Queen of the South F.C.

Queen of the South

File:Biglogo.gif
Full name	Queen of the South Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Doonhamers
Founded	March 1919
Ground	Palmerston Park, Dumfries
Capacity	6,412
Chairman	David Rae
Manager	Gordon Chisholm
League	Scottish First Division
2006-07	Scottish First Division, 8th
Home colours Away colours

Queen of the South Football Club is a professional football club based in Dumfries that currently plays in the Scottish Football League. Also known as the Doonhamers, Queens have always played at Palmerston Park on Dumfries' Terregles Street. Queen of the South's name derives from a much earlier team known as Queen of the South Wanderers, that had become defunct.

The club has won few national honours since formation, namely the 1950/51 B Division, and in 2002 the Second Division title and the Scottish Challenge Cup. They are currently playing in the First Division, and are managed by Gordon Chisholm.

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

History

Formation and early years

Queen of the South Football Club was founded shortly after World War 1 in March 1919 by an amalgamation of three of the town's clubs - Dumfries F.C., Maxwelltown Volunteers F.C. and (works side) Arrol-Johnston. Hughie Gallacher started his senior football career by playing for Queens in 1921. Gallacher scored 18 goals in his first 7 games for Queens. Jimmy McKinnell Senior was the heart and soul behind the club in the early days. He was a member of the original board and became club treasurer in 1922.

In 1924/25 the club finished second in Scottish Third Division to gain promotion to the Scottish Second Division. Queen of the South were promoted to Scotland's top division (as the Scottish First Division then was) in 1933.

1933 to 1964 and top division football

1934 saw the club's highest ever league finish with fourth place in Scotland's top flight. From then, excluding war time interruption, the club spent only one season out of Scotland's top division until 1959. In 1938 McKinnell Senior became secretary/manager, a position he held until 1946, when he decided to retire. Queens finished 6th in 1938/39 before World War 2 meant the football league season would not be completed again until 1946/47.

In 1950 Queens had a run that took them to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup for the only time in the 20th century. That success was balanced by the disappointment of relegation from top division football. In 1950/51 Queens were promoted straight back to the top flight as Scottish B Division champions and got to the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup.

The early and mid 1950s saw the club's most successful spell to date achieving consistent mid table finishes in the Scottish A Division (as the top flight was then called). Queen's were managed throughout this period by Jimmy McKinnell Junior. On 23 February 1952 Palmerston Park saw its record attendance of 26,552 for the Scottish Cup visit of Heart of Midlothian F.C. This was the era at the club of goalkeeper Roy Henderson, full back Dougie Sharp, record scorer and Scotland cap Jim Patterson and until July 1952 Dumfries boy and Scotland internationalist centre-forward Billy Houliston. Dougie McBain gave 7 years from 1948. Play maker Walter Rothera joined the club in 1951 as did full back Jimmy Binning and wing half Jimmy Greenock. Centre half Alex Smith and goal scoring outside right Bobby Black (from Thornhill, another local boy) did the same in 1952. Charlie Johnstone played until 1953 before retiring aged 41. The solidity of Queen's results through this period peaked with a sixth place finish in 1956 - a finish surpassed only once in the club's history.

Queens were subsequently relegated from the top division in 1959. In 1960 ex Scotland and long time Blackpool FA Cup winning goalkeeper George Farm signed for Queens. Queens would make it to the League Cup semi final in 1960/61 for the second and to date last time. Farm was made player manager in 1961 and with Jim Patterson still playing the club were promoted back to the top division in 1962. Queens have not played top division football since those 2 seasons of 62/63 and 63/64.

The Harkness era

Willie Harkness became club chairman in 1967. He would be so until the 1990s during which time the club would achieve little of note.

Late 90s to today

The club have gone on to rebuild some relative success last enjoyed in the pre Harkness era. In 1997 the club reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time. Second Division Queens lost 1-0 to 1st Division Falkirk despite a rousing Queens display at Motherwell's Fir Park; a performance that included the man of the match award going to Queens veteran central midfield playmaker Tommy Bryce. Bryce also holds the record for the world's fastest "hat-trick" of 1 minute, 46 seconds, which has earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records. In this game against Arbroath Bryce scored 4 in total in Queens 6-0 victory.

Queens otherwise creditable recent record was blemished in 1999/2000. At the end of a poor season only a controversial points deduction for Hamilton Academicals saved Queen of the South from relegation to the Third Division.

John Connolly was appointed manager in July 2000. With captain Jim Thomson he led the club to the Second Division title in 2002, clinched with a 3-0 win away to Forfar Athletic. This was the club's first national competition success since they won the same competition in 1951. The following season the club won the Scottish Challenge Cup after defeating Brechin City 2-0 in the final at Clyde's Broadwood Stadium.

