Queen of the South F.C.

Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club formed in 1919 in Dumfries. The club plays in Scottish League One, the third tier of Scottish football. They are traditionally nicknamed the Doonhamers but are more usually referred to as Queens or QOS.[2][3] Their home ground is Palmerston Park.

Queen of the South
Full nameQueen of the South Football Club
Nickname(s)The Doonhamers, Queens, QOS
FoundedMarch 1919 (1919-03)
GroundPalmerston Park, Dumfries
Capacity8,690[1]
ChairmanBilly Hewitson
ManagerWillie Gibson
(player-manager)
LeagueScottish League One
2021–22Scottish Championship, 10th of 10 (relegated)
WebsiteClub website

The club won the Division B Championship in 1950–51, the Second Division Championship in 2001–02 and 2012–13, and the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2002–03 and 2012–13. Queens led Scotland's top division until New Year in the 1953–54 season: their highest finish in Scotland's top division was fourth in 1933–34. The club reached their first major cup final in 2008 when they reached the final of the Scottish Cup, where they were runners-up to Rangers. The club's management team are player-manager Willie Gibson and assistant manager Grant Murray.[4]

Stadium

Palmerston Park is located on Terregles Street in Dumfries. The club has played there since 1919. South of Scotland League club Heston Rovers have shared Palmerston since 2013. The stadium has a capacity of 8,690[1] of which 3,377 are seats.[5]

Supporters and culture

Robbie Neilson, the current manager of Hearts,[6] said about Queens 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."[7]

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."[8]

Historic table positions of Queen of the South in the League.

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 Nordsjælland. Even though 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."[9]

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."[9]

A notable Queen of the South supporter is the DJ and producer Calvin Harris, who grew up in Dumfries. He considered writing a song to celebrate the team reaching the 2008 Scottish Cup Final, but the idea was scrapped due to the time constraints of recording his 2009 album Ready for the Weekend.[10]

Bill Drummond, musician, producer, and former member of The KLF, is a supporter as well due to their proximity to his hometown of Newton Stewart.[11]

Mascot
Dougie Doonhamer at Palmerston Park for the celebration of the 2007–08 Queens run to the Scottish Cup Final.

The club mascot is 'Dougie Doonhamer', a human-sized border collie dog. The character has been played for many years by local supermarket worker Brian Harkness.[12]

On 25 August 2017, Dougie Doonhamer won the Ladbrokes SPFL mascot race at Hamilton Park, having been runner-up the previous year.[13]

On 31 August 2018, Dougie Doonhamer won the Ladbrokes SPFL mascot race at Hamilton Park for the second consecutive year.[14]

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..."[15] Queen of the South is similarly quoted under Matthew 12:42.[16] In the biblical quote the "Queen of the South" is considered to be the Queen of Sheba. In 2005, the issue was investigated by The Guardian website in their series "The Knowledge", which also found full references to Arsenal, Bury and Reading, as well as partial references to "hearts", "wolves", "forest", "hammer", "spurs" and "man's field".[17]

Anthem

"The Only Team in the Bible" by Neil Grant is always played at Palmerston Park before the teams appear from the tunnel. During August 2019, in an edition of the BBC's popular Off the Ball, Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan challenged the songwriter to recreate the song and it has since become a hit with the club's supporters.

Honours

National League Competitions Division 2 – Champions 1950–51, 2001–02, 2012–13; 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, 2012–13; Runners-up 1997–98, 2010–11

Scottish Qualifying Cup – Winners 1923–24

Scottish Cup – Runners-up 2007–08

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

PFA Scotland Manager of the Year Award – Allan Johnston 2012–13[18]

PFA Second Division Player of the Year Award – Jimmy Robertson 1980–81, Andy Thomson 1991–92, 1993–94, John O'Neill 2001–02, Nicky Clark 2012–13[18]

Bell's SFL Fan of the Season Award – Ian Black 2003–04

SFL Phenomenal Achievement Awards

Recognition of Queens' remarkable Scottish Cup run – Gordon Chisholm 2007–08[19]

Second Division Player of the Year Award – Nicky Clark 2012–13[20]

SFL Goalkeeper of the Season Award – Lee Robinson 2012–13[20]

SFL Second Division Manager of the Year Award – John Connolly 2001–02, Allan Johnston 2012–13[20]

Ginger Boot Award – Nicky Clark 2012–13[20]

Bell's SFL Angels Award – 2003–04[21]

SFL Team of the Season Award – 2012–13[20]

