ARCHIVED NEWS - JUNE 1999



DOONHAMERS TRAVEL CLUB TIMES ANNOUNCED30th June 1999

The Doonhamers travel club have announced the bus times and pick ups for this seasons away matches. These are listed under the FAN CLUB section in the TRAVEL club page.


TRIALISTS TO JOIN IN PRE-SEASON TRAINING26th June 1999

With pre-season training starting on 1st July coach George Rowe has confirmed that a number of experienced players have been invited to train with the existing squad, with a view to offering a contract if they show up well in the pre-season.


SEASON TICKETS TO GO ON SALE THIS WEEK26th June 1999

Now that the full fixture list has been produced Season tickets should be available later this coming week.


FILM CREW IMPRESSED WITH PALMERSTON26th June 1999

Preparations for the filming of "The Cup" appear to be well underway. On Friday 25th June the film crew visited Palmerston to arrange where shots would be taken and what camera angles would be most suitable. It is hoped that a date for filming will be announced within the next few days.
It is also hoped that details of how to apply for tickets for the film shoot will be announced this coming week, at present it looks as though there will be a postal application service once local distribution to schools and sponsors has been completed.


SEASON 1999 - 2000 FIXTURES RELEASED22nd June 1999

The Scottish League have released the full fixture list for next season. It will appear on this site from 24 June 1999.


KILLIE KID COMES SOUTH18th June 1999

Queen's last night secured the much sought after signature of ex-Kilmarnock player Chris Strain. Chris comes to the club highly recommended and after impressing George Rowe during an SFA coaching session. He was reluctantly released by Killie at the end of last season and was courted by both Ross County and Raith Rovers, however having seen the set up at Palmerston last night he was keen to come aboard and happily put pen to paper. The 5ft 9inch nineteen year old forward hails from Irvine and is also happy playing in midfield.
There are at least another three players that may be attracted to Palmerston, however all are on holiday at the moment and as such no other signings are expected until the start of pre-season training. One of the three is an experienced twenty five year old midfielder who impressed against Queens a number of times last season.


NEW STRIPS AVAILABLE SOON18th June 1999

Queen's playing kit for season 1999 - 2000 bearing the new sponsors name (Alex Wilson Radio and TV Engineers) is being finalised at this time. The outfield players home kit will consist of a totally blue combination of top, shorts and socks while the away kit will be the same only in white. David Mathieson will have the pleasure in playing in a red shirt with yellow shorts and green socks.


PRE-SEASON TRAINING APPROACHES18th June 1999

In just under two weeks pre-season training will commence. Due to the early start of the season this year the quantity of friendlies normally undertaken has been cut back, the final addition to the list being St Cuthbert Wanderers away on 18th July 1999. Between the 22nd and 25th July Queen's squad will be based at Largs for an intensive training session, more than likely taking on some local junior opposition during the camp.


INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT SET FOR PALMERSTON18th June 1999

Palmerston Park is being given the honour of hosting an under seventeen's international tournament in the months of September and October. The teams competing will be representing the cream of the Under 17 footballing talent from Scotland, Belgium and Denmark. The triangular tournament kicks off on Monday 27th September with Scotland versus Belgium at 7.30pm. On Wednesday the 29th Belgium will take on Denmark with a 3.00pm kick off and the tournament will conclude with Scotland versus Denmark on Friday 1st October kick off 7.30pm.


BRYCE BECOMES A LICHTIE17th June 1999

The North East fishing village of Arbroath must have something that Dumfries doesn't as Tommy Bryce joins Jim Thomson by signing on for next season. There are also unconfirmed reports from Arbroath that the management team had discussions with Stevie Mallan, but that Stevie saw his future at Palmerston. The move of Bryce to Gayfield is a dissapointing one but not too much of a surprise as it was well known that he was a candidate for the vacant Stranraer managers post recently filled by Billy McLaren.