John Connolly left the club in May 2004 to join former club St Johnstone, with his former assistant Iain Scott taking over. In Scott's five years at the club as assistant manager and then manager he helped turn them from a relegation-threatened Second Division side to an established First Division club. With a second consecutive 5th place spot in 2004, Queens became the first part-time club to remain in the new First Division for more than two years. Queens then finished fourth in the First Division in 2005 - their highest finish since the 1963.

Iain Scott parted from the club after winning just one game and with the club sitting second bottom of the league in 2005/2006. Dumfries-born Ian McCall was appointed manager in November 2005 and brought in Gordon Chisholm as his assistant. Seven new players were acquired in the January transfer 'window' to try to claw back the 12 point gap to 3rd-bottom and South West rivals Stranraer. Queens went on a run, losing only once at home since November and collecting 23 points from their last 12 games. They secured their First Division survival with a 1-1 draw at Brechin City on 22 April 2006.

A poor start to the 2006/2007 campaign saw the Dumfries side bottom of the league after 21 games. However, there was still a ray of hope for the Doonhamers. Inspired by the goals of January transfer window signing Stephen Dobbie, the team went on to produce some great cup form (eventually losing to Hibernian in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup) and a twelve match unbeaten run that saw the side avoid relegation in the penultimate game of the season. Despite this Queen of the South and Ian McCall parted company after agreeing mutual terms.

In the close season, Gordon Chisholm was announced as the new manager for the 2007/08 season and on 28 June 2007, Chisholm appointed Kenny Brannigan as his assistant manager. After a disappointing start to the season Queens picked up with a 10 game unbeaten run in all competitions that started in January. This run propelled them to 4th in Scottish First Division. On 8 March 2008 Chisholm guided Queens to their first Scottish Cup semi-final in 58 years with a 2-0 quarter-final home victory over Dundee at Palmerston. The goals came from prolific marksman Stephen Dobbie and an 84 yard injury time long distance chip from Ryan McCann, with an application pending for the Guiness Book of Records as the longest distance goal ever scored by an outfield player! (the previous record reportedly stood at 82 yards).

The semi-final trip to Hampden Park, Glasgow on Saturday, 12 April was to play 6th placed Premier League side Aberdeen. Although Queens were underdogs, approximately 10,000 Queens fans were in the crowd of 24,008 to witness an astonishing game. Led by long serving captain Jim Thomson, four times Queens took the lead with goals through Steve Tosh, Paul Burns, Sean O'Connor and John Stewart. 3 times Aberdeen hit back with an equaliser including a goal from Dumfries boy Barry Nicholson. Queens' fourth however was too much for Aberdeen resulting in a 4 - 3 epic victory.

Queens will meet the winner of next weekend's semi-final, with St Johnstone waiting to play the winner of the Partick Thistle v Rangers replay. If Rangers were to progress to the final, the Dumfries team would be assured of a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Famous players

Past players at Queen of the South include Hughie Gallacher who started his senior football career at Queens in 1920/21. In his first 7 games for Queens he scored 18 goals [3]. 5ft 5ins tall Gallacher went on to score 23 goals in 20 games for Scotland and was also part of the Wembley Wizards who beat England 5-1 in 1928. In 624 senior games during his career he scored 463 goals. His clubs were Queens, Airdrieonians, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Derby County, Notts County, Grimsby Town and Gateshead. Gallagher also captained Newcastle to their last ever Championship in 1926/27. [4]

While playing for Queens, Dumfries man Billy Houliston was capped three times by Scotland in 1948/49 playing in the victories over Northern Ireland (scoring twice), England and France. In all he collected 9 caps at different levels and never played in a losing Scotland side.

Roy Henderson signed for Queens in 1946. He was selected 6 times as reserve goal keeper for Scotland, but never selected to play ahead of Bobby Brown nor Jimmy Cowan. Roy spent 12 seasons with Queens until he broke his leg in a match v Dunfermline Athletic, bringing his career to an end. Henderson was alleged by many to be the best keeper never to play for Scotland.

Jim Patterson is the club's record scorer (see below) and was honoured with one cap for Scotland, when he led the Scottish attack v The Army in 1953 at Hampden Park.

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 winning the 1953 'Matthews' FA Cup Final alongside Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. 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; two years later, however, in January 1964, he was sacked, though the club retained him as a player. Farm later managed Dunfermline to their greatest achievement to date, the semi final of the 1969 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup losing by 1 goal to eventual winners Slovan Bratislava.

In the 1980s, local lad Ted McMinn played for Queens from 1982 - 84 before going on to play for Rangers and Sevilla and then followed 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.

