THIS MONTHS LATEST NEWS

For previous news see the monthly archive at the foot of this page.

TERRIFIC RESPONSE

31st May 2000

Our new Internationalist section, where we are listing all of the players who have played or managed Queens and played for their country has brought about a terrific response from Doonhamers fans. Already we have over thirty players listed, if you would like anything altered on the page or added to it let us know and we'll add it.

NEW SECTION ADDED

29th May 2000

In the past few days there has been some interesting discussions on the Message Board regarding players who have made international appearances and who have also played for Queens, not necessarily at the same time. To capture the information that various people have already volunteered we have set up a page dedicated to those players who have appeared for their country and for Queens. The list at the moment is a quickly thrown together summary of the information that has been floating about on the message board but hopefully those of you with the information will be able to complete what is missing and add more players to it. This would then become a definitive record of all of our Internationally honoured players. You will find the new page on the second navigation bar with the heading International.

ANDY HITS THE HEADLINES

28th May 2000

Former Queens favourite Andy Thomson is tonight the toast of Gillingham as he scored the winning goal for the Gills in the Second Division play-off final at Wembley. Thommo spent the full ninety minutes on the bench as the two sides battled out a 1-1 draw in front of an almost capacity crowd which included around fifty thousand Gills fans. Manager Peter Taylor brought Thommo on six minutes into extra time and was repaid with just two minutes of the game left when Andy met a left wing cross with a diving header which beat Derek Stillie in the Wigan goal and finished the scoring at 3-2 to Gillingham. Earlier in the season Taylor, the same man who took Andy to Southend from Dumfries, commented that at £25000 from Oxford in the close season that Andy was the bargain of the season for him, he couldn't have been more right. First Division football for the first time in their history now awaits Gillingham and the prospect of two former Queen's players going head to head in England with Chris Doig at Nottingham Forest and Andy at Gillingham is surely something that hasn't happened for some time.

WEEKEND PREVIEW

26th May 2000

It's a massive weekend for three former Doonhamer's; Jamie McAllister is sure to make the starting eleven in Ebbe Skovdahl's Aberdeen side who will take to the field at Hampden tomorrow afternoon as underdogs when they face Champions Rangers in the final of the Scottish Cup. Additional good news for Jazza today was that he has been given a new, much enhanced three year deal at Pittodrie as reward for his performances in his first season in the North East. Team-mate and fellow ex-Doonhamer David Lilley is more likely to take up a place on the bench for tomorrow's final after injury earlier in the season prevented him from being able to regain his first team place soon enough. David is also tipped to be rewarded with an extended and enhanced contract by the Dons very shortly. Last but not least, many Queen's fans all time favourite player, Andy Thomson should appear in the English Second Division play-off final for his team Gillingham. The Gill's face Wigan Athletic at Wembley in what is sure to be an entertaining match, both sides play open attacking football so goals should be aplenty. We send our best wishes to all three and know that many Queen's fans across the globe will temporarily take up support for Aberdeen and Gillingham hoping to see the 'old boys' do themselves proud.

SHIRT SPONSORS

25th May 2000

The draw for next seasons shirt sponsorship took place tonight at Palmerston Park and was won by Glass & Glazing of Howgate Street Dumfries and owned by Eric Allison. Other prize winners were as follows: Matchday Sponsorship : Lowland Group Directors Club Membership : Reid and Adams Executive Club Membership : Heathhall Garden Centre Executive Club Membership : Oakbank Services Executive Club Membership : Giles Insurance Brokers Executive Club Membership : Mayrfield Road Nurseries Autographed Football : Atlas Online Autographed Shirt : John Beattie and Sons Matchday Mascot : Abacus Insurance Consultants A total of seventy three local firms took part in this seasons draw and a full list will appear in the 'Shirt' section of the site within the next few weeks.

