Final preparations are taking place for Saturday's Centenary/ Hall of Fame dinner.  The event is a sell out but we would like to let all those who have tickets know that the doors will open at 6.30pm.  The Park House bar will be open on arrival and we will be asking everyone to be in their seats by 7pm.

Dress code for the evening is lounge suit.

Should be a good night.

After officially joining the club as Assistant Manager this morning, Laurie Ellis joined Manager, Gary Naysmith on the training pitch for his first session with the players.

We are delighted to announce that Laurie Ellis has agreed to join the club as assistant manager. 

Laurie has a vast amount of experience working as an assistant manager in the championship after working under Grant Murray and Ray McKinnon at Raith Rovers and again under Ray, Csaba Laszlo and briefly Robbie Neilson at Dundee United. He has also filled in as a caretaker manager at Dundee United.

Before taking up coaching, the 39 year old began his senior playing career at Starks Park where the defender had three spells as a player as well as spells at St Mirren, Cowdenbeath and Stirling Albion. 

Manager Gary Naysmith said “Once it became clear that Dougie would be moving on, Laurie was the only person I targeted to replace him and I am delighted that I have been able to bring him to the club. 

Laurie is not someone that I have worked with before, but he is someone that has always impressed me whenever I have been in his company. He is enthusiastic, energetic and a very knowledgeable football person who loves to be on the training ground coaching the players. He is someone that I believe the players will enjoy working under and I am sure that both the players and I will benefit from Laurie’s arrival at the club. 

I am sure his experience will help us immensely in the remaining eight games”.  

Laurie will join Gary in the dug-out for our closed door friendly against Hearts on Saturday.

We would all like to join Gary in welcoming Laurie to Palmerston.

On this day 100 years ago, Dumfries football enthusiasts met  to discuss the proposed merger of three local football clubs, Dumfries F.C., the 5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers football team and Arrol-Johnston Car Company.  This was to be the birth of Queen of the South Football club.

The first formal meeting of the newly formed club took place on 26 March at 38 Whitesands in Dumfries at the premises of the New Bazaar public house. 

We are offering hospitality ahead of our rearranged game against Falkirk on Tuesday evening (2nd April).

It will be a one course curry dish for £32.50 per person.  

The price also includes your match entry with premier seating in the hospitality box, a programme and team-sheet.  As well as a half time food boost and access to a private pay bar in the Tartan Lounge.

The offer is open to both sets of supporters.  Food will be served at 6pm so 5.45pm arrival.

To book in or find out more, contact the office on 01387 254853 or email [email protected]

Our trip to Ayr United, postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Somerset Park on Saturday, has now been rearranged for Tuesday April 9th with a 7:45pm kick off.

Queen of the South U13 Girls travelled to Airdrie for a Scottish Youth Cup fixture against Gartcairn Whites.  

With a strong wind behind them, Gartcairn started brightly, putting together some impressive attacking moves.  Queens tried to get a foothold in the game, but were restricted by an effective defence to long range efforts.  Kiera in goals for Queens entertained and enthralled both sets of supporters with some acrobatic saves and her customary crowd pleasing antics. The game settled down into an entertaining bonanza of attacking football, lacking only goals due to the excellence of both defences and goalkeepers.  At full time, the game remained goal-less.  The teams still couldn't be separate after extra time so it was down to penalties, a new experience for the Queens girls.  

With no shortage of volunteers the final penalty taker was decided by a quick game of Rock Paper Scissors!  After a rollercoaster of emotions, Gartcairn won the shoot out, two - one.  It was a very tough way to go out of the cup, but once again the girls impressed everybody with their fantastic attitude, hard work and team spirit.

Meanwhile, Queens U15 Blues headed along the A75 to the Cleyhole on Sunday to take on Millennium in a lunch-time kick off in the league. The game had been in doubt due to heavy rainfall but the pitch passed an early morning inspection. 

Queens were slow to start and Millennium looked dangerous on the break in the opening stages.  However Queens started to take control and opened the scoring on ten minutes when Holly Ovens picked up the ball wide on the left, beat a defender and shot high into the far corner.  The opening goal settled Queens, who started to create chances, with Holly going close on another two occasions.  Queens doubled their lead in the 27th minute when a clearance by the Millennium defence fell to Cairn Houliston just inside the box, and her first time strike flew high into the net.  Four minutes later a neat Maisie Copland close range strike made it three - nil to Queens.

The second half saw Queens start well, but they were unable to add to the three first half goals, and Millennium started to come more into the game.  A mix up in the Queens defence allowed Millennium to pull a goal back.  However in the last minute of the game Rebecca McLellan raced through to beat the keeper with a one on one and seal the win for Queens.

The four - one victory, keeps Queens 100% league record intact.

This weekend, Queens U15 Blues welcome Kilwinning to Dumfries for match day four on Saturday.  Venue and kick off time to be confirmed.

Reports from Alastair Barron.
 

Following an internal investigation into events surrounding the incident involving Alan Martin during our game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.  We can confirm that a one match suspension and a fine was imposed by the Club. 

Now things have concluded, Alan has issued the following statement.

"I would like to publicly apologies to everyone concerned, the supporters, the Directors, the Manager and my team-mates.  I know what I did was unacceptable and it shouldn't have happened.  I fully accept the punishment the club have imposed.

To clarify, I had been receiving personal abuse during the pre-match warm up, during the game and at half-time, and frustration got the better of me. But there is no excuse for what I did and I shouldn't have reacted. 

I would have apologised before now, but felt that it wasn't appropriate ahead of such a big game.  Our full focus had to be on the match and I wanted to give Jack my full support and make sure that we were fully prepared for Ayr". 

The Club are now satisfied that this matter has been dealt with and would like to draw a line under it.  We need to stick together and back the team for the remainder of the season.