Queen of the South F.C.

Queen of the South

Full name

Queen of the South Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Doonhamers, Queens

Founded

March 1919

Ground

Palmerston Park, Dumfries, Scotland
(Capacity: 6,412 (3,509 seated))

Chairman

Davie Rae

Manager

Kenny Brannigan

League

Scottish First Division

2009–10

Scottish First Division, 4th

Home colours

Away colours

Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football.

Officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens and sometimes as QoS (as also listed on the club badge), its home ground since its formation has been Palmerston Park.

The club has won national honours, namely the 1950–51 B Division, the 2001–02 Second Division and the 2002–03 Scottish Challenge Cup. While Queens led Scotland's top division until Christmas in season 1953–54, its highest-ever finish in the Scottish top flight was fourth in season 1933–34. Its longest cup run was in the 2007–08 Scottish Cup, in which it reached the final and finished runners-up.

The club is currently managed by Kenny Brannigan.

1 History
2 Club culture
3 Notable players
4 Club records
5 Honours
6 Notable fans
7 Stadium
8 Biblical references
9 Club mascot
10 Current squad
- 10.1 On loan
11 Managers
12 Non-playing staff
- 12.1 Football performance
- 12.2 Boardroom, commercial, administration and historical
13 References
14 External links

History

Club culture

Scotland international Robbie Neilson of Leicester City says of Queen of the South from his loan period at the club in 2002: "It's a well-run club and a real family club with a good spirit about the place."^[1]

Marc Horne wrote in The Scotsman following Queens' appearance in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final: "In the Palmerston Park club's songbook, it is clear there is no room for songs which feature religion, violent vendettas or centuries-old battles that took place in other lands."^[2]

In the 2008 UEFA Cup qualifying trip to Denmark Queen of the South fans were hailed as "a great credit both to their club and to Scotland" by Danish police. About 850 supporters of the Dumfries club travelled to Denmark to watch the Uefa Cup clash with FC Nordsjaelland. Despite the fact that their team was eliminated, local police said their behaviour was impressive. Insp Rune Hamann said: "It was a pleasure hosting such a visit by Queen of the South whose supporters were extremely well behaved and a great credit both to their club and to Scotland. Copenhagen was particularly busy in the build up to and after the match with a carnival, party atmosphere being evident. I look forward to welcoming Queen of the South and their terrific supporters back in Denmark in the future."^[3]

Ch Insp Mickey Collins from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary said the fans were a "pleasure to work along with". He added: "Despite the huge numbers of supporters who travelled to Denmark there were no arrests, incidents or issues of any concern. Great praise should be passed on to those fortunate enough to be at the match."^[3]

Notable players

Dave Halliday from Dumfries joined then non-league Queen of the South in 1920 scoring 13 goals in 19 games for the Doonhamers. Moving on to St. Mirren, Dundee, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester City and Clapton Orient he scored 373 senior goals in 488 games at senior Scottish and English clubs. His 38 goals in 1923–24 made him top scorer in Scotland's top flight that season and 43 goals in 1928–29 gave him the same distinction in England's top division. After being player-manager of Yeovil & Petters United he won trophies as manager of both Aberdeen and Leicester City. As a manager only Halliday and Alex Ferguson have guided Aberdeen to be Scottish champions. After one cap for the Scottish league in 1924 Halliday was never picked to play for the Scottish national side, being consistently overlooked in favour of Hughie Gallacher.^[4]

Ian Dickson like Dave Halliday was a local boy who played for Arrol-Johnston and then Queens. From Queens Dickson went to Aston Villa where he scored 39 goals in 83 games including a top scoring 28 goals in season 1921/22 helping Villa finish 5th in the English League. After Villa Dickson played for Middlesbrough. His name on the Queens team sheet was replaced by that of Hughie Gallacher.^[4]

Hughie Gallacher started his professional football career at Queens in January 1921. In his 9 games for Queens he scored 19 goals. A pocket sized footballing phenomenon of natural skill and muscular strength, in 624 games Gallacher scored 463 times in a career of terrorising defences. Scotland's third highest goal scorer with 23 goals from only 20 games, Gallacher's remarkable international strike rate of more than a goal a game makes him the most prolific Scottish international goal scorer in history. 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m), Gallacher was part of the Wembley Wizards who beat England 5–1 in 1928. His clubs were Queens, Airdrieonians, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Derby County, Notts County, Grimsby Town and Gateshead. Gallacher also captained Newcastle to their last ever Championship in 1926/27. Gallacher always spoke fondly of his time at Queens.^[4].