ROUND UP

23rd May 2000

On Sunday past at the Southern Counties AGM, Queens were officially accepted for next seasons league campaign. With Maxwelltown High School Former Pupils pulling out it leaves thirteen teams in the league, the same as the season just completed. Every Saturday next season will therefore see a competitive match at Palmerston. Queen's ladies team are to be congratulated for winning promotion to the Scottish First Division, the First Division is the top league in Scotland and includes a number of full time teams. This is a major achievement for the ladies and reflects the hard work and commitment shown by all of the team members over the past few years. The Council has organised a Millennium Soccer Sixes competition to be played at the Ice Bowl over the 6th and 7th June with a 6.30pm kick off each evening. Featuring in the competition will be Queens, Stranraer, Tarff, Gretna, Dalbeattie, Threave, St Cuthberts, Kello, Wigtown, Newton Stewart, Max. High and Annan. The competition is being sponsored by Reid and Adams. More details will follow in due course. Annan Athletic are holding a four team tournament over the weekend of 8th and 9th July. The hosts have invited Carlisle United, Queens and one other team to the event.

LOCAL SUCCESS

20th May 2000

Congratulations to neighbours Annan Athletic who this afternoon clinched the East of Scotland Premier League title as they held Whitehill Welfare to a 1-1 draw. The result was enough to see Annan lift the title as Whitehill had suffered a surprise defeat on Thursday night which left them chasing the match and needing a victory. Star man for Annan was Captain and ex-Doonhamer Kevin Proudfoot who commanded his defence through some torrid times, particularly in the first half. Annan struck first through McMennamin when the young striker met a right wing cross with his head and left the keeper helpless. Whitehill equalised with an equally good strike with about five minutes left, but Annan held out to take the title for the first time in ten years. Belated congratulations are also due to Threave Rovers who finished the season as champions of the East of Scotland First Division and with their promotion will now face Annan in league matches next season.

FORMER DOONHAMERS IN ACTION

19th May 2000

The season may be over for the current Queen's squad, but there are a number of former Palmerston favourites still battling for honours at other clubs. Get along to Annan Athletic tomorrow and see a team bristling with former first team and squad players from Palmerston. It's a title decider as Athletic take on Whitehill Welfare in the final match of the season in the East of Scotland Premier League. A win for Annan will give them the title, any other result will favour Whitehill. A large crowd is hoped for to give them the possible chance of victory. If you manage along for the 2.30pm kick off match you'll see Steven and Stan Leslie, Ryan McGuffie, Mark Nicholl and Kevin Proudfoot, all players to have taken the field at Palmerston. Elsewhere, Sunday sees the culmination of the SPL campaign with little other than UEFA Cup Qualification left to be decided, Motherwell have a difficult task to overcome Hearts in the table as they host Rangers but the form of Paul Harvey may well help them and something special from Derek Townsley would be a good way for the big man to round off his first full time season. Jamie McAllister and David Lilley meanwhile will be hoping to ensure selection for the Cup Final next weekend as they turn out for Aberdeen away at Dundee. Finally Andy Thomson may well feature next weekend as Gillingham take on Wigan in the final of the Second Division playoff at Wembley. Thommo has had an up and down season, plagued by injury and could only manage a place on the bench in the Gills semi-final victory over Stoke City last weekend.

HOTLINE EXCLUSIVE

13th May 2000

This weekend sees an exclusive HOTLINE interview with Ronnie Bradford. In it he talks about his hopes for the forthcoming season, the commitment of the new players and his reasons for spreading the player net across to the North East of England. Remember you can ring the HOTLINE from anywhere in the UK just dial 0930 555 983.

SQUAD ADDITIONS

11th May 2000

Club Chairman, Ronnie Bradford, today confirmed that the rebuilding process in terms of playing personnel for next season had already begun. Seven players from the North East of England have committed themselves to the Doonhamers for next season with the possibility of at least another six before the pre-season training begins. None of the players are being named at the moment, confirmation of their details will follow in due course.

