be just that, a rumour, although I was a bit worried as the only two empty seats in the packed hall appeared to be at our table. However, thankfully, the closest he came was a signed shirt. Among the Superstars who did attend were (and I've probably left somebody out) former Queens players, Craig Flannigan, Jim Thomson, Des McKeown, and Derek Townsley, former Hearts and Scotland and present Cowdenbeath manager, Craig Levien, Dumfries M.P. Russell Brown and most of the current Queens first team squad, a notable absentee being Sandy Hodge who had been taken to hospital after the match suffering from concussion. Others I didn't see but who may have been there were Stewart, Duncan, Dickson, Hawke, Kerr and Adams.
The speakers were a lawyer from Glasgow, who's name escapes me but who was very funny, I wish I could remember more of his jokes, but one I do remember was him clearing up the mystery surrounding Ron Davies, the Labour Welsh guy found wandering on a common in London. Apparently, he was found walking around in a Stranraer strip but the police put out the gay sex story to spare his family embracement! A lot of the jokes did tend to revolve around Stranraer and Annan (the guy who topped his mates stories of going out with a girl with one eye and a girl with one leg by going out with a girl from Annan with only one kid, the definition of confusion is Father's day in Ecclefechan), and this went down very well. The next speaker was John Gaggen?, a name I recall from his days of playing at Motherwell although I don't really remember him as a player. However, since retiring he has made a name for himself on the after dinner speaking circuit and its easy to see why as he was again very funny, but again I can't recall many of his jokes (Jock Wallace, in reply to his enquiry as to why he was always in the second team, "Because you're too bloody good for the third team!). Unfortunately-:), eh,eh,eh,eh.,eh Davie Shankland was ill and couldn't attend.
The next speaker, Bill Lechie, chief sports writer for the Sun, didn't go down so well, and why, because he had the cheek to slag Celtic and Rangers. What made him unpopular was a point he was trying to make about Old Firm fans that they refuse to believe he hates them both, always thinking he hates their team more. And he was proved totally correct, you could hear them turn against him, the guys I could see were Rangers and they were not happy. He's right however, it is very difficult in Scotland not to have a leaning towards one or another, and I think particularly down here were in primary school nearly everyone has to support either Celtic or Rangers. I would love to be able to claim immunity from this, unfortunately I can't, I have to admit to long standing Celtic leanings which I just can't shake off, no matter how hard I try. However, as time wears on, I find them subsiding, indeed, last Sunday, I had a secret hankering for Aberdeen, owing to the fact they have former Queens players. I no longer have any wish to go to Parkhead, I am a Queens man through and through, but still, the liking for Celtic won't go away. I also have to say in my defence, although religion means nothing to me, I am protestant and my Celtic leanings are purely due to the fact that the Celtic team of the early seventies was one of the best, most attractive teams to watch ever. So please forgive me. Anyway, lechie was right.
I have to comment on the public face of some of the Queens players. Brian Caldwell had had a few drinks but was funny, Mark Weir on the other hand was an arse, giving me abuse when I met him on the way back from the toilet, out of his face and giving it the big man stuff, in the "do you know who I am style". Does he know who he is? Don't flatter yourself boy. A lot of the younger players could learn a thing or two from a player not much their senior, Andy Aitken, who, while being far from t-total (I think, it might have been coke), he can handle it and present himself in a responsible adult who can handle his drink way. He was telling us how much he is enjoying George Rowe being out!, no, its OK, he only meant that he has to take more responsibility and he enjoys that. What a refreshing attitude. Unfortunately, his booking yesterday means he is going to start a 3 or 4 match suspension soon, which will mean he and Rowe out at the same time for a while, and this could be bad news. By the way, he reckons it shouldn't have been a penalty, the Thistle player kicked him after he had cleared the ball and went down. SFA, if you're reading this, he wasn't criticising the ref, just giving his opinion.
The auction, hosted by Bill Lechie, went with a bang, the biggest selling item being a Pilnockie top from "The Cup" being bought by Norman Blount for a price, if I remember rightly, of £2,000.00. Other items going for big money were Jamie McAllister and David Lillie Aberdeen tops, which noticeably the speakers seemed interested in, they think these boys are going places, and we nearly got Des McKewan back along with one of his Partick tops for £100.00.
Russell Brown had the difficult job of finishing the night off, at short notice, and by this time some of the audience were a bit worse for wear. It was nice, however, to hear Norman Blount receive a great ovation, not just for being Chairman for the night but for all he done for Queens.
Some little bits to add to my report on the Thistle game. Those of you who were there may recall the ball going into the stand at one point to be headed back with a deft header from a fan. It turns out this was none other than George Rowe's dad! Also, those of you who thought I have become a Thistle fan reading my report, have a read of the one on this site and you will see they are being complimentary back : http://members.aol.com/ptmatches/25mar00.htm
25/3/00
Arbroath 1 Ross County 2 Hamilton 0 Alloa 0 Queens 1 Partick 1 Stirling 3 Clyde 6 Stranraer 2 Stenhousemuir 2
Queens had John Gallagher from Arbroath today in the problem left midfield role, although he might struggle to hold on to this after Mark Weir's performance once he came on. There were rumours on the terracing that we have tried to sign 2 other players but nobody had heard who they were.
23/3/00
e-Doonhamer has finally surfaced from his weekend celebrations, here is his opinions on Saturday's game :
Sorry about a lack of report, it looks like at least one person reads it anyway. I had a late drunken night on Saturday, followed by a trip to Hampden on Sunday, again drink fuelled!
I viewed the match on Saturday much as you did, though I can confirm that it was Boyle that had the shot cleared off the line. I think it was more luck on the defenders part that his leg was there rather than an attempted clearance. I felt we had three stonewall penalties turned down. Charlie Adams bundled to the ground with an elbow in his back. How this ended up a free kick to Stranraer I'll never know. Boyle brought down just inside the box a while later in the first. Then a handball in the second half. If the two first half incidences were not penalties then why were our players not booked? Also both were in front of the Stand side linesman, where was his flag?
Did you see a glaring mistake from the Ice Rink side linesman late in the second half? A player from each side chased the ball on the line in the around about the halfway line. The ball went out of play, and as I was unsure who got the final touch I looked at the linesman. Was the flag left, or was it right? Neither he pointed straight ahead, leaving the referee to decide it was a Stranraer throw!
I thought that we gave Stranraer a real doing at times, especially late on in the game. It was obvious that after a bright early start from them, that they were content to sit back and hold out for the draw, as defeat would have seen then hauled towards the relegation zone.