Willie Ferguson started his senior career at Queens before leaving in 1921 to spend over a decade at Chelsea. The winger made 294 appearances for Chelsea before returning to Queens for four seasons as a player before becoming manager in 1937. Ferguson was part of the team that finished fourth in Scotland's top division in 1934 and that successfully toured overseas in 1936.^[4]

George Hamilton's first season in football was at Queen of the South in 1937/38. The inside forward was then signed by Aberdeen manager Dave Halliday (see above) for a long period of service there together that would end in 1955. In this time the Dons won the league and cup with the inspirational Hamilton scoring in the final. With 5 caps and 4 goals for Scotland Hamilton also went to the 1954 FIFA World Cup finals.^[4]

Billy Houliston from Dumfries while playing for Queens was capped three times by Scotland in 1948/49. He scored twice on his Scotland debut, a 3–2 Hampden win over Northern Ireland and played in the Wembley win against England (3–1). This 3rd cap was again at Hampden, the 2–0 win over France. In all Houliston collected 9 caps at different levels and never played in a losing Scotland side.^[4]

Roy Henderson signed for Queens in 1946. He was selected 6 times as reserve goalkeeper for Scotland, but never selected to play ahead of Jimmy Cowan nor Bobby Brown. Roy spent 12 seasons with Queens until he broke his leg in a match v Dunfermline Athletic, bringing his career to an end. In a poll in the Dumfries & Galloway Standard in 2004 Henderson was voted the greatest ever Queens player.^[4]

Jim Patterson is the club's record scorer (see below) and was honoured with one game for Scotland, when he led the Scottish attack v The Army in 1953 at Hampden Park. He gave Queens 14 years service.^[4]

Jimmy Binning joined in 1951 and played 288 games in 7 years for Queens. The full back was recognised internationally when he was given a Scottish League cap in 1954 against the English League at Stamford Bridge. Although he was selected for the 22-man squad for the 1954 FIFA World Cup, Scotland only took 13 players to the finals. Binning was one of the players who stayed at home on reserve.^[4]

Bobby Black (from Thornhill, another local boy) joined Queens in 1952 having already won the League Cup with East Fife. Black left Queens in 1961 having made 346 appearances scoring 120 times to make the outside right the club's second highest scorer of all time. He scored 2 goals in his 1 game for the Scottish League in Dublin in 1954.^[4]

Ivor Broadis is the best known non Scot to have played for Queen of the South. The Londoner previously played for Carlisle United, Sunderland, Manchester City and Newcastle United and had scored 8 goals in 14 appearances for England. In his 3 games at the 1954 FIFA World Cup Broadis scored 2 goals both against Belgium. Broadis was the first Englishman to score twice in a game in the World Cup finals. Broadis joined Queens for the last of his playing days in 1959. The inside forward clearly enjoyed his fine displays at Queens later saying, "The two seasons I spent at Palmerston were the best of my career'.^[4]

George Farm signed for Queens from Blackpool for £3000 in 1960. Farm had been at Blackpool since 1948 and was goalkeeper through the tangerines' 1950s golden era. This included 2 F.A. Cup Final appearances including winning the 1953 'Matthews' Final and also Blackpool's highest ever top league finish – 2nd in 1956. While at Blackpool he gained 10 Scotland caps. Farm went on to make over 100 league appearances for Queen of the South, as player-manager for three of his four years with the club. He guided them to promotion as Second Division runners-up in 1961–62. Farm later managed Dunfermline to their greatest achievement to date by following up the 1967/68 Scottish Cup win by reaching the semi final of the 1968–69 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup losing by 1 goal to eventual winners Slovan Bratislava.^[4]

Neil Martin signed from Alloa for £2,000 in 1961. After leaving Queens he gained 3 Scotland caps in a journeyman career where he scored consistently as a hard working centre-forward. He hit 44 goals in 78 games at Queens. After Queens he played top division football for Hibs (playing for Jock Stein), Sunderland, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest (scoring the first goal of Brian Clough's reign) as well as playing for Brighton and Crystal Palace. He has the distinction of being among the first players to score 100 league goals in both Scotland and England.^[4]

Ted McMinn (another local lad) played for Queens from 1982 – 84 before going on to play top flight football in Scotland, Spain and England. McMinn achieved hero status with Rangers, Sevilla and then following in the footsteps of Hughie Gallacher by also playing for Derby County. McMinn then went on to play further senior football in England for Birmingham City and Burnley.^[4]

Bernie Slaven was an unrecognised talent at Queens. He played only two first team games for Queen of the South in late 1983.^[5] On leaving Queens for Albion Rovers the goals started to flow quickly. His goals at Rovers included 27 in his 42 league games there. Following in the footsteps of Ian Dickson, Slaven joined Middlesbrough where he scored consistently hitting 146 goals in 381 games. In March 1993 Slaven left Premier League 'Boro for Port Vale and scored the winner in 2–1 victory over Stockport County in the Autoglass Trophy Final at Wembley. He was awarded 7 Republic of Ireland caps scoring once and was in their squad for Italia 90.