In the 1990s Andy Thomson made 230 appearances and scored 114 goals in his two spells at the club (109 goals scored in 164 games during his first spell). In 1993-94 he won the Scottish Second Division Player of the Year Award and was the country's top scorer. Thomson then joined Southend United for a fee of £250,000 and later played for Oxford United, Gillingham and Queens Park Rangers before returning to Scotland with Partick Thistle. 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), Hearts and Bristol City.

Since 2000, notable former players include controversial ex-Rangers and Scotland goal keeper Andy Goram, Scotland cap Robbie Neilson of Hearts and former Livingston and Australian captain Stuart Lovell who also had a short spell as caretaker boss after the departure of Iain Scott.

Club records

Record victory: 11-1 v. Stranraer, Scottish Cup, 16 January 1932

Record defeat: 2-10 v. Dundee, Scottish First Division, 1 December 1962

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

Record attendance (any venue): 53 000, 1950 Scottish Cup Semi final 1 - 1 draw with Rangers

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, England and France and scoring twice on his debut against Northern Ireland)

Record appearances: Allan Ball - 731 (819 in total including Challenge, Testimonials and Friendly matches) between 1963 and 1982

Longest serving player: Ian McChesney - 1960 to 1981 (the defender made 587 appearances and scored 79 goals)

Record scorer: Jim Patterson - 251 goals, including 11 hat-tricks, in 462 appearances between 1949 and 1963

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

Record transfer fee received: Andy Thomson - £250,000 to Southend United, 1994

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 Queen's manager named himself as a trialist and played the whole 90 minutes. During the second half Queens were awarded a penalty and up stepped the ex Scotland manager to convert 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. MacLeod was 61 at the time.

First ever Scottish League Match under floodlights: Rangers v Queen of the South, Ibrox Park, 7th March, 1956 (8 - 0 to Rangers).

Highest free standing floodlights in Scottish football: Palmerston Park - 85 feet

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

First Time To Reach Scottish Cup Final: 12 April 2008, Queen of the South 4 - 3 Aberdeen, Hampden Park

[5] [6]

Honours

National League Competitions

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

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

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 - Finalists 2007/08, Semi-finalists 1949/50

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

B.P. Youth Cup Runners-up - 1985/86

Regional Cup Competitions

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

Invitational Tournaments

Border Cup - Winners 1991/92, 1992/93

Scottish Brewers Cup - Winners 2000/01, 2001/02, 2006/07

Individual awards

Second Division Manager of the Season - John Connolly - 2001/2002

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

[7]

Current squad

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	SCO	Jamie MacDonald (on loan from Hearts)
—	GK	SCO	Stephen Grindlay
—	DF	SCO	Jim Thomson (Captain)
—	DF	SCO	Andy Aitken
—	DF	SCO	Jim Lauchlan
—	DF	SCO	Craig Reid
—	DF	SCO	Eric Paton
—	DF	SCO	Jamie McQuilken
—	DF	SCO	Robert Harris
—	MF	SCO	Paul Burns

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	SCO	Neil Scally
—	MF	SCO	Brian Gilmour
—	MF	SCO	Steve Tosh
—	MF	SCO	Ryan McCann
—	MF	SCO	John O'Neill
—	MF	SCO	Scott Robertson
—	MF	SCO	Neil MacFarlane
—	FW	ENG	Sean O'Connor
—	FW	SCO	Robert Campbell
—	FW	SCO	John Stewart (on loan from Falkirk)
—	FW	SCO	Stephen Dobbie

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/C) (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 McLaren¹ (1993-1996)
• Rowan Alexander & Mark Shanks (1996-1999)
• George Rowe & Ken Eadie (1999-2000)
• John Connolly (2000-2004)
• Ian Scott (2004-2005)
• Ian McCall (2005-2007)
• Gordon Chisholm (2007-present)

• P/C = Player-coach P/M = Player-manager

¹ Second Spell

Non-playing staff

Boardroom

• Chairman: David Rae
• Vice Chairman: Craig Paterson
• Non-Executive Director: Thomas Harkness
• Non-Executive Director: William Hewitson
• Non-Executive Director: Keith Houliston
• Non-Executive Director: Colin Rutherford
• Honorary Director: Alan Ball
• Business Manager: James Rutherford
• Club Secretary: Eric Moffat

Management

• Manager: Gordon Chisholm
• Assistant Manager: Kenny Brannigan
• First Team Coach: Stevie Morrison
• Striking Coach: Billy Dodds
• Goalkeeping Coach: Peter Latchford
• Club Doctor: Guy Beaumont
• Physiotherapist: John Kerr
• Groundsman: Kevin McCormick

External links

• Official site