Queen's Park F.C. facts for kids
![]() |
||||
Full name | Queen's Park Football Club | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Spiders | |||
Founded | 9 July 1867 | |||
Ground | Hampden Park, Glasgow | |||
Capacity | 51,866 | |||
President | Graeme Shields | |||
Head coach | Callum Davidson | |||
League | Scottish League One | |||
2015–16 | Scottish League Two, 4th (promoted via play-offs) | |||
|
Queen's Park Football Club is a Scottish professional football club. It is based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club plays in the Scottish Championship, which is the second highest league in Scottish football.
Queen's Park is the oldest association football club in Scotland. It was founded in 1867. This makes it the 10th oldest football club in the world.
For 152 years, the club was completely amateur. This means players were not paid. Their motto was 'Ludere Causa Ludendi' – 'To Play for the Sake of Playing'. In November 2019, members voted to become a professional club.
Queen's Park is the only Scottish club to play in the English FA Cup Final. They reached the final twice, in 1884 and 1885. With 10 titles, Queen's Park has won the Scottish Cup the third most times of any club. Only Celtic and Rangers have won it more. Their last Scottish Cup win was in 1893.
For over 100 years, the club's home has been Hampden Park in Glasgow. This stadium is also the home of the Scotland national team. The club sometimes plays games at Lesser Hampden. This is their previous training ground next to the main stadium. There are plans to make Lesser Hampden a 1,774-seat stadium.
Contents
- Club History
- Rivals and Friends
- Kit History
- Stadium
- Current Team
- Coaching Staff
- Managerial History
- Club Records
- Honours and Trophies
- See Also
Club History
How it Started (1867–1868)
Queen's Park Football Club was founded on 9 July 1867. A group of gentlemen met to form a football club. They met at No. 3 Eglinton Terrace.
These gentlemen were from the local YMCA. They played football matches in Glasgow. This gave the club its name. They debated many names, but 'Queen's Park' was chosen by just one vote. Queen's Park was not the first club in Britain. But it was the first Association club in Scotland. Their first game was against Thistle F.C. on 1 August 1868. Queen's Park won 2–0.
Early Success (1868–1900)
Queen's Park was very important in the early days of Scottish football. They helped create the early playing rules. They also managed the Scotland national team. They even started the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Cup. This showed they were the 'Premier' club in Scotland.
On 30 November 1872, Scotland played England. All eleven Scottish players were from Queen's Park. They wore blue jerseys, which were Queen's Park's colours then. About 4,000 fans watched the game.
Queen's Park helped form the Scottish Football Association on 13 March 1873. Eight other clubs joined them. The first game at the first Hampden Park was on 25 October. Queen's Park played Dumbreck. This was also the first time Queen's Park players wore their black and white hooped jerseys. This gave them the nickname 'The Spiders'. David Wotherspoon helped introduce these colours. Queen's Park won this first Scottish Cup match 7–0. They later won the final, beating Clydesdale 2–0.
They won the Scottish Cup again in the next two years. They beat Renton and Third Lanark. In 1875, Queen's Park let in their first goals in a 2–2 draw. Their first loss was 2–1 to Vale of Leven in December 1876. Queen's won the cup again in 1880, beating Thornliebank. They also beat Dumbarton in the final two years in a row. In 1884, Queen's won the cup without playing the final. Vale of Leven refused to play on the set date.
Scottish clubs were often invited to play in England's FA Cup. Queen's Park reached the final twice. They lost 2–1 to Blackburn Rovers in 1884. They lost again to Blackburn Rovers, 2–0, in 1885. They stopped entering the FA Cup after 1887.
After this, other teams became stronger. Queen's Park's dominance in the cup lessened. They won the trophy again in 1890. Their 10th and final Scottish Cup win was in 1893. They beat Celtic 2–1 at Ibrox. In the same year, professional football was allowed by the SFA. Queen's Park refused to join the Scottish Football League when it formed in 1890. They wanted to stay amateur. They finally joined the Scottish League in 1900. They went straight into the top division for the 1900–01 season.
Many Queen's Park players were famous. Charles Campbell won eight Scottish Cup medals. He also played for Scotland 13 times. Wattie Arnott was a key player in the 1880s. Robert Smyth McColl scored many goals for Queen's. He later played for Newcastle United and Rangers. He even returned to Queen's Park and scored six goals in his last match. Andrew Watson was the first black football player in Britain. He played for Scotland three times.
How Queen's Park Changed Football

Queen's Park is known for creating a new way of playing football. It was called 'combination' football. This meant players passed the ball to each other as a team. Before this, players mostly dribbled the ball on their own. This new style of passing changed the game. It became very popular.
The club practiced often in the 1860s and 1870s. They tried out different playing styles. They learned that passing the ball as a team worked better. This was different from the English style, which focused on dribbling. Scotland's passing game led to professional football in England. Many Scottish players, called Scotch Professors, moved to England to play.
The first official international match was on 30 November 1872. Scotland played England. The English players were good at dribbling. But the Scottish team, made of Queen's Park players, was better at passing. This showed how effective their new style was.
A newspaper report from 1875 described Queen's Park's style. It said they passed the ball well. Their opponents, Wanderers, mostly kicked the ball hard. This showed how Queen's Park's team play was different.
Queen's Park and the FA Cup
In 1870, Queen's Park joined The Football Association (FA). This was the only football governing body then. They were interested in the new Challenge Cup. Queen's Park reached the semi-finals in 1872. But they had to pull out because they didn't have enough money. They had drawn their first match 0–0.
They didn't play much in the FA Cup until 1884. Then they reached the final, but lost 2–1 to Blackburn Rovers. They lost to Blackburn again the next year. This was the closest Queen's Park came to winning the English trophy. In 1887, Scottish clubs were banned from entering by the Scottish Football Association.