Jamie McAllister began his senior career at Palmerston from 1996 to '99 before going to play for Aberdeen, Livingston (where he was capped for Scotland and scored in Livi's 2004 Scottish League Cup final win) and Hearts. McAllister then moved to Bristol City with whom he made it to the 2007–08 English 2nd flight play off final for a place in the English Premier League.^[6]

Andy Goram, ex-Rangers and Scotland goalkeeper, played for Queens in the 2002–03 Scottish Challenge Cup Final win. Added to the medals Goram gained at Hibs and Rangers this makes him the first player to collect a complete set of all four senior Scottish football winners medals.^[7]^[8]

Robbie Neilson of Hearts also played in Challenge Cup Final win. Later capped by Scotland, Neilson speaks very highly of Queens from his loan period at Palmerston from August 2002 commenting, "I still hold the club in my heart and I look for their results on a Saturday after our game."^[1]

Club records

One of Palmerston's record-breaking floodlights

Record appearances: 1) Allan Ball – 731 (819 in total including challenges, friendlies and testimonials) between 1963 and 1982. 2) Ian McChesney – 615. 3) Jim Patterson – 462. 4) Jackie Oakes – 457. 5) Dougie Sharpe – 431. 6) Jim Kerr – 403. 7) Jimmy Robertson – 400. 8) Roy Henderson – 381. 9) Willie Savage – 369. 10) Alan Davidson – 364.

Longest serving player: Ian McChesney – 1960 to 1981 (587 appearances and scored 79 goals)

Record scorers: 1) Jim Patterson – 251 goals, including 11 hat-tricks, in 462 appearances between 1949 and 1963. 2) Bobby Black – 120. 3) Andy Thomson – 114. These are the only 3 players in Queens' 'ton-up' club (Queens 4th highest scorer with 98 goals is Jocky Dempster, who like Bobby Black was a winger).^[9]

Record league scorer in a season: Jimmy Gray – 37 goals in season 1927/28

Record scorer (all competitions) in a Season: Jimmy Rutherford – 41 goals in season 1931/32^[7]

Record victory: 11–1 v. Stranraer, Scottish Cup, 16 January 1932^[7]

Record defeat: 2–10 v. Dundee at Dens Park, Scottish First Division, 1 December 1962. Queens played for 78 minutes with 10 men after goalkeeper George Farm was injured in the 12th minute and was carried off. Dundee's Alan Gilzean scored 7 that day. Dundee were reigning Scottish League Champions at the time and would make the European Cup semi finals that season where they lost to eventual winners A.C. Milan.^[10]

Record home attendance: 26,552 v Hearts, Scottish Cup 3rd round, 23 February 1952. Queens 1 Hearts 3^[11]

Record attendance (any venue): 58,975, 5 April 1950, Hampden Park, Scottish Cup semi-final replay 3–0 defeat to Rangers. 52,924 watched the 1–1 cup draw with Rangers 4 days earlier at the same venue.^[12]

Most league points (2 points for a win system): 55, Scottish Division 2, 1985–86

Most league points (3 points for a win system): 67, Scottish Division 2, 2001–02

Most capped player: Billy Houliston (3 caps in the victories against Northern Ireland at Hampden, England at Wenbley and France at Hampden. Houliston scored 2 goals, both on his debut against Northern Ireland)^[12]

Andy Aitken

First Queens players to earn four senior Scottish football medals while playing for the club – Jim Thomson and Andy Aitken (winners of the 2001/02 Second Division and 2002–03 Scottish Challenge Cup; runners up in the 1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup and 2007–08 Scottish Cup).^[7]

Record transfer fee received: Andy Thomson – £250,000 to Southend United, 1994^[13]

Fastest hat trick: Tommy Bryce, 1 min 46 seconds (Guinness book of records)^[14]

Longest distance goal by an outfield player: Ryan McCann – 84 yards (77 m) in the Scottish Cup quarter final 2–0 victory over Dundee, 8 March 2008.^[7]

First player to collect a complete set of all four senior Scottish football winners medals: Andy Goram when he played in the 2002–03 Scottish Challenge Cup final 2–0 win for Queens against Brechin City to add to his medals haul gathered elsewhere^[7]

First ever Scottish League Match under floodlights: Rangers v Queen of the South, Ibrox Park, 7 March 1956.