I thought that it was an all round good team performance, and we perhaps lacked in the luck department. If we can keep putting in performances like that, then we might just climb to safety yet.
My man of the match? Mmm, quite hard this week, I think I'll have to go for Stevie Mallan, who tried until he was subbed and did a lot of running of the ball.
This has actually turned into a bit of a report, you can use it if you wish. It's amazing how much you remember when your fingers start going on the keyboard.
Again apologies for the lateness, it will be Sunday evening before I can post one next week, as I have another night on the tiles planned! Well, don't all hacks have drink problems? Andy Murray, may be an exception though. It was good to see his column back in the programme until I read it, he still seems a bit bitter about his character assassination on the Official site message page. Why doesn't he put it behind him, and get on with reporting on games again?
e-Doonhamer.
It's the jolly old Jaggies from Maryhill down at Palmerston this week, which will mean looking out the polythene sheet to get our segregation system into operation. It should be about our biggest crowd of the season (apart from Hearts of course) and lets hope Queens can respond and give the home fans something to shout about. Leslie and Cleeland are available, as they were on Saturday and Leslie, as the Palmerston door knows to its expense, was on Tuesday, but I think they will struggle to come into contention for the game. McMillan is still suspended (I think, I'm beginning to loose count of all these suspensions) but would struggle to make the team anyway after Stewart's recent good run and Rowe has about 4 games still to go so will be nice and rested for his testimonial dinner at night, which I believe Partick and possibly Paul Gascoigne (is that the guy from University Challenge?) will be attending. Thistle will more than likely go all out at us, I have to say, they are probably the most entertaining team in this league, and I always enjoy watching them, especially as the atmosphere is usually good too. And they have everybody's favourite former player Des 'is still a Queens fan' McKeown playing for them. I have heard that Des will actually be sitting at a Queens supporters club table at the dinner! I am supposed to be going to the testimonial at night (I have still to see the colour of my ticket) but I will do my best to put up a match report before I go, or a score at the very least for overseas readers (ye, like I've got any!). I will also do a report on the testimonial dinner on Sunday although my memories of that are likely to be even worse than my memories of the game, and I'm not taking my note book with me.
21/3/00
Partick 1 Clyde 2 Stenhousemuir 0 Ross County 2 Stranraer 2 Alloa 2
As the Queens song on the front page doesn't seem to be working anyway since I switched servers, I have decided to remove it meantime. I will work on getting a better version to work but in the meantime if anybody wants the rather poor quality recording I have at present send me an e-mail and I'll send you it.
19/3/00
Some news from e-Doonhamer
I heard today (this might not be news to you!) that when Leslie found out that he was dropped on Tuesday, he kicked in a door at Palmerston. He has subsequently been fined by the club, and also has to pay for the door. I don't know what was the more expensive!
Those of you have have taken the time to read my report on yesterday's match (if not, why not?) will have read that I thought it was Duncan's effort which was cleared of the line in the first half but Colin and the Stranraer site I read both said Boyle. Now, I was at the other end of the ground and I must admit my first impression was it was number 8 who I thought at the time was Duncan but later realised it was Boyle. However, it looked like Duncan to me and the fact that it was a RIGHT foot pile drive would, as much as I like Denis Boyle, indicate to me it was indeed Duncan. Can anybody let me know for sure? Click e-mail to your left and let me know.
OK, seems I may be wrong, here's a couple of other opinions :-
Quick note re your query about the identity of the player whose shot was cleared off the line.
My impression, standing right behind the dug outs, was that it was definitely Boyle's shot not Duncan.
While we are on the subject, it was also Boyle who was pulled back in the box for the second penalty appeal, not Charlie Adams. I would have to say though that I thought the first appeal was a stronger case than the second one.
No e-doonhamer report this week? ( e-Doonhamer was last heard off "going out on the razzle to celebrate our 0-0 slaughtering of Stranraer" and may be able to submit a report today.)
Ewan
I am sure it was Denis Boyle as I remarked at the time about it being a right foot.Also Mallan and their player clashed and the ball broke to Adams and he meekly passed it back to their keeper and then held his head in his hands for 5 mins.
Mark Blount
I was right in line from the stand and it looked a goal all the way from a deflected shot from DENIS BOYLE, but the jammy sod on the goal line just managed to deflect it wide.
Alex Wilson
OK, I get the picture, I was wrong (for once)!
18/3/00
Alloa 1 Stirling 0 Arbroath 2 Stenhousemuir 2 Clyde 0 Ross County 0 Hamilton 0 Partick 1 Queens 0 Stranraer 0
Heard a story that Terry Christie, Alloa's manager, writes to ever club in his division at the beginning of the season to inform them that his team will not return the ball if the opposition put it out of play to allow treatment to an injured player. If this is the case, surely every one of their players should be booked before they step onto the pitch for ungentlemanly conduct! And this guy teaches kids.
The last time our 'local' rivals, the Clay Holers, visited Palmerston, they had the luckiest 5-0 win ever seen (not that I was there!). Today it's our time to take revenge. Read on for an in depth preview!
The Clay Holers will probably have the cheek once again to have more supporters at Palmerston than they get at home games. When you think about it, this makes sense cause, although they are seventy miles away, at least there is a road from their farms to Palmerston, something which can't be said for Stair Stadium.
Even although they are seventy miles away, the fact that they rely on Dumfries for things such as shops, hospitals, rulers (the council), civilisation in general, means we still see them as our biggest rivals. So lets turn up in numbers and let them know who the superior town is!
Steven Leslie is available again, as he was apparently on Tuesday but we had the sense not to play him then and hopefully common sense will prevail again today. Also available after his long term suspension is Marc Cleeland but again he is unlikely to play. George Rowe starts a five game suspension today and will be replaced by Robison, hopefully, apart from that, we will be able to field the team which slaughtered Clyde. Oh, and I'm told that Preston's loan period is finished and he has said he will never return to Palmerston. Oh well!
Don't know or care anything about the Stranraer team.
I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE PROGRAMME LAST NIGHT AND FOUND SOME QOS LOOKALIKES:-
Marc Cleeland-STEVEN (THE GAY ONE) FROM BOYZONE
JOHN DICKSON-KEITH CHEGWIN(HE RUNS LIKE HIM TOO)
PAUL STEWART- THAT BOY FROM EMMERDALE
AND ALAN DAVIDSON-DAVID HASSELHOFF
I know its not very clever but it made me laugh for a while
Scot Carrick
Anybody got any more?
Received this e-mail which was printed on the Official site 'slightly edited'. Obviously thinks I will print anything but even I've missed out a bit, but here it is slightly less edited.