FREE TRANSFERS

10th May 2000

The list of players that have been given free transfers is as follows: Charles Adams Alister Brown Marc Cleeland Graham Duncan Ken Eadie John Gallagher Jon Hillcoat Alan Kerr Steven Leslie

SHIRT SPONSORSHIP DRAW

9th May 2000

The draw for this coming season's shirt sponsorship will take place in a couple of weeks time, there is however still plenty of time for you or your company to enter. Print off the form and post it to Palmerston, or use it to encourage your boss to part with a few pounds in the hope of having your company name emblazoned across the front of the new Queens strip. Remember the draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world so all you exiled Doonhamers don't need to feel left out!

SHIRT SPONSORSHIP PRIZE DRAW

A unique opportunity to promote your business.
Queen of the South Football Club are once again pleased to announce that the Shirt Sponsorship for season 2000/2001 will be offered to businesses and individuals by way of a Prize Draw for the fourth year.
We invite you to participate in this unique opportunity to promote your business interest through having your company logo/message (Subject to Football Authority approval) printed on the team shirts. For a modest sum, which should be claimable as a business expense, you can have the chance to expose your company's image to a broad audience, both locally and nationally, while at the same time supporting your local professional football club. Just as the local TV and Radio Repair Business, "Alex Wilson TV and Video" did last year.
As the winner of the draw, you will not only have your company logo/message printed on the first team strip for the full season, the strips will then be used by the under eighteen/reserve team the following year. All draw entrants receive a season ticket for the main stand, their names will also feature on the website, check out last years draw entrants by going to the last navigation bar on the side and clicking the yellow "SHIRT" icon, as well as appearing in every home match day programme.
The draw will take place in the Queen of the South Lounge Bar, Palmerston Park, Dumfries on Thursday 25th May 2000 at 7:30pm.
To enter click on the printer on the right, this will take you to a page with a blank form which you will be able to print out, please fill out the form and send it with your entry fee of £300 to:
Mrs Margaret Heuchan Queen of the South FC Limited Palmerston Park Dumfries UK DG2 9BA Tel: 01387 254853 or 01556 504569

JUNIOR EX-BLUES

8th May 2000

Big Dougie Mills missed one of the penalties as his team, Shotts, crashed out in a penalty-shoot Scottish Junior Cup semi-final on Friday night. Tommy 'Tucker' Sloan and Dumfries born Norman Montgomery, once on trial at Palmerston, scored the goals for Kilwinning which takes them to top of the Ayrshire Premier League. The 'Buffs' are being temporarily managed by 'Freddie' Frye and Mark Shanks, two former Queens managers. Andy McFarlane's Benburb, knocked out of the other Junior Cup semi-final on penalties are still on course for the Central League Premier League Championship with three games in hand on Maryhill, the current leaders. BLW

RECORD ATTENDANCE

8th May 2000

Last Friday saw the greatest number of visitors to the website in any one day so far, a total of 295 visitors checked in, no doubt to be kept up to date with the decision by the SFA on the Hamilton appeal. Those visitors were not to be disappointed as the news was up on the site within ten minutes of the SFA informing Queens. All the news as it happens!

MAN OF THE MATCH

8th May 2000

It hardly seems appropriate to have a man of the match for Queens after the performance on Saturday and a lot of you thought that too, with the smallest number of voters this season. However those that did vote awarded the highest average to Sandy Hodge, even though he was substituted just after half time. Close behind in second place was Mark Weir with Andy Aitken third. These results make little difference to the overall Internet Fan Club Player of the Year award which in it's inaugural season goes to Warren Hawke. It's interesting to note that the Travel Club Man of the Match on Saturday was none other than unused substitute keeper John Hillcoat! The MoM table has been updated as has the archive report with each individuals score which can be accessed via the fixtures page or by clicking HERE.