Highest free standing floodlights in Scottish football: Queens' floodlights were first used on 29 October 1958 and at 85 feet (26 m) high they are the tallest in Scotland. To mark the occasion Preston North End sent a team north for a friendly match.

Highest terrace in Scottish football: Following the trend towards all seater stadiums the height differential between the lowest and highest step on the Portland Drive terrace makes this now the highest remaining terrace in Scottish football.

Oldest player to play for the club: Ally MacLeod v St. Mirren in the Reserve League West in April 1992. With Queens short of players the then manager named himself as a trialist and played the whole 90 minutes. During the second half Queens were awarded a penalty and the ex Scotland manager converted the kick. The final score was 7–1 to St. Mirren and MacLeod received a standing ovation from the small crowd at the end of the game. He was 61 years old at the time.

Honours

National League Competitions

Highest top division finish – 4th, 1933–34

Division 2 – Champions 1950/51, 2001/02; Runners Up – 1932–33, 1961–62, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1985–86

Division 3 – Runners Up 1924–25

National Cup Competitions

Scottish League Challenge Cup – Winners 2002–03, Runners-up 1997–98, Semi-finalists 1991–92

Scottish Qualifying Cup – Winners 1923–24

Scottish Cup – Runners up 2007–08, Semi-finalists 1949–50

Scottish League Cup – Semi-finalists 1950–51, 1960–61

B.P. Youth Cup Runners-up – 1985–86

Invitational Tournaments

1936 Algiers invitational tournament – Winners

Border Cup – Winners 1991–92, 1992–93

Scottish Brewers Cup – Winners 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07

Regional League Competitions

Scottish League South and West (Wartime League) – Runners Up 1939–40

Western League – Champions 1922–23

Southern Counties League – Winners 1996–97

Regional Cup Competitions (Competed for and won by the reserve team)

Southern Counties Charity Cup – Winners 1920–24, 1926,1930–32, 1934,1937

Southern Counties Cup – Winners 1921, 1924, 1935, 1936, 1962, 1966, 1972, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2003, 2004

Southern Counties League Cup – Winners 1996–97

Southern Counties Consolation Cup – Winners 1922

Potts Cup – Winners 1921, 1960, 1961

Individual awards

Second Division Manager of the Season – John Connolly – 2001–02

Second Division Player of the Season – Jimmy Robertson – 1980/81, Andy Thomson – 1991–92, 1993–94, John O'Neill – 2001–02

Bell's Scottish Football League Angels Award – 2003–04

Bell's Scottish Football League Fan of the Season – Ian Black – 2003–04

SFL Phenomenal achievement award – Gordon Chisholm, in recognition of Queens' remarkable cup run – 2007–08^[15][1]

Notable fans

Several notable persons are supporters of Queen of the South. These include golfer Andrew Coltart,^[16] STV presenter Stephen Jardine,^[17] racing driver Allan McNish,^[18]^[19] author and journalist Hunter Davies,^[20] racehorse trainer Len Lungo,^[21] businessmen Roger White and Stephen Halliday,^[22] footballer Barry Nicholson,^[23] DJ and Producer Calvin Harris,^[24] and music producer Bill Drummond, who named an instrumental piece, on his album The Man, "Queen of the South".^[25]

Stadium

Biblical references

Queen of the South are often humorously cited as the only league club in the United Kingdom to be mentioned in the Bible. Luke 11:31 states "The queen of the South shall rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them..."^[26] Queen of the South is similarly quoted under Matthew 12:42.^[27] In the biblical quote the "Queen of the South" is considered to be the Queen of Sheba.

Club mascot

Doogie the Doonhamer at Palmerston for the celebration of the 2007–08 QoS run to the Scottish Cup Final.

The club mascot is 'Doogie the Doonhamer', a human sized border collie.^[28] The character has been played for many years by supermarket worker Brian Harkness.^[29]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player
		GK	David Hutton
		DF	Robert Harris
		DF	David Lilley (Captain)
		DF	Marc McAusland
		DF	Jim Thomson
		DF	Craig Reid
		MF	Paul Burns

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Stephen McKenna
		MF	Willie McLaren
		MF	Rocco Quinn
		MF	Neil Scally
		FW	Derek Holmes
		FW	Sean O'Connor
		FW	David Weatherston

On loan