UNDER 14's SEND THEM HOMEWARD TAE THINK AGAIN14th June 1999

On Sunday 6 June Queen of the South under 13s and 14s played host to Oldham Athletic. During Oldham's mini-tour of Scotland they had previously enjoyed victories against Ayr United, Kilmarnock and Motherwell before Queen of the South under 13s and 14s respectively gave them a 4-2 and 4-1 defeat before sending them on their way back south of the Border. To think again!


UNDER 13's REACH CUP SEMI14th June 1999

At the recent Ayr International Youth Football Tournament Queen of the South under 13s were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Dundee United in the semi final of the Scotland Cup. This is considered to be a very satisfactory achievement for what is basically a new team being brought together by Youth Coaches Ian Mundell and Ian Bell. With the core of this squad now invited to join our under 14s Development Programme for next year the future looks good at the lower age group of the club.


IN THE NEWS AGAIN!!13th June 1999

The Sunday Mail today carries a one page article on "The Cup", mainly featuring Club Chairman Norman Blount and Queen of the South. The story centres on why Queen's will appear in the film as themselves and Robert Duvall's love for the area and the works of Robert Burns.


SECOND FRIENDLY ARRANGED9th June 1999

Queens will play the almost regular friendly at Borough Park versus Workington Reds on the 17th July. This season will be much more of a test than in the past as former Carlisle coach Peter Hampton has transformed the team into an efficient hardworking outfit who just missed out on promotion to the Conference last season.


EX-BOSS BILLY ON THE MOVE9th June 1999

Twice former boss and once former player Billy McLaren has moved from managing Albion Rovers to be the new boss at our South West neighbours Stranraer.


THOMSON IN SHOCK ARBROATH MOVE7th June 1999

In a move that will surprise many at Palmerston, 1997/98 Player of the Year Jim Thomson has signed for Arbroath. The surprise move was confirmed by Jim who moves for a three year contract and a personal cash payment. Many Queen's fans will be dissapointed by the move however Jim would be the first to admit that season 1998/99 was a disaster for him, not featuring at all in Queen's miraculous escape from the drop zone.


GEORDIE EARNS HIS STRIPES5th June 1999

Joint first team coach, George Rowe, has spent the last week obtaining his A Grade coaching certificate. He returns on Monday ready to begin in earnest the pre-season planning.

LATEST ON PLAYER MOVEMENTS5th June 1999

With two established first team players already having left the club this close season and Jim Thomson looking increasingly unlikely to figure in next seasons plans, it may look to some of you that the playing staff is becoming a little thin on the ground with those that have left and been freed. Some activity in the transfer market is however expected in the next couple of weeks, this week the SFL will issue the comprehensive list of registered players available for transfer and at present Queen's are actively pursuing at least a couple of talented players to add to the squad.

"THE CUP" LATEST5th June 1999

Preparations for the filming of "The Cup" at Palmerston are progressing at pace. Local rumours regarding the capacity at Palmerston being a problem are completely unfounded. Details of ticket availability for the filming are presently being worked on and hopefully we will be able to let everyone know shortly how and where the tickets can be obtained.

LEAGUE CUP DRAW MADE27th May 1999

In today's draw for the League Cup Queen's have been drawn at home, almost as usual, against Arbroath, if Queen's emerge victorious then a plum midweek home tie versus Hearts is on the cards, these games will take place on 31st July and 3rd or 4th of August respectively. An early friendly has also been arranged against Aberdeen on the 22nd July. See Fixtures.

ALEX WILSON TV AND RADIO SALES WIN SHIRT SPONSORSHIP DRAW27th May 1999

Local TV and Radio sales company Alex Wilson tonight won the right to have their name adorn the first team shirts of Queen of the South Football Club for season 1999 - 2000. The draw was made tonight by Aberdeen and former Queen's star Jamie McAllister, the full list of winners is as follows:
FIRST Shirt sponsorship Alex Wilson
SECOND Match sponsorship Ewan Mayer & Company
THIRD Directors Club membership Cairndale Hotel
FOURTH Executive Club membership Solway Offset
FIFTH Executive Club membership PRS Building Contractors
SIXTH Executive Club membership Dumfries and Galloway Standard
SEVENTH Executive Club membership Northern Garage
EIGHTH Autographed match ball Heathall Garden Centre
NINTH Autographed shirt Currie Group
TENTH Match mascot Lowland Group

DEGGSIE SIGNS UP AT FIR PARK27th May 1999

Travel Club Player of the Year this season, Derek Townsley, signed a full time contract with Motherwell on 26th May 1999. Commenting on the move, Townsley thanked the Queens fans but admitted that it was too good a chance to miss at this stage in his career.


