THIS MONTHS LATEST NEWS
For previous news see the monthly archive at the foot of this page.
A GRAND NIGHT OUT30th November 1999
Geordie Rowe's testimonial proved to be an "excellent night out with around 200 attending, mainly from the central belt", numerous former players were in attendance including both Tam Bryce and Doogie 'Whoosh' Mills.

Local fans will get the chance to pay tribute to George in the New Year when a dinner will be held in Dumfries, organising the Dumfries event will be former Chairman Norman Blount.

(BLW)
MAN OF THE MATCH29th November 1999
Yet another different winner of the Internet Fan Club Man of the Match Award. This time it's the turn of on loan star Scott McLean to take the honours, just piping last weeks winner Ally McMillan with the consistent Andy Aitken third. Andy makes only a marginal reduction in the gap between himself and MoM League leader John Hillcoat as the keeper only polled one point less than Ackers this weekend.
ROUND UP26th November 1999
Queen will be looking forawrd to recording their first ever victory over Ross County this Saturday, particularly after the way in which the previous meeting at Dingwall was played out, Queens dominating from start to finish but only managing a draw.

Barring any last minute signings, the Doonhamers will take to the field with largely the same formation and personnel that lost to Partick last Saturday, the only possible changes being the addition of the, free from suspension, Stevie Mallan or the possible replacement of John Hillcoat who picked up a slight knock last weekend but who should be fit in time.

This will be the sides first game with new Chairman Ronnie Bradford at the helm and with the focus firmly aimed on the first team there will be a number of players who will have to post an improved performance this weekend.
NAZ NEWS25th November 1999
After an unsuccessful trial at Partick Thistle, ex Doonhamer Alex Nesovic has joined Harrogate Town who are currently in the Unibond League Division 1 which is 3 levels below the Football League. The Club has been taken over by a Scots businessman who is making sweeping changes and the fans are hopeful that they will soon get some success!

The manager, Dave Fell, comes from Bradford and knew Alex from his days at Leeds Juniors.

Thanks to Paul Sumpton of Harrogate's excellent website for the information.
NEW CHAIRMAN24th November 1999
As widely expected Queens Vice Chairman Ronnie Bradford has stepped up to take over the Chairman's role at Palmerston following the recent resignation of Norman Blount. Supporting Mr Bradford as Vice Chairman will be long time Director Tommy Harkness whilst the remaining Director Keith Houliston remains on the board. Further appointments to the board are expected to be announced within the next few weeks.

Speaking shortly after his appointment the new Chairman outlined his two main and immediate objectives for the club:
1 The club must live within its means
2 Relegation must be avoided and as such the first team takes priority, everything else is of secondary importance.
Mr Bradford also indicated that he had long term ideas and plans for the direction that Queen of the South Football Club Ltd will take, however most of these plans will be on hold until this season is completed and the immediate priorities indicated above have been successfully accomplished.
MAN OF THE MATCH22nd November 1999
No one has yet been the recipient of two Man of the Match awards, this week we have a new winner in new signing Ally McMillan. Some four points behind Ally was the consistent John Hillcoat who stretches his overall lead in the performance table with third place being taken by loan star Scott McLean.

Your suggestions would be appreciated as to how we can make the end of season Internet Player of the Year award recognise all aspects of each individuals game. At present the scoring is purely based on total points cast, so for home games more points are being awarded than away games purely because more Queens fans see the games at Palmerston. We also don't add any points for a MoM performance or for that matter take any away for a booking or red card. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve the system to make it fairer then please post them to the message board.
ROUND UP19th November 1999
After a tumultuous week Queens will be happy to return to the field this weekend to see whether the benefits of two friendlies will be evident. A win over Threave last Friday evening, Adams and Strain netting the only goals was followed by a good workout but eventual 1-0 defeat by Carlisle on Tuesday. The defeat by Carlisle proving costly as young Kevin Robison picked up a nasty leg injury in a tackle with United's Peter Clark and will be missing for the next few weeks at least.

Making a surprise appearance for Queens as a trialist last Tuesday was Annan Athletic boss David Irons who was impressive throughout and would certainly add a touch of class in the middle of the park. It is unlikely however that Irons will feature this weekend for Queens as he obviously has duties with Annan. Another player who is likely to play is Allister McMillan who has just returned from a spell in Iceland and who previously played for Clyde. Twenty four year old Allister is a six footer who favours the right back/midfield position and joined Clyde from the Junior ranks in March 1998. The other trialists who started against Carlisle are unlikely to feature again.