In reply to Pamela Scott (qosfc.co.uk)
re: Pamela Scott (or are you actually Mark Weir in disguise) Mark Weir is terrible he can't pass, he can't run and he can't shoot. He is weak on the ball and he is an all round liability that couldn't even get a game for Calside Primary.
Nice comments on the game from Scott Carrick, I enjoyed his analysis of the game and would like to propose he take over from Eadie and Rowe. Bring back NESO - I don't care he gets drunk a little too much and supposedly ******* ****** *** - he's a good lad with brilliant skill he just needs guidance. He reminds me of Stan Collymore, although he leaves the woman bashing to Steve Leslie.
Simon Millage
By the way, the ******* ****** **** bit is a rumour I'm sure most of you have heard but I'm afraid I'm not willing to print it here! And these aren't necessarily my views!
14/3/00
Alloa 1 Ross County 2 Hamilton 2 Stenhousemuir 1 Queens 3 Clyde 0
Heard a rumour that former Queens boss Michael Jackson was at Stenhousemuir on Saturday on a scouting mission for Leeds United looking at Denis Boyle.
Former Queens favourite Chris Balderstone died last week.
11/3/00
Ross 3 Alloa 4 Stenhousemuir 2 Queens 0 Stirling 1 Arbroath 1 Stranraer 2 Hamilton 2
Yesterday was George Rowe's 200th game for Queens and he has a testimonial dinner after the Thistle game next week. After yesterday's game, lets hope he's still around for it.
10/3/00
Barring a drastic mistake by Heather the Weather, I have decided to make the trip to Stenhousemuir (Larbett?) tomorrow. The Autoroute has been printed, the Multimap.com is printed off, let the expedition begin. You can look forward to another bumper double report this week as e-Doonhamer is also going to be there. Queens are without McMillan, Leslie and Cleeland again but will have Boyle available after the Irish F.A. allowed him to stay on rather than go training with them. Apart from that, there isn't much news, in fact, unless I'm going blinder than I though, the Courier has totally thrown in the towel and didn't even have a Queens column this week. So, for all the latest news, keep tuning in here and, if anyone from the Courier is reading this, go on, make me an offer I can't refuse!
I stand reprimanded. The following e-mail has come pouring through my mail box (1 of 51 actually, but most of them are through a mailing list called 123Scotland, for lower league Scottish teams. There isn't much Queens representation on it just now (I did a couple of times and got crucified) so why not sign up at http://www.onelist.co.uk (I think, please check this).)
Good to see your page updated with lots of new information and comments. However, have to disagree with comments about goalkeepers .... loyalty to Mathieson is one thing, but Hillcoat definitely has more ability and long term class than you give him credit for. For any player to give credible input over past months, and for a supporter to then find such lack of acknowledgement of this .... discourtesy comes to mind. Surely a true supporter shouldn`t have to claim one player against another, but should be thinking of best for the team?
J. Polson
Ah, yes, well, in my defence, I never meant to criticise Hillcoat, I have said he has done a good job, the point I was trying to make is that in my opinion, Mathieson is a far better player than anybody at Palmerston or anywhere else in division 2 for that matter. Please don't get me wrong, if we were to loose Mathieson again, I would be delighted to see Hillcoat back in goals, but face it, Mathieson is different class.
7/3/00
Alloa 3 Stenhousemuir 1 Clyde 2 Ross County 2 Stranraer 3 Partick 1
6/3/00
A story that seems to have passed me by is that Alistair McMillan is about to sign for Stoke City. So, if you haven't already heard it elsewhere, I can exclusively reveal that Stoke City are showing an interest in Alistair McMillan!
My mate tells me the story of Steven Leslie's sending off against Livingston. He was getting fed up of Dallas letting them off with everything so he took matters into his own hands. Read on for the alleged events.
According to my mate, he heard that Dallas was being all chummy with the Livingston players, calling them by their first names and doing his famous pat on the bum bit. He was also , in Leslie's opinion, letting Livingston away with some fairly rash challenges, so the bold Steven decided to take matters into his own hands and have some of it. Of course, he was promptly sent off, but just to add to his problems, he allegedly told Dallas as he left the pitch that he would have put through more than one window if it had been him. Not a good idea!
4/3/00
Partick 2 Arbroath 0 Queens 2 Alloa 1 Stirling 1 Hamilton 4
Only three points behind Stenhousemuir and away to them next week. I'm beginning to be optimistic. Were the hell is Stenhousemuir anyway, I may try to make it next week.
3/3/00
Unfortunately, its my annual lads day out to Edinburgh (it always seems to fall on a home match) and so I will have to miss the visit of the Duffel and his Alloa troops, which is a shame as they are the most entertaining team in the league. And, yes, I am being sarcastic. But, boring as they may be, they have also been very successful this season although their recent good cup runs have left them mid table again but with half a season in hand. I still see no reason why Queens can't start the long trail back to the rest by giving them a thrashing tomorrow. That is probably the most frustrating thing about this season, the standard of opposition has been poorer than in previous years. Queens will be hindered by suspensions again tomorrow with McMillan joining long termers Cleeland and Leslie. On the bright side, Hawke is back and Aitken is expected to be OK despite coming of injured last week.
To read a review of the last Palmerston match with Terrie's Entertainers click here.
To see what Alloa think of us, click here.
1/3/00
Further to my story of 26th February I have now heard that Liverpool are also showing an interest in David Mathieson. Now this I can understand, as far as I'm concerned any scout worth his wages should be at Palmerston watching. Now, I know to loose Smiler would be a disaster for Queens but I'm afraid that we have to face the fact that this is our place in life, to bring on young players for the big boys, we can't stand in these boys way. It would be nice however if we made a bit more of an effort to become a bigger boy ourselves. Let the bidding war begin.
On this subject, I was thinking, what Second Division team could afford to loose four Premier League class players (I include Mathieson in this with Townsley, McAllister and Lilley) and hope to survive? If anything, and I have said this before, we are victims of our own success this season.
29/2/00
Tonight's game at Alloa has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. I hope you knew this e-Doonhamer!
I hear the game has been re-sheduled for 11th April but I will confirm this as soon as I can.
28/2/00
Seeing Darren Henderson tearing us to pieces on Saturday got me to thinking about what the best team you could make up from Queens players past and present still playing would be. This is my answer of the top of my head. Let me know your opinions.
Mathieson
Lilley Doig Aitken McAllister
Harvey Townsley Bryce McKeown
Thomson Henderson
Now, there's a team which wouldn't be struggling to avoid relegation (as long as Alexander wasn't the manager!)