HOLLYWOOD HERE WE COME! 26th May 1999

Queen of the South have landed a starring role in a forthcoming Hollywood blockbuster. After months of behind the scenes activity Chairman Norman Blount today announced that a deal had been clinched which will see Queen's first team take the field against a team of movie stars. The game will take place between July and September at Palmerston with locals being asked to provide a capacity crowd of up to 8000.

The film, believed to be titled, "The Cup", has been a pet project of Robert Duvall who will star as the team manager of a struggling lower league Scottish side who defeat the odds and end up in the Scottish Cup final. Filming of some of the scenes will take place at this weekend's Celtic versus Rangers final. For more on this story please call back regularly as more will be posted as soon as we know more.

Also remember that tommorrow is your last chance to enter the Shirt Sponsorship Draw, just £300 could secure your name on the shirts of Queen of the South and ensure you nationwide coverage.


THE TIN MAN FINDS A NEW HOME22nd May 1999

Ex-Queens star and doonhamer Ted McMinn has returned to his former club Derby County this week. The Rams website says, "Rams hero Ted McMinn has signed up for the Rams - five years after he left the club.

The Tin Man - a former Rams Player of the Year - is to become a part-time coach with the Derby County Football Academy. Signed from Seville by ex-Rams manager Arthur Cox, McMinn played 137 times and scored 14 goals for Derby during a six-year spell at the Baseball Ground - where he was a cult hero, especially among the Popsiders.

Currently involved with youth and school football in Scotland, McMinn also spent some time playing in Australia after a serious knee injury blighted his Rams career.

Derby County Academy Director John Peacock said he was always on the look-out for coaches with experience and was thrilled to welcome back a Rams favourite.

McMinn was recently voted into 'The Ultimate Rams XI' by the Derby County Ramsnet - an Internet mailing list with 300 members worldwide.

He is featured - alongside the rest of the All-Time Dream XI - in the current issue of RAMPAGE, Derby County's official magazine."

Thanks to fanclub member Derek Connell from Derby for tipping us off on that one.


LATEST RE-SIGNING NEWS20th May 1999

Marc Cleeland, Tommy Bryce and Andy Aitken have still to finalise their contracts for next season although all are expected to sign soon. Jim Thomson hopes to finalise a deal to keep him at Palmerston despite speculation that he is about to sign for Stranraer and Derek Townsley is still keeping his options open.

Our congratulations to fanclub member number 22 Neil Irving on the birth of his son Gavin. 38 hour old Gavin has already shown his alegiance to the Doonhamers by joining the International Fanclub. This brings the number of baby members of the fanclub to two as Gavin joins young Cameron Johnstone who signed up a year ago when only 22 hours old.

Some up to date information from the Queen of the South fanclub has been addedd, please check this out via the Fanclub link, then the QOS link


MAJORITY OF THE SQUAD RE-SIGN14th May 1999

Contract negotiations for the playing staff next year have almost been completed with the season only just over, the full list of signed players as of today is as follows:
Charlie AdamsDenis BoyleBryan Caldwell
Steven LeslieDavid LilleyJohn McCaig
Russell McGuffieStevie MallanDavid Mathieson
Adam MoffatGeorge RoweMark Weir
Those given free transfers are Alex Nesovic, Neil Moffat, Craig Potts and John Mason. Gary Russell has also left by mutual consent. Only two players have yet to indicate their preference although both Jim Thompson and Derek Townsley have been offered contracts.

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