Queens face a tough task on Saturday with the visit of on form Partick Thistle who have now gone five games unbeaten, largely due to the inclusion of ex-Ranger Derek Ferguson. Former Queens enigma Alex Nesovic is unlikely to feature, he was not given a match last week and previously had only seen limited action. Their top scorer Robert Dunn is also doubtful after picking up an injury in their 2-0 defeat of Stranraer last weekend.

The Queens line up will feature Denis Boyle, returning from suspension but will miss both Stevie Mallan, red carded last week versus Clyde and Steven Leslie who has amassed too many disciplinary points, Leslie will miss three weeks in total.

Former Chairman Norman Blount will take up a regular spot on the terraces and become an "ordinary" fan again, whilst the meeting to decide the future structure of the Board of Directors will take place at Palmerston on Tuesday next.
TRIALISTS RUN OUT17th November 1999
A Queens team consisting of mainly trialists and fringe first team players played a closed doors friendly yesterday afternoon at Brunton Park against a similar Carlisle United side. The match proved a useful work out and finished in a narrow 1-0 victory for the Cumbrians.
CHAIRMAN RESIGNS12th November 1999
Queens Chairman Norman Blount last night resigned from the post that he has held for over five years. Norman blamed his decision on the failure to achieve one of the three goals that he had set the club when taking up the post. That goal being to see Queens playing at least in the Scottish First Division, as we all know Queens currently prop up the Second Division and are leaking goals at an unprecedented rate.

Recognition of the time that Norman had in charge must be given, Queen of the South have been turned around from a club who were in dire straits to a club who are respected for their youth development, admired greatly for the facilities on offer and who are now on a much sounder financial footing than the majority of teams within the Scottish Football League.

The highlight of the past five years will surely be remembered as the Challenge Cup Final when the club managed to arouse even the most dormant of local supporters and take over 5000 fans up the road to Fir Park to witness Queens come so close to victory against Falkirk before losing out by one goal to nil.

However looking at the teamsheet that day goes some way to explaining why Queens are in such a footballing predicament, Thomson, Townsley, McKeown, Bryce and McAllister all quality players who were allowed to leave Palmerston. Add to that the likes of Lilley and Doig and you can see that the road out of Dumfries has seen much more quality leave than arrive.

Norman's two other aims have been more than met, firstly he highlighted the need for a successful youth policy and this has indeed borne fruit Doig, McAllister, Lilley are witness to this, more will come through, perhaps the most difficult job of the next Chairman will be to keep these young stars long enough for them to repay Queens investment in them on the field as well as in the Bank.

Palmerston Park is now seen throughout Scotland as a fine example of a traditional home transformed into a modern stadium but retaining the football clubs heart and soul, no modern concrete carbuncle built on the edge of town. When fans come down to Dumfries they are often more than envious of the surroundings, as evidenced by the messages received on the Message board, (Hamilton) and from comments on opponents web sites, (Hearts).

So after five years Norman Blount has put an enormous effort into the rejuvenation of Queen of the South and has largely been more than successful, unfortunately the eleven men on the park have not been able to come near in terms of effort or ability.
MATCH OFF11th November 1999
Queens friendly versus Motherwell scheduled for Friday evening has been postponed. However a Queens side will visit Castle Douglas to give Threave a run out prior to their first round Scottish Cup game against our fellow second division colleagues Stenhousemuir.

There is also potentially another interesting friendly being lined up for next Tuesday but details have yet to be finalised.

For the records the trialist listed in the team sheet for Tuesdays match versus Clyde at Broadwood was Ian Gallagher who is presently with Ayrshire Junior team Killwinning Rangers but who was once at Kilmarnock.
MAN OF THE MATCH11th November 1999
Youngster Kevin Robison is the Internet Fan Club Man of the Match for his perfomance versus Clyde at Broadwood on Tuesday evening.
BULLY WEE AT BROADWOOD8th November 1999
It's a 7.30pm kick off tomorrow evening when the Doonhamers squad travels up to Cumbernauld, adopted home of Clyde. Queens will be missing Steven Leslie who commences a three match ban, but coach George Rowe will be hoping that the return of the Donegal Diamond, Denis Boyle will add the necessary sparkle in the middle of the park.