Records
One of Palmerston's record-breaking floodlights

Record victory: 11–1 versus Stranraer; Scottish Cup; 16 January 1932[22]

Record defeat: 10-2 versus 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 of the goals. Dundee were the reigning Division One Champions and would make the European Cup semi-finals that season where they lost to the eventual winners AC Milan.[23]

Record home attendance: 26,552 versus Heart of Midlothian; Scottish Cup 3rd Round; 23 February 1952; Queens 1 Hearts 3[24]

Record home league attendance: 21,142 versus Rangers; 6 October 1962; Queens 0 Rangers 4

Record attendance (any venue): 58,975; 5 April 1950; Hampden Park; 3–0 Scottish Cup semi-final replay defeat to Rangers; 52,924 watched the 1–1 draw with Rangers four days earlier, also at Hampden Park.[25]

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

Most league points (3 points for a win system): 92; Scottish Division 2; 2012–13

First ever Scottish League Match under floodlights: Rangers versus Queen of the South; Ibrox Park; 7 March 1956; Rangers 8 Queens 0; Rangers player Don Kitchenbrand scored five goals in this match.[26]

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.[22]

Highest terrace in Scottish football: Following the trend towards all seater stadia, the height differential between the lowest and highest step on the Portland Drive terrace, records this as the highest remaining terrace in Scottish football.

Individuals

As of 22 October 2022

Longest serving player: Iain McChesney – 1960 to 1981 (615 appearances and scored 79 goals)[27]

Record league scorer in a season: Alexander "Jimmy" Gray – 37 goals in the 1927-28 season

Record scorer (all competitions) in a season: Stephen Dobbie - 43 goals in the 2018-19 season

Most capped player: Billy Houliston (3 caps; 1948–49 season; 3–2 v Northern Ireland at Hampden (scoring two goals on his debut in the 30th & 89th minute), 3–1 v England at Wembley and 2–0 v France at Hampden.[25]

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).[22]

Most decorated Queens player with four winners medals: Derek Lyle (2001–02 & 2012–13 Second Division; 2002–03 & 2012–13 Scottish Challenge Cup)[28]

Record transfer fee received: Andy Thomson; £250,000; Southend United; 1994[29]

Fastest hat-trick: Tommy Bryce; 1 minute 46 seconds Guinness World Records in the 6–0 win versus Arbroath on 18 December 1993. Bryce's hat-trick was recorded in the 8th, 9th & 10th minutes by the match referee Louis Thow. Bryce also scored a fourth goal in this match.[30]

Longest distance goal by an outfield player: Ryan McCann – 84 yards (77 m) in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final 2–0 win versus Dundee on 8 March 2008.[22]

First player to collect the complete set of four senior Scottish football winners medals: Andy Goram when he played in the 2002–03 Scottish Challenge Cup Final 2–0 win for Queens versus Brechin City, to add to his medals haul gathered elsewhere.[22]

Oldest player to play for the club: Ally MacLeod versus St Mirren in the Reserve League West in April 1992. With Queens short of players the manager named himself as a trialist and played the whole 90 minutes. During the second half Queens were awarded a penalty and the former Scotland manager converted the spot 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. MacLeod was 61 years old at the time.

European record

UEFA Cup/Europa League:[22][31]

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2008–09 UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round FC Nordsjælland 1–2 1–2 2–4

Players

Current squad
As of 22 October 2022[32]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  SCO Max Currie
2 DF  SCO David McKay
3 DF  SCO Rico Quitongo
4 MF  SCO Iain Wilson
5 DF  SCO Paul McKay
6 MF  SCO Harry Cochrane
7 FW  IRL Ruari Paton
8 MF  ENG Josh Todd (captain)
9 FW  SCO Gavin Reilly
10 FW  SCO Lee Connelly
11 MF  SCO Connor Murray
12 DF  SCO Ciaran McKenna
13 GK  SCO Scott Fox (on loan from Motherwell)
14 DF  SCO Stuart Morrison
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF  SCO Calvin McGrory
16 DF  SCO Euan East
17 DF  SCO Stephen Hendrie
18 MF  SCO Kieran McKechnie
19 FW  SCO Michael Ruth
20 FW  SCO Ross Irving
21 MF  SCO Dom McMahon
22 FW  ENG Ewan Bange (on loan from Blackpool)
26 DF  SCO Ryan Muir
27 FW  SCO Lewis Gibson
28 MF  SCO Ben Johnstone
29 DF  SCO Jay Burns
33 DF  SCO Willie Gibson

On loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK  SCO Charlie Cowie (on loan at Gartcairn)
40 FW  SCO Kane Paton (on loan at St Cuthbert Wanderers)[33]
41 MF  SCO Cameron Shaw (on loan at St Cuthbert Wanderers)[34]
No. Pos. Nation Player
42 MF  ENG Nathan Naylor-Whalley (on loan at Lochar Thistle)[35]
43 MF  SCO Andrew Oram (on loan at Lochar Thistle)[36]
  • For recent transfers, see 2022–23 Queen of the South F.C. season.