TEAM NEWS

5th May 2000

Now that Queens know that relegation is not an issue on Saturday, versus already promoted Alloa, expect a number of changes to the side. Players on the verge of suspension are likely to sit the match out rather than risk starting next season suspended, this includes Warren Hawke, Graham Duncan and Charlie Adams whilst midweek Cup winning captain John Hillcoat is likely to start in goals. George Rowe may well be another who misses out after receiving a nasty head injury early on against Tarff in the Southern Counties Cup Final midweek. Result against the Wasps have been evenly split this season so far, one win one defeat and one draw. A buoyant Queens side with players looking to secure contracts for next season will hopefully be able to put in a good performance against a side that is already promoted but who could finish second with favourable results an end of season kick about is therefore unlikely.

APPEAL DISMISSED

5th May 2000

The SFA have announced that the appeal by Hamilton Academical against the penalty imposed by the SFL has been dismissed. This means that Queen of the South will be playing Second Division football next season.

DECISION DAY?

4th May 2000

We've seen this headline before, so will we know tomorrow what our fate will be for next season? Much speculation has been engaged in on our respective websites but by this time tomorrow one set of fans will be feeling aggrieved whatever the outcome. Unless that is the unthinkable happens and the last game of the season is set up as a decider. Check here for the latest on the decision.

PROGRAMME PLEA!

4th May 2000

The larger than normal crowd at Palmerston on Saturday appear to have snapped up every one of the 400 programmes printed. This has left a number of fans programme-less and looking for anyone who has a spare, check out the message board. Most notably Bruce Wright, the programme editor didn't even manage to get a copy for himself, let us know if you'd like to volunteer yours and we'll put you in touch.

CUP WINNERS
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 5-2 TARFF ROVERS - aet	3rd May 2000

Hillcoat
Robison	Rowe	Aitken	Hodge
Dickson	McMillan	Duncan	Boyle
Adams		Mallan

SUBSTITUTES
Gallagher 60 mins	Kerr 5 mins	Stewart 100 mins

MATCH SUMMARY

Queens tonight claimed the Southern Counties Challenge Cup with a hard fought 5-2 victory after extra time against South League leaders Tarff Rovers. After ninety minutes the score was tied at two all and indeed had John Hillcoat not produced a fine penalty save in the thirty fifth minute then things could have been so different for the Kirkcowan side. Queens line up was similar to that which started against Annan, that is it was basically a first team selection. Within five minutes however that selection had to be altered as a Stevie Mallan chip was deflected wide and from the resultant corner a Tarff defender and George Rowe had a mid air collision which left both men flat out. Rowe was taken off and replaced by Kerr who took up Duncan's midfield berth as the utility man dropped in the centre back position whilst the Tarff defender had to go to hospital for stitches to a gash at the back of his head. George Rowe later appeared on the touchline sporting a large bandage to his forehead.

Some early midfield action..

The game was all action at this stage with the more robust Southern Counties style not always going down well with the Doonhamers players. One man that looked unaffected by the style of play was Sandy Hodge and it was his thirty five yard drive in twelve minutes that had the Tarff keeper scrambling to push away. A minute later and it was 1-0 to Queens, Denis Boyle being the goalscorer as he picked his place in the top corner from a Stevie Mallan through ball. Queens looked well on top and were making a number of good chances, however Tarff could also play some neat passing football and were making the most of their breakaways. It was, however a more direct approach that brought about their equaliser in twenty two minutes as a free kick from the left was swung in, Graham Duncan rose to head clear but only succeeded in playing the ball into space for a Tarff forward to hammer into the back of the net. The sizeable Tarff support celebrated. Two minutes further on and Charlie Adams was clean through on the keeper but only he knows how he failed to even test him as he struck the ball directly into his arms. The next action was the penalty incident, and a stone wall one it was too, substitute Alan Kerr had been beaten by his opponent just inside the Queens box and as the Tarff player was homing in on goal Kerr scythed his legs away from him from behind. Queens were down to ten men but they managed to hold onto this lead quite comfortably until the half time whistle. The second half began quietly but then flared up dramatically after fifteen minutes play, firstly Ally McMillan was booked for persistent fouling, a minute later he was replaced by John Gallagher and a further minute later Stevie Mallan dribbled his way round his marker and fired in a shot between the post and the keeper to put Queens 2-1 up. Five minutes after that Stevie was brought to the ground on the far side in an uncompromising two footed manner, his assailant headed for the dressing rooms as the referee immediately brandished a red card. Tarff however were spurred on by this, it seemed, and within a further four minutes they had equalised through an excellent diving header which gave Hillcoat no chance. Queens tried to gain a normal time winner but it was not to be so our second extra time period of the season was played. In the extra time period the superior fitness of the Doonhamers was clearly evident, firstly, Paul Stewart with almost his first touch of the ball after coming on for John Dickson, laid the ball back to Graham Duncan who drove it through a ruck of players and into the net to make it 3-2. Then Stevie Mallan forced a blocking tackle and when the ball broke out Denis Boyle was waiting to drive the ball directly back and into the net. Finally Charlie Adams broke through the offside trap, although looking suspiciously offside, and finished with some style to make the final score Queens - 5 Tarff - 2.