Clyde sit on nineteen points and as always will be a tough nut to crack at Broadwood where they have only been beaten once this season and conceeded only three goals so far. Current form would indicate a tough match for Queens, and the record books would back that up with Queens having won twenty eight, drawn nineteen and lost forty one of the previous league and cup encounters.
MAN OF THE MATCH8th November 1999
Unsurprisingly Andy Aitken came out tops in this weekends Man of the Match poll, encouragingly two players tied for second spot, youngsters Kevin Robison and Bryan Caldwell sharing the points.
DEGGSIE MAKES A COMEBACK5th November 1999
Derek Townsley will return to Palmerston a week today. As part of the Paul Harvey transfer deal the former Carlisle Postie and Queens playmaker will feature as part of a full strength Motherwell side who will play Queens at Palmerston on Friday evening. Kick off is at 7.30pm with admission set at £4.00.
DERBY DAY5th November 1999
Home fans will be looking for some fireworks at Palmerston this Saturday as Stranraer venture East for their first visit of the season.

The Stair Park men, however, will be looking to make an instant recovery after losing their first home game of the season last weekend to Hamilton. Boss Billy McLaren is delighted that the first match after that defeat will be at Palmerston, with little in the way of player motivation being required.

Queens will have youngster Bryan Caldwell back after missing last weekend game at Larbert with a bout of flu whilst Captain Steven Leslie is again only 50/50, not having recovered fully from his groin strain, he will however face a three match "rest" immediately following the Stranraer game as his disciplinary record catches up with him. The good news however is that Denis Boyle is back after tomorrow and will be available for Tuesdays clash with Clyde at Broadwood.
ANOTHER FIRST FOR QUEENS5th November 1999
A unique sponsorship deal with THUS, (formerly known as Scottish Telecom), has been successfully negotiated by the club.

The deal, for an undisclosed but substantial sum was concluded locally with THUS Development and Product Manager, Allison Colville and also, timeously, to enable the Company's advertising logos to be in place on the new extending tunnel on the Main Stand prior to the filming of "The Cup".

The bright logos in2football have created tremendous interest and are the brand name for THUS and this latest promotion will be released early in the year 2000.

Queen of the South are the first football club in the UK to secure this sponsorship and their ability to conclude the deal so quickly will ensure that THUS will benefit from world wide publicity when "The Cup" film is released as the Tunnel with its logos attached will feature prominently in the film particularly when Jacky McQuillan (Ally McCoist) was ordered off.

THUS are excited about this unique form of sponsorship and their Business Development Manager Alan Denyer said:

"THUS interactive services are currently talking to a large publishing organisation (under non-disclosure, so unfortunately we're not at liberty to say too much) about a jointly developed football portal site that will include news and views, commentary's, stats, features etc supplied by Clubcall - a THUS brand that's well known to the football community.

in2football is the brand name that we will be using to promote an interactive element of the offering - a virtual reality animated chat zone tailored to football fans and we anticipate that the in2football service will be launched early in the new year.

THUS are really pleased to be involved in this sponsorship with Queen of the South and we are looking forward - as I'm sure many people are - to the release of "The Cup".
TELL US A STORY4th November 1999
Budding journalists are urgently required to assists the sterling efforts of Bruce Wright in producing what is widely regarded as the best read in the Scottish Second Division Programme stakes. Bruce is requesting articles from any Queens fans on either a regular or one off basis that would be suitable for publication in the Queens match day programme.

You can contact Bruce on 01387 252400 or fax on 01387 261112.
YOUTHS GO DOWN4th November 1999
The Under 18's were defeated by the narrow margin of one goal to nil by Hibs in the Scottish Youth Cup on Wednesday evening. Hibs youths scoring midway through the first half. For a mini report on the match see the Messages section of the site, thanks to Alex Bomphray.
SCOTTISH CUP DRAW1st November 1999
Queens today received a bye in the draw for the first round of the Scottish Cup. Our second round opponents will be Montrose who we will face at Links Park on 8 January.

Threave Rovers will have the task of entertaining Stenhousemuir at home in the first round but both Annan Athletic and Dalbeattie Star, like Queens received byes. Annan will make a similar journey to Queens with a long trip to Brechin City whilst Dalbeattie Star have a shorter trip to Albion Rovers to look forward to. If Threave manage to overcome the Warriors then they too will journey away on January 8 as they have a trip to Boghead to meet Dumbarton.
MAN OF THE MATCH1st November 1999
New signing John Dickson has certainly made an instant impact by being voted the Internet Fan's Man of the Match against Stenhousemuir at the weekend. John squeezed home by three points from John Hillcoat who was second by just one point from Andy Aitken.
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