Notable players
  • For all former Queen of the South players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Queen of the South F.C. players.

The following players were inducted into Queen of the South's Hall of Fame on 29 October 2011, 19 January 2013 and 24 October 2015 respectively.[37]

The following players were inducted into Queen of the South's Hall of Fame on 23 March 2019.[38][39]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ENG Allan Ball
— FW  SCO Bobby Black
— MF  SCO Tommy Bryce
— MF  SCO Paul Burns
— MF  SCO Jocky Dempster
— FW  SCO Stephen Dobbie
— GK  SCO Roy Henderson
— FW  SCO Billy Houliston
— DF  SCO Jim Kerr
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  SCO Derek Lyle
— DF  SCO Iain McChesney
— DF  SCO Billy McLaren
— FW  SCO Jackie Oakes
— FW  SCO Jim Patterson
— FW  SCO Jimmy Robertson
— FW  SCO Andy Thomson
— DF  SCO Jim Thomson

The following players are listed on the club's official website as 'Queens Legends':[40]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  SCO Andy Aitken
— GK  ENG Allan Ball
— DF  SCO Jimmy Binning
— FW  SCO Bobby Black
— DF  SCO Crawford Boyd
— FW  ENG Ivor Broadis
— MF  SCO Tommy Bryce
— DF  SCO Nobby Clark
— MF  SCO George Cloy
— GK  SCO Alan Davidson
— FW  SCO Jocky Dempster
— FW  SCO Ian Dickson
— GK  SCO George Farm
— MF  SCO Willie Ferguson
— FW  SCO Hughie Gallacher
— FW  SCO Dave Halliday
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  SCO George Hamilton
— GK  SCO Roy Henderson
— FW  SCO Billy Houliston
— DF  SCO Jim Kerr
— FW  SCO Lex Law
— FW  SCO Neil Martin
— DF  SCO Iain McChesney
— FW  SCO Ted McMinn
— FW  SCO Jackie Oakes
— FW  SCO Jim Patterson
— FW  SCO Jimmy Robertson
— DF  SCO Willie Savage
— DF  SCO Dougie Sharpe
— FW  SCO Andy Thomson
— DF  SCO Jim Thomson

Managers
  • Committee Members (1919–1921)
  • Joe Dodds (P/C) (1922–1923)
  • Board of Directors (1924–1927)
  • Alex Wright (1928–1931)
  • Board of Directors (1932–1934)
  • George McLachlan (1935–1937)
  • Willie Ferguson (1937–1938)
  • Jimmy McKinnell Senior (1938–1946)
  • Jimmy McKinnell Junior (1946–1961)
  • George Farm (1961–1964)
  • Board of Directors (1964–1965)
  • Bobby Shearer (P/C) (1965–1966)
  • Jackie Husband (1967–1968)
  • Board of Directors (1968–1970)
  • Harold Davis (1970–1971)
  • Jim Easton (P/M) (1971–1973)
  • Willie McLean (1973–1975)
  • Mike Jackson (1975–1978)
  • Willie Hunter (1978–1979)
  • Billy Little (1979–1980)
  • George Herd (1980–1981)
  • Harry Hood (1981–1982)
  • Drew Busby (P/M) (1982–1984)
  • Nobby Clark (1984–1986)
  • Mike Jackson (1986–1987)
  • Davie Wilson (1987–1989)
  • Billy McLaren (1989–1990)
  • Frank McGarvey (P/M) (1990–1991)
  • Ally MacLeod (1991–1992)
  • Derek Frye (P/C) (1992–1993)
  • Billy McLaren2 (1993–1996)
  • Rowan Alexander & Mark Shanks (1996–1999)
  • George Rowe & Ken Eadie (1999–2000)
  • John Connolly (2000–2004)
  • Iain Scott (2004–2005)
  • Ian McCall (2005–2007)
  • Gordon Chisholm (2007–2010)
  • Kenny Brannigan (2010–2011)
  • Gus MacPherson (2011–2012)
  • Allan Johnston (P/M) (2012–2013)
  • Jim McIntyre (2013–2014)
  • James Fowler (P/M) (2014 – March 2016)
  • Gavin Skelton (P/M) (April 2016 – November 2016)[41]
  • Gary Naysmith (December 2016 – 4 May 2019)
  • Allan Johnston2 (5 May 2019 – 13 February 2022)
  • Willie Gibson (P/M) (14 February 2022 – present)