Queen's Park also helped change the rules of football. In 1875, they suggested using a solid crossbar. This was accepted and became part of the game.
In 1899, Queen's Park was invited to play in the Sheriff of London Charity Shield. This game was between the best amateur and professional teams. Queen's Park had beaten Corinthian, the usual amateur team, 4–1. So, they were chosen. The match against Aston Villa ended in a 0–0 draw. Both teams shared the trophy.
Queen's Park in the Scottish League (1900–1958)
As the 20th century began, Queen's Park mostly played in cup games. They also played in the Glasgow League. They reached the 1900 Scottish Cup Final and lost 4–3 to Celtic. After resisting for ten years, they finally joined the Scottish League. They entered Division One in 1900–01.
Queen's Park found it hard to play against professional teams in the top league. A highlight was a 1–0 win over Celtic in 1903. This was at the opening of the new Hampden Park. The club often finished low in the league. They were even in the relegation zone five times. But they were saved by a vote until 1922. After some good seasons, they were finally relegated.
Queen's Park quickly bounced back. They won Division Two right away. In that season, they won 24 games and lost only five. They even beat Celtic 4–3 in the Glasgow Cup. James McAlpine scored three goals in that game. McAlpine's great play helped Queen's finish 5th in Division One in 1929. This was their best ever league position. He set a goal-scoring record for the club. In 1928, the team almost reached the Scottish Cup final. But they lost 2–1 to Celtic in the semi-finals.
World War II helped Queen's Park stay in the top league. They were relegated at the end of the 1938–39 season. But the war meant they played in the Southern League for six seasons. This gave young players a chance to play. Many older players left to serve their country. Bobby Brown started at Queen's in 1939. He left in 1941 to become a pilot. When he returned, Ronnie Simpson was the goalkeeper. Simpson had started playing at just 14 years old. This period allowed many Queen's Park footballers to play at a high level.
After the war, Queen's joined the Scottish 'A' Division. They stayed there for three seasons. Then they were relegated in 1948. The next few years were up and down. But a great team slowly came together. They finished fourth in 1954–55. Then they won the league in 1955–56. Players like Charlie Church and Bert Cromar were key to this success. Cromar played in every league game. Goalkeeper Frank Crampsey kept 17 clean sheets. Queen's only stayed in the top division for two seasons. They were relegated in 1958. They had only won four league games that season.
League Changes (1958–1994)
In the mid-1960s, a new team showed promise. Bobby Clark was the goalkeeper in 1964–65. Queen's finished fourth that season. They also finished fourth in 1968. They won 20 games, including eight in a row. They scored 76 goals. This team had players like Malky Mackay Sr., Peter Buchanan, and Eddie Hunter. But they didn't win any trophies. The team broke up, and the club struggled until the mid-1970s.
The 1975–76 season saw changes to the Scottish Leagues. Queen's entered the Second Division (third tier). For the first time, Queen's appointed a head coach, Davie McParland. He led them to 4th place. He then left to join Partick Thistle. Joe Gilroy took over. Queen's finished 5th, 7th, and 13th under him.
Former player Eddie Hunter became manager. Within two seasons, Queen's were promoted as champions in 1980–81. The team had great players. Derek Atkins was always in goal. John McGregor was a high-scoring defender. Jimmy Nicholson and Gerry McCoy scored 28 goals together. Many players were young. Bobby Dickson was one of the few experienced players. After finishing 8th the next season, Queen's were relegated in 1983. This was because some of their best players left. John McGregor and Alan Irvine went to Liverpool and Everton.
It took a while to recover. But a good team formed later. It included Stevie Ross, Kenny Brannigan, Ian McCall, and Ross Caven. They finished 4th in 1985–86. They won more games than the 1981 Championship team. Queen's lost 2–1 to Celtic in the Scottish Cup in February 1986.
1987–88 was even better. They won 21 games but still finished 3rd. In 1990–91, Queen's missed a chance for promotion. They finished 5th, just four points behind 2nd place.
Recent History (1994–2019)
Eddie Hunter was fired as manager in December 1994. Queen's were not doing as well as before. Hugh McCann took over. After finishing 8th in the new Third Division, he left. Graeme Elder became player/coach. But the team still struggled, and he resigned. A good memory from this time was a 5–1 win over Albion Rovers in 1997. Also, a 5–5 draw at East Fife. Brian McPhee scored four goals for Queen's in that game.
Becoming More Professional
The club's rules changed before the next manager was hired. Queen's could now sign former professional players. But they could not pay them. John McCormack became the new head coach in July 1998. Like Eddie Hunter, McCormack won the league in just two seasons. He used the new rules well. He even got the club to allow loaning professional players.
The former pros and amateur players worked together. Queen's had a great start to the season. They didn't lose until November. A 4–0 loss to Forfar Athletic was forgotten. Queen's won their last five matches. They won the Championship at Cowdenbeath on the final day of 1999–2000. Players like Neil Inglis, Paul Martin, Graham Connell, and Johnny Whelan helped. Paul Walker was loaned from Stranraer. He scored two winning goals. Ross Caven won a Championship medal after almost 20 years. Danny Ferry also had success after tough times in the 90s.
Ups and Downs
After winning promotion, the Spiders only stayed in the Second Division for one season. They started well. But after New Year, wins became hard to get. Queen's were relegated on the last day due to goal difference. The next season, they had a new, young team. Queen's didn't win a match until November. They improved later but still finished last in the Third Division. This was the first time they were at the very bottom of Scottish football.
The next season started slowly. But the team reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. They lost 4–3 to Brechin City. McCormack became part-time. He left