MEET THE NEW BOSSES

2nd May 2000

The new boss of Queen of the South will take up his position immediately following the final match of this season versus Alloa at Recreation Park this Saturday. John Connolly and his coach Ian Scott will however need a little bit of an introduction to the majority of the Doonhamers support, and last night at the Southern Counties Challenge Cup match they provided a bit more detail to the information already well known.

New Player/Coach Ian Scott on the left with new Manager John Connolly on the right.

John Connolly began his career in Perth with St.Johnstone where he went on to spend a total of five years, a move to the big time came when Everton swooped and he had a four year Goodison Park stay, it was during this time that he won an international cap for Scotland when in 1973 the National team went down 1-0 to the Swiss in a friendly in Basle. From Everton John moved on to Birmingham City and spent a couple of years there before being picked up by Newcastle United in 1978, two years further on and John signed for Hibs, they were to be his final senior team. A lengthy non-league spell then developed his skills as a manager one of his jobs being a player coach at Blythe Spartans. His arrival at Ashington turned around a poorly performing side and had them playing some of their best football in many a year. Ian Scott admits to not expecting to play next season, his registration as a player being merely precautionary, Ian starred at North East side Tow Law, where Chris Waddle also started out, where he spent 8 seasons, initially Ian was a centre forward but has recently reverted to a centre half position. Reserve matches and work outs will more than likely be the extent of Ian's playing commitments next season. Of the set up at Dumfries Ian admitted to being overwhelmed by the positive aspects he had found on his first visit when he sampled the Hamilton match on Saturday. He said, "The crowd were fantastic, the stadium superb and the facilities excellent", both John and he feel that getting top class players to Palmerston would be an, "Easy sell". Their plans for next year are already forming with a number of players already in their minds, John has firm views about the quality of the players presently occupying first team spots and feels that the league table tells the truth, with Queens bottom and having the worst goal difference in the league. John's commitment to the Doonhamers has already been demonstrated, he will be moving across to Dumfries to set up home and intends to have every training session for the whole squad in Dumfries. Music to the ears of many a Queens fan. The overriding impression of John and Ian is that they are two determined guys with a real focus on what we should be doing and how we are going to achieve it. A success looks assured whatever league we find ourselves in.

MAN OF THE MATCH

1st May 2000

Without the burden of managing the playing affairs of the club, George Rowe was emphatically voted the Internet fans Man of the Match for his goalscoring and goal stopping performance versus Hamilton on Saturday. In second place was Sandy Hodge with another defender, Kevin Robison third, infact all first five places went to the defence, then the front two were next with the midfield four coming last of the lot. The MoM table will be updated tomorrow, however the archive report has been updated with each individuals score and can be accessed via the fixtures page or by clicking HERE.

SEMI-FINAL VICTORY
ANNAN ATHLETIC 1-2 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH	1st May 2000

Hillcoat