P/C = Player-Coach P/M = Player-Manager

2 Second Spell

Staff

Board of directors
  • Chairman: Billy Hewitson
  • Vice-Chairman: Craig Paterson
  • Director: Mark Blount
  • Honorary Directors: Norman Blount and Davie Rae

Coaching staff
  • Manager: Willie Gibson
  • Assistant Manager: Grant Murray
  • First Team Goalkeeping Coach: Gordon Marshall
  • Consultant Sport Scientist and Head of Fitness: Robert Kielty
  • Physiotherapists: Jim Law, Scott Walker
  • Club Doctor: Dr Guy Beaumont
  • Groundsman: Kevin McCormick
  • Kitmen: Graeme Dalgleish, Kevin McCormick
  • Community Development and Commercial Manager: Daniel Armstrong
  • Head of Youth: Andy Irving
  • Youth Goalkeeping Coach: David Byers
  • Youth Coaches: Stuart Douglas, Darren Malin, David Mathieson, Neil Murray, Ross Newlands

References
  1. "Queen of the South Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  2. "QosFC: Burnsy". Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  3. "QosFC: Eva Mendes – the latest Queen of the South". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  4. "QosFC: Management Team Confirmed". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  5. "QosFC: New Stadium Capacity". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  6. "Boss Neilson leaves Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  7. "Latest Sports News, Comment & Analysis". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  8. Horne, Marc (25 May 2008). "Scottish Cup Final: 'Result is irrelevant, we are here to party'". The Scotsman. Edinburgh.
  9. "Fans 'credit' to club and country". BBC News. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  10. Wight, Douglas (2015). Calvin Harris : the 100 million DJ. New York, NY: Black & White Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84502-981-4. OCLC 908081567.
  11. "Bill Drummond interview for the official Queen of the South website". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  12. Border News and Lookaround, 2008
  13. "QosFC: Dougie Wins 2017 Mascot Race". www.qosfc.com. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  14. "QosFC: Dougie Wins Again". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  15. "Luke 11:31; Luke 11:32 (English Standard Version)", BibleGateway.com. Retrieved 15 April 2008
  16. "Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 12:42 - English Standard Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  17. Dart, James (21 December 2005). "Which football teams appear in the bible?". The Guardian.
  18. "QosFC: Queens Duo Scoop Another Double at PFA Awards". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  19. "Dumfries & Galloway - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction - Daily Record". Dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  20. "QosFC: Irn Bru Phenomenal End of Season Awards". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  21. "Official Queen of the South Site". Qosarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  22. "QosFC: Club History". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  23. "QosFC: Legends – George Farm". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  24. "QosFC: Legends – Jackie Oakes". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  25. "QosFC: Legends – Billy Houliston". Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  26. "Live: QotS v Rangers – Rangers Football Club, Official Website". 9 May 2015.
  27. "QosFC: Legends – Iain McChesney". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  28. McNair, Andrew (20 August 2015). "Queen of the South striker Derek Lyle was surprised to be told he is to be inducted into the club's hall of fame". Daily Record. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  29. "QosFC: Legends – Andy Thomson". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  30. "QosFC: Legends – Tommy Bryce". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  31. "Congratulations FC Nordsjælland". qosfc.com. Queen of the South. 27 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  32. "Players". Queen of the South FC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  33. "QosFC: Reserve Pair Join Saints".
  34. "QosFC: Reserve Pair Join Saints".
  35. "QosFC: Another Two Reserves Go Out on Loan".
  36. "QosFC: Another Two Reserves Go Out on Loan".
  37. "QosFC: Hall of Fame Review". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  38. "QosFC: Centenary/Hall of Fame Dinner". www.qosfc.com. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  39. "QosFC: HOF - John Dempster". www.qosfc.com. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  40. "QosFC: Queens Legends". Qosfc.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  41. "Queen of the South: Gavin Skelton exits as manager after six months". BBC Sport. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
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