26/2/00
Alloa 1 Partick 1 Arbroath 1 Clyde 1 Hamilton 1 Queens 1 Stenhousemuir 1 Stirling 2 Stranraer 0 Ross County 2
The game away to Alloa postponed on the 27th December will now be played this Tuesday night (29th Feb), meaning we will play them twice in a week. I hope to bring you a report on this game courtesy of my new e-Doonhamer mystery reporter who has already managed to generate some controversy following his first match report. Excellent stuff!
The rumours regarding Hillcoat leaving the club would now seem to be wide of the mark but it would appear that Liverpool have become the latest club to show an interest in Hodge and my source reckons a move for him isn't far off.
25/2/00
Queens go to Firhill for the second time in a fortnight (with me in tow this time) for what must be the biggest game in years. The unthinkable prospect of defeat would leave us 11 points behind Hamilton and, if not certainties, even hotter favourites than we already are for relegation. Victory, however, would bring us back four points behind them and the chase would be on. We go into the game without Cleeland and Leslie and unfortunately (read that as you want ) Hawke, who are all suspended. There will also be no Tommy Tait, who's swap deal tp come from Albion Rovers for Mark Weir, has fallen through. So, Queens ambitions to become the new Albion Rovers (i.e. bottom of division 3!) have thwarted (for now!). It looks like Mark Weir will now be following Chris Strain out the door because, quote "He was just not good enough" (Eadie on Strain).
Dumfries based Accies fan Tom Marchbank tells me that Hamilton will have a bigger than usual crowd tomorrow as he is taking his daughter with him. Still, I'm sure Queens fans will still outnumber the "homesters" and get behind the team 100%.
Queens went down 2-0 to Killie last Friday in a very top secret behind closed doors game. As usual, when nobody was there to see it, Eadie recons Queens played well!
21/2/00
Jamie McAllister received glowing reports from Charlie Nicholas before last night's live Sky game against Inverness, being described as their best player during their recend improvement in form. I have also heard that a lot of people in Sheepland are pushing for a Scotland call-up for him. Of course, if it wasn't for my recomendation that he be moved to left back, he would still be fighting with Mark Weir for a place on our left wing!!!! He had an average game last night and was substituted midway through the second half mainly for tactical reasons during a 1-1 draw.
Another former favourite, Andy Thomson, had a less happy time at the weekend as his Gillingham side were beaten 5-0 by Chelsea in the English Cup Quater Finals.
19/2/00
Stirling 3 Ross County 1
As I suspected, today's trip to Clyde has been cancelled cause they are still in that tournament which I have been trying to forget, the Scottish Cup, and are taking on the side that even we managed to push to their limits, Hearts. Good luck to them.
12/2/00
Clyde 4 Stirling 1 Partick 5 Queens 4 Ross County 1 Arbroath 1 Stenhousemuir 1 Stranraer 1
Graham Duncan made his debut in midfield yesterday, adding a bit of height and strength in this department. He was signed from the mighty Albion Rovers where he has been for 3 years after spells with Stranraer and Dumbarton. Marked his debut with a goal.
David Mathieson made a surprise but welcome return to the first team in yesterday's game.
Next Saturday's 'Lambs to the Slaughter' trip to league leaders Clyde has been put of until 14th March at 7:30 for some reason. Cumbernauld on a Tuesday night, anyone?!!!!
The good news today is that Leslie is banned for 4 games and Cleeland for 5. Now the management will have to address the glaring problem which is the centre of our midfield and there is already talk of a new face for the game today at Partick Thistle. The bad news is I've got my sister-in-laws 40th birthday party tonight and so am having to miss one of my 4 away games of the entire season.
Must get some better results soon, Relegation must not be allowed to happen , or do we want to be the biggest fish in the third division. Get some more luck soon boys.
Steve C ( Peterborough) SColli0608@aol.com
9/2/00
A rare mid-week update to put down the contents of a couple of e-mails I have received recently.
Greetings!
Thanks for an entertaining site.
I see from your site that the QOS name comes from the Bible. But do you know _why_ it was chosen? Was the founder a religious person- or what?
This is not a wind up. I really am curious to know.
Best wishes
Mike Procter mailto:mprocter@mailroom.com
Hi Stuart,
I have always tried to give Steven Leslie the benefit of the doubt, even after his sending off against Livvy. However I have since heard that he was seen the night before the cup game out drinking in Dumfries in a state that was described as "he couldn't bite his own fingernails". If this is the case then he should be severely disciplined, as the debacle with Nesovic last season demonstrated it is the beginning of the slippery slope out of Queens. We need players who are committed to the cause but remain disciplined both on and off the park.
4/2/00
Hamilton 2 Arbroath 2 Ross County 2 Queens 0 Stenhousemuir 3 Clyde 4 Stirling 0 Partick 2
Alan Kerr's own goal against Livy last week has just been featured on Soccer AM's Taxi feature and was described by Tim Lovejoy as the best own goal ever. Tell that to the papers who credited the goal to David Bingham.
Have now turned the colour of this page back to blue after it's week of blackness. Let's hope this is the last time I feel the need to do this.
Interesting news in last week's program that Ted McMinn is now assistant manager at Southport. See Bits & Pieces for more info.
Also nice to hear on Sky today that Andy Thomson is in the running for the Nationwide League player of the month following Gillingham's recent excellent cup run. Again see Bits & Pieces for more info.
The good news for this weeks game away in the frozen north at Ross County is that Steven Leslie is suspended, with Boyle, Preston, Weir and Kerr all possible replacements. Also out is a defender (It'll come back to me in a minute) and either Preston or Robison are likely to play there. David Mathieson's comeback has been put on hold following John Hillcoat's recent good displays! While I agree Hillcoat has played well and doesn't deserve to be dropped Mathieson is the closest thing to quality we have and the sooner we can get him back the better.
The Standard reports that Dundee United have tried to get Sandy Hodge on trial but Ronnie Bradford blocked this as he does not want players going on trial and will only listen to firm offers.
A snippet of information I managed to pick up myself. Was having a fly wee look through the office window on Saturday and lying on the table was a letter from Norwich City. Now, I'm about as blind as a referee so I couldn't actually make anything out, which really means this story is a total waste of time, but I will watch with interest to see if anything happens!
Probably a better piece of through the office window news was the 2 small boys having a peek at half. One was heard to exclaim "There's a dogs head on the table!". Closer examination revealed the disgarded Doogie The Doonhamer outfit!
29/01/00
Ross County 0 Hamilton 1
Scottish Cup 3rd Round
Queens 0 Livingston 7
Yes, you read that right, a black day at Palmertson today!
25/1/00
It would appear that Arsenal are getting pretty desperate to try to be as famous as Queens! Thanks to Colin Johnstone for the following snippet of information.
Queens are the "Only Team in the Bible". If you check your King James version of the bible you will see that Jeremiah 50:25 actually refers to an "armoury" and not an arsenal.
22/1/00
Arbroath 1 Stranraer 1 Clyde 1 Hamilton 0 Partick 4 Ross County 2 Queens 2 Stirling 3
Despite being a Queen of the South fan I'm afraid to tell you that the Queens are NOT the only team in the bible. If you read chapter Jeremiah 50:25 you will find ARSENAL mentioned. This was brought to my attention by a Mr Steve Reay at my work after boasting that Queens are the only team in the bible. I thought I'd better point this out to you as you may need a radical change of your website. Keith Prentice Newcastle
Hey, accuracy has never been my strong point! I choose to ignore this and carry on as if nothing has happened. By the way, I've also had Wolves fans claiming they get mentions in the bible.
A personal note to Queens Scene, Andy Murray, if he looks at this page. I know I have disagreed with your opinions in the past but I loved your column and surely the whole point of it was to encourage some debate. So don't take it personally, I look forward to seeing your column back in the Courier on a Friday night.
15/1/00
Hamilton 2 Stranraer 0 Queens 3 Stenhousemuir 1
This may be old hat and I've just missed it, but I heard from a good source the other day that local solicitor Robin Braidwood has joined the Queens board. Anybody confirm or deny this? On the subject, my wife finally remembered to as Helen Jardine, Mark's wife if there was any truth in the rumours sweeping the town that Mark Jardine was going to join the board. She says definitely not (She wouldn't let him!) and could people she's never met before please stop coming up to her in the street and asking her!
Looking forward to my first game in ages today against Stenny at Palmerston. See you all there.
9/1/00
Queens third win in a row, away to Montrose in the second round of the cup, has brought us a home tie against Livingston in the next round, if they show up!
3/1/00
Partick 2 Hamilton 2 Stenhousemuir 3 Arbroath 0 Stirling 1 Alloa 1 Stranraer 1 Queens 2
27/12/99
Arbroath 0 Partick 0 Hamilton 0 Stirling 2 Stranraer 2 Clyde 2
Queens game at Alloa was postponed streaching our unbeaten run to over 2 weeks.
18/12/99
Clyde 0 Alloa 0 Partick 1 Stenhousemuir 0 Queens 1 Arbroath 0 Stirling 2 Stranraer 5
New players in today where Warne Hawke from Morton for a reported £30,000.00, Alan Preston, formed Dundee United and St Johnstone as a trialist although he got injured early on and Ken Eadie for the first time this season replacing Preston.
My wife doesn't seem to treat the page with the same respect I do. She is a friend of Mark Jardine's wife but she keeps forgetting to ask her if there is any truth in the rumour that I have now heard twice that Mark may be joining the Palmerston Board. I will keep reminding her.
Have just been reading the Official Page's message board for the first time in a while. Absolutely Excellent!!! This is exactly the kind of childish chitter chatter I have been trying to encourage on this site for ages. Keep up the good work lads.
GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE BACK ON-LINE AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR VIEWS AGAIN.
TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON CRAIG PATERSON,IF THERE IS ANYBODY MORE COMMITTED TO THE QUEEN'S THEN THEY'D BE HARD TO FIND.HE ALSO IS ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD,I LIKE YOU, WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM.HERE'S HOPING THAT THEY WILL ALSO GET SOMEBODY ELSE ON BOARD,TO HELP HIM AND RONNIE
ALL THE BEST
MARK BLOUNT
dear stuart,
I'm not impressed by Celtic's latest signing, Queens have several players as good as Shite!
Alex Wilson [zonesosmusic@freewire.net]
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
Peter Dickson.....
......last heard of him around four years ago when he was working as a sales rep, selling CCTV security systems with Thorn Security in East Kilbride.
A colleague of mine at the time took my Ayr Utd vs Queens 1996 Scottish cup tie, 4th round programme, to Peter where he re-lived past glories and signed my fading souvenir. He was tickled apparently that he is still held in such high esteem at Palmerston. It would be nice to see him back, even as guest of honour. Actually, he would probably even get a game if he brought his kit!
Chopper "Break us a Leg" Dickson.....
I recall an article in the Sunday Post, many years ago, featuring Chopper in his new role as a clock repairer somewhere in Canada.
Cheers.
Stuart King [sking4@JACGB.JNJ.COM]
11/12/99
Stirling 3 Queens 0
Hi Stuart,
I heard today that something is going to happen at Palmerston involving ex Queens captain Graeme Robertson and Annan player/coach Davie Irons. What exactly (though I think we can hazard a guess), and when wasn't mentioned but I'm pretty sure this is a genuine piece gossip as it came from very close to the horses mouth!
anon.
4/12/99
Hamilton 2 Clyde 3 Ross County 2 Partick 1 Stenhousemuir 1 Alloa 3 Stirling P Queens P Stranraer 2 Arbroath 2
Yes! Queens went a week without defeat for the first time in god knows how long as their game at Stirling was postponed due to the snow.
Good to see Craig Paterson has been introduced to the board of directors. Craig and me used to form a formidable defensive partnership for Nobehill Primary School 20 years ago. OK, we weren't actual that formidable but I do still remember Craig scoring the goal of the millennium when he hoofed a clearence on the volley from the half way line. The ball hit the join of bar and post on the full, bounced back out to the six yard line, but had so much spin on it that it then bounced back into the net. That's the kind of play we want to see at Palmerston. Come to think of it, I think we lost that game 6-1 so maybe Craig should just stay out of footballing matters! My dad also remembers when Ronnie Bradford was just starting out on his way to his first billion working from a flat up the road from us on the Lockerbie Road. Good to know these guys have come from the same place as us.
Got me thinking through, what could I do to improve the club when they finally get round to putting on the board? How about a Junior Supporters Club. Give the kids free membership, a membership card and maybe a scarf when they join. Set aside an area of the ground just for them (maybe re-open the stand side at Terregles Street), let them in free on their birthdays, maybe let them all in free for a Christmas game, anounce birthdays at the game, play requests at the games, have fun nights and meet the players nights. I don't know if you've noticed, but young girls, in particular, are right into football. Unfortunately, it's all Manchester United and Rangers. This is down to superb marketing and its time we got ourself some of this. I think we should get a marketing man onto the board.
At last I'm back after my new computer has finally been connected to the Internet. In the time I've been of line I've come up with the answer to all our problems and I would recommend you read the last few news items and reports to find out how. So George Rowe and Ken Eadie, if your reading, take note.
As I speak it looks as if we will be undefeated this week as it is snowing outside and I can't see Stirling being any better.
I've been wanting to give my answer to Queens Scene for some time so here it is. For those of you who don't know, Sceny has resigned from the program and is constantly criticising the team and asking for money to be spent in his Courier column, something he was telling us all not to do a few weeks ago. I'd like to point out that while I am not happy being bottom, I support Queens because they are my local team and I would be happier if the whole team was made up of Dumfries players, although I know this couldn't happen. If Sceny is only interested in supporting a team which is winning by spending loads of money on guys he's never heard of then perhaps he should get on the bus with the Old Firm supporters he loves to criticise. GET BEHIND THE TEAM.
I am a 14 year old qos supporter and i was wondering if you knew of someone similar to me to chat about qos and other things.thankyou.
27/11/99
Ronnie Bradford has officially been appointed as the new chairman of Queen of the South. He has pledged to concentrate on the first team but 'unfortunately' can't make sweeping changes as wew are half way through the season.
Alloa 1 Stranraer 1 Arbroath 1 Hamilton 1 Clyde 1 Stenhousemuir 0 Partick 1 Stirling 1 Queens 0 Ross County 2
20/11/99 Arbroath 0 Ross County 1 Queens 1 Partick 2 Stirling 1 Clyde 2 Stranraer 2 Stenhousemuir 0 (Crowd : 280. ha!)
16/11/99 Hamilton 1 Alloa 2
14/11/99 Partick 2 Stranraer 0
First the good news. My spanking new computer has arrived and runs like a Ferrari on Drugs.
And now for the bad news, where should I begin? Well, to start with, I don't know when you will get to read this as my brand spanking new computer did not fit where my old computer used to go and so has been set up in the spare room temporarily. This is too far from the phone for me to connect to the Internet so at the moment I am writing this for my self.
Secondly, Norman Blount resigned as Chairman on Friday, and yes, I do consider this bad news. He gave the reason that he has failed to take Queens to where he wanted them to be. Well, yes, that much is fairly obvious, but who else is going to put their money into Queens. Be honest, if you had money, would you really want to invest it in Queens. I think Mr Blount is selling himself a bit short. Queens have three former players playing in the Scottish Premier League and one in the English Second Division. Surely this makes his youth policy a success, possibly too successful as it has resulted in us loosing our best players too early! I, for one, would like to thank Mr Blount for all he has done for the club. So, who is to take over. Well, Ronnie Bradford is the obvious choice but he has been ill recently, Hal McGhee was rumoured 5 years ago and is bound to be mentioned again, and an interesting rumour I have heard is that Jardine the Undertakers may be interested. How appropriate that would be! I have a spy in the camp on this one and will keep you up to date.
On the pitch, things have been dismal. A 5-0 home defeat by Stranraer has been described to me as the worst in 20 years. Difficult to argue with. On the bright side, I didn't make it back from the Airport in time to go to the game!!! (Actually, I was back in Dumfries for Quarter to Four and nearly went along for the second half!) The defeat at Clyde on Tuesday was supposed to be a bit better (although remember this is from someone who would travel to Clyde 3 days after loosing 5-0 at home to Stranraer, i.e. Diehard) but took us to the bottom of the league and say our poor discipline return with the sending off of Mallan, although, again, this was supposed to be harsh..
Heard a very unsubstantiated rumour, but I will print it just in case. Tesco want to move to the Peel Centre. This much has been in the papers. However, they could sell their existing site to the council for a new leisure facility if Palmerston was also part of the deal. They have therefore offered to build Queens a new purpose built stadium out at the Peel Centre. Personally, I think this is someone putting 2 and 2 together and getting a million but if it turns out to be right remember who told you first.
And finally, some good news to finish with. I know I said previously I could see no way out of our present position, but I have been thinking about it and here, from the man who came up with the plan last year (Oh yes I did!) is this years saving plan. Hillcoat has done not too bad in goals, but Mathieson is different class and we need him back. Obvious so far. Paul Stewart needs to be encouraged to get forward more from right back. I will cover how to do this later. Now for the first big part of my master plan. Andy Aitken has been having a tough time recently and his confidence is gone..I still think he is a good player however and is being made to look bad by his team mates. For the meantime, however, I would bring in Kevin Robison at centre back to partner George Rowe and move Andy to left back, thus solving 2 problem positions at once as Robison has done nothing wrong any time I've seen him. Next, move Steven Leslie to the right side of midfield and tie a rope to him to keep him there. He would cover for Paul Stewart when he goes forward and could also provide a better service from a wider position in my opinion. Mark Cleeland would go back to last years role, win the ball then give it to the playmaker, who would be Denis Boyle. Its time for Denis to come of age, after all, Michael Owen is plying for England and isn't much older. I think given a run he could just do it. Mark Weir would continue left side and up front Dickson, who I haven't seen, but if were going to sign him we might as well play him, an Mallan, although personally I'd like to see Ken Eadie get his boots back on but I don't think this will happen. Charlie Adams is also always there and always gives 100% but is another having a bad time. So there it is, we're saved. Thank God for that!
11/11/99
Ross County 1 Stirling 3
10/11/99
Stenhousemuir 0 Hamilton 0
9/11/99
Alloa 0 Arbroath 0 Clyde 3 Queens 0
6/11/99
Alloa 4 Stirling 4 Arbroath 0 Stenhousemuir 3 Clyde 3 Ross County 1 Hamilton 0 Partick 0 Queens 0 Stranraer 5
30/10/99
Oh. its all gone quite over here! You may have noticed the lack of updates in the last couple of weeks. I have to admit that is is entirely due to can't be botherdness!! Queens are worse of now than they were at the same stage last season, and that was difficult to do. The really worrying thing through is that while last year I could see what changes needed to be made to save us from the drop, this year I can't see any way out. I don't think the managers can do much more with the players available, although I have been disappointed to note the lack of the name Denis Boyle on the last two team sheets, although I don't know the reason for this.
Lee Bailey and John Dickson have swapped places, Lee is off to Brechin after an unsuccessful spell at Palmerston and Dicko has taken his place at Palmerston, after being Brechin's top scorer last season. I haven't seen him yet but I hear he is another wee guy. Scored his first goal in the defeat at Stenny today.
Talking of silence, the next couple of weeks on this site are
likely to be quite. I have to pick the Mother-in-law up at Glasgow
Airport at 1 o'clock next Saturday. In the past I'd have let her walk
rather than miss Queens Stranraer but now I don't really care and
will go to the game only if I'm back in time. The week after that my
new computer finally arrives and I will probably be spending time
playing working on this. So don't worry if you don't
here from me for a while.
Partick 0 Clyde 0 Ross County 1 Alloa 0 Stenhousemuir 2 Queens 1 Stirling 3 Arbroath 4 Stranraer 0 Hamilton 2
23/10/99
As exclusively revealed on this site :-) Paul Harvey has signed for Motherwell. We are now extremely short of any type of creativity, Denis Boyle must now be given a run in the team.
Alloa 1 Clyde 0 Arbroath 5 Queens 2 Stenhousemuir 0 Partick 1 Stranraer 2 Stirling 1
17/10/99
A rumour from the terraces yesterday, not a very exclusive one admittedly as it came from the national press! is that Motherwell are considering a £25,000 bid for 'Free Kick Specialist' Harvey. So, that will be Motherwell with our entire midfield and Aberdeen with our entire defence. We should be in the Premier League (or maybe not, if you look at the league).
16/10/99
Clyde 0 Arbroath 0 Partick 2 Alloa 2 Queens 3 Hamilton 2 Ross County 1 Stranraer 1 Stirling 5 Stenhousemuir 1
9/10/99
To start with a warning! If you get a nice shiny skynow CD through your door, DON'T LET IT ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR COMPUTER. I have spent the last week trying to find my way out of the trap it wove for me, hence the lateness of this update (anybody who thought I was still making my way back from the frozen tundra was wrong!). Queens had no game today, due to, apparently, International commitments.
Hamilton 1 Ross County 0
Billy Findlay has left the club because he couldn't be guaranteed first team football but Sandy Hodge is back from a trial at Inverness and has signed on. I didn't even know he was away. Also turns out he's only 19. Looks a lot older.
2/10/99
Hamilton 2 Arbroath 2 Ross County 1 Queens 1 Stenhousemuir 1 Clyde 3 Stirling 3 Partick 1 Stranraer 0 Alloa 0
25/9/99
Alloa 1 Stenhousemuir 4 Arbroath 1 Stranraer 2 Clyde 2 Hamilton 1 Partick 0 Ross County 2 Queens 3 Stirling 3
18/9/99
Partick 0 Hamilton 1 Ross County 2 Clyde 0 Stenhousemuir 1 Arbroath 3 Stirling 0 Alloa 1 Stranraer 1 Queens 0
Hi, I'm back from 10 days in the Costa Del Sol, sun shine every day, temperatures in the 30's, swimming pool in the back garden, beach and the Med on the doorstep. But hey, I'm sure you don't want to know this. What did you let happen while I was away!!!!! Looks like I picked two good games to miss. Didn't get back until 6:30 yesterday morning and I'm afraid I just can't be bothered following the dirt tracks to the Clay Hole today just to see us slaughter the Irish.
11/9/99
Alloa 2 Ross County 0 Arbroath 2 Stirling 1 Clyde 2 Partick 0 Hamilton 2 Stranraer 1 Queens 0 Stenhousemuir 3
5/9/99
Hamilton 1 Stenhousemuir 1
4/9/99
Arbroath 2 Alloa 2 Queens 1 Clyde 1 Stirling 2 Ross County 1 Stranraer 1 Partick 1
28/8/99
Alloa 1 Hamilton 1 Clyde 3 Stirling 0 Partick 2 Queens 0 Ross County 2 Arbroath 0 Stenhousemuir 1 Stranraer 1
David Lilley has, as expected, signed for Aberdeen for a reported £100,000.00 fee, leaving us a bit short at the back although Stewart and Robison look like they could be able replacements in time.
21/8/99
Aberdeen are supposed to have now made a formal offer for David Lilley.
Queens played trialist, somebody Hodge, on the left side of midfield today.
Clyde 0 Stranraer 0 Partick 1 Arbroath 3 Queens 1 Alloa 1 Ross County 0 Stenhousemuir 0 Stirling 2 Hamilton 0
14/8/99
David Mathieson's injury is worse than originally thought and after surgery during the week he is now expected to be out for up to 3 months. Oh S**t!!!!!!!
Alloa 1 Partick 0 Arbroath 2 Clyde 1 Hamilton 0 Queens 3 Stenhousemuir 2 Stirling 1 Stranraer 0 Ross County 0
8/8/99
Andy Thomson has moved from Oxford to Gillingham for £25,000.
7/8/99
Clyde 0 Alloa 1 Partick 0 Stenhousemuir 1 Queens 2 Arbroath 3 Ross County 2 Hamilton 1 Stirling 1 Stranraer 1
To add insult to injury, got back into the car to listen to the West Sound report on the Killie game. Chris Hay, who they recalled from loan with us, scored 2 goals from left back and was getting rave reviews.
The Jambos game will be all ticket with tickets going on sale today (I think). The new stand is being given to Hearts.
The Courier seems to have seen last weeks performance as a sign that we are certainties for promotion. Personally, I think we'll have to improve a lot and I'm still to be convinced that we can make enough chances from midfield.
George Rowe and Denis Boyle are both suspended this week which should mean a chance for David Lilley to show his quality in his favourite central defence role.
Tommy Tait, who looked like signing for Queens in the close season, has instead joined the Queens exodus to Albion Rovers.
1/8/99
Queens have been fined £1,000 as a result of their poor disciplinary record last season. Thanks Rowan!
Mark Shanks has taken over as manager of Albion Rovers and has taken Nesovic, Flannigan and Russell with him. Nesovic performed as expected yesterday. He was sent off on his debut!
With the season now underway I've decided that I like the layout of the page and so there won't be much change to the style of the page. I have however until now been designing it for a 640 x 480 screen but I have now decided it is time to move on to 800 x 600. I am also trying to get the club song to play on start up.
30/7/99
At last, its almost here, the start of another season full of promise. I'm not going to do a pre season prediction thingy this year after last years disasters but I think the bookies are in for a shock. Queens have beat Largs Thistle 2-0 with both goals from Lee Bailey, Drawn 1-1 with Tedless Kilwinning Rangers (He's now coaching Derby's youths apparently) and beat an Aberdeen XI 4-1 with a Steve Mallan hat trick as they finished their pre season buildup before tomorrows League Cup game against Arbroath. Tommy Bryce returns to Palmerston yet again!
David Mathieson was injured against Aberdeen and could be out until October, which is a serious blow for Queens to say the least. I remember the last time we lost a keeper we went and got big Alex Williams from Man City on loan. What a success that was!
Players who have been playing as trialists in the pre season games include Alan Kerr, left back from Killie via Iceland, Paul Harvey, Raith Rovers and Billy Findlay, Ayr, although none of them seam to have signed yet. Garry Hay, who was to come on loan from Killie to cover the problem left back position, was recalled immediately and will now be playing in some meaningless game at Ibrox on Saturday.
Better Injury news, Marc Cleeland played against Aberdeen the other night.
18/7/99
Pre Season Friendly
Queens 1 Workington 0
Sunday Post Report.
A header on the hour mark by George Rowe was the only goal of a keenly fought friendly in Cumbria. Queens saw midfielder Marc Cleeland carried off with a leg injury in a first half which had seen close shaves for both sides. But the Scottish side were good value for the win on their second half display. Their attack was sharper and home keeper George Dixon was immediately stretched by Lee Bailey. After Rowe's strike, visiting keeper Hatherton (? anybody know who he is ?) was the busier of the two having to deal with efforts from Wilson and Bell.
17/7/99
Queens have been drawn away to Berwick Rangers in the re started Challenge Cup first Round on 10th August.
Queens take on Workington today in the first pre season friendly.
Tommy Tait, ex Stirling and Hamilton, played a bounce game with Queens but speculation that Queens are about to sign Paul McGrillen from Falkirk has been dismissed, so he'll probably sign soon!
Andy Lopez, a 19 year old Portuguese boy, has been training with us. According to the courier, he is a compatriot of Quitongo, Hearts ANGOLAN striker??????
Jamie McAllister has been receiving glowing reports on his early pre season form with Aberdeen.
The bookies make Queens 7th favourites for the league. I will now reproduce the figures and use it at the end of the season to scoff at the bookies!
Hamilton 3-1 Ross County 3-1 Clyde 11-2 Partick 6-1 Alloa 7-1 Stirling 7-1 Queens 8-1 Stenhousemuir 12-1 Stranraer 12-1 Arbroath 16-1
3/7/99
Annan Athletic appear to have started an Internet Site! If you fancy a laugh have a look at it. http://194.80.147.193/index
Could you please change my e-mail address to a&m.love@techno.net.au I continue to enjoy your site, in particular recognising old familiar names from the past. In fact I have contacted a couple of people I haven't seen or heard from in many years. Interestingly, I received and e-mail from someone in USA that I had met through friends in Australia sometime before. She had been surfing the net and came across your site. More recently I was talking to someone else who swears that she met ex Queens player Ernie Hannigan who now lives in Melbourne. I remember watching him playing for the Queens in the Sixties before being transferred to an English club that escapes me. Keep up the good work. I will be visiting Dumfries end of the year and obviously will take in a few Queens games.
Regards
Mervyn Love
I think the reason for Stenny having been in the Second Division before despite never being promoted is down to the same reason that we are in this division! When the three leagues were split into four 2 teams were added to the existing 38 (Ross County and Inverness) and the top six of the old Second Division joined the bottom four from the First Division. Stenny must have been one of the six, along with us! Now I don't know about you, but when this happened to Queens I looked on it as promotion, as we had got out of the basement league! So on that thinking it isn't really Stenny's first promotion!
25/6/99
The new seasons fixtures have now been released and I have managed to find someone else who has published them so I won't have to do it!! See under the season link.
This also means that I have archived last seasons articles. I will try to put it on the results page as I did last year but I don't know if it works so if anybody particularly wants anything let me know.
Something I've been meaning to ask for a while but kept forgetting. I seam to remember dooming Stenhousemuir to the 3rd division on the last day of the season before last, so what's all this about them gaining promotion for the first time in their history? How were they in a league higher than the lowest one if they have never been promoted?
Queens Scene returns briefly to the courier this week. Couple of points I actually already new from the official page but never got round to publishing are that Queens have signed 19 year old Chris Strain from Kilmarnock, hopefully to replace Townsley and that the pre-season friendlies are :
July 17 Workington Away July 18 St. Cuthberts Away July 27 Aberdeen Home
Also forgot to mention that Arbroath also tried to sign Stevie Mallan but failed.
19/6/99
Arbroath are trying to be the new Partick Thistle by trying to sign up Queens reserve squad players! Both Tommy Bryce (as a player only this time!) and Jim Thomson have signed for them in the last couple of weeks. I don't think either of them would have been regular 1st teamers anyway although Thomson would have been good cover and it leaves us a bit short of any creativity in midfield. Personally, I think bringing Bryce back last year was a mistake that we were lucky to get away with.
Also received this anonymous e-Mail about the Thomson transfer.
I have heard through the grapevine today that Jim Thomson's signing on fee was £14,000 for a two year contract at Arbroath. I don't know what his weekly wage will be, but that's a years wage or more for your average Queens fan! No wonder Queen' couldn't settle terms with him. Where have Arbroath got the money from?
28/5/99
Hi, I'm back after a lazy couple of weeks. It is unlikely that there will be much else on this site until the start of next season unless there is a major piece of news, although I still plan to get round to a review of last season. In the meantime, here's a round up of the news you have missed in the last few weeks.
Derek Townsley has signed for Motherwell as widely expected. However, it looks like this will be the end of the transfers as everybody else has resigned except for Thomson and Leslie although they are both expected to sign on eventually. Aitken and Boyle have come back from Aberdeen unsigned for now (no wonder they nearly got relegated!).
Queens have been drawn at home to Arbroath in the first round of the League Cup, the game to be played on the last Wednesday of July, the prize for a win would be potentially our second biggest crowd of the season against Hearts the week after. Why only the second biggest crowd of the season. Read On.
Next seasons sponsors will be local electrical retailers, Alex Wilson and Son, who have won this years sponsorship draw.
Loves, Darlings, Sweethearts, we're all going to be STARS. Palmerston has been confirmed as one of the filming venues for Robert Duval's new movie, the Cup. A team of actors will beat Queens at Palmerston in August as part of the plot of the film. Queens have been given the task of having a capacity 8,000 crowd inside Palmerston for the filming. NOBODY BETTER GET MY PRIME SPOT BEHIND THE OPPOSITION DUG OUT. While he's at it, maybe Darling Bobby could put the lessons he learned in a previous film to good use and make Michael Owen 'an offer he can't refuse' to sign for Queens next season! Look out for horse's heads in your bed Alex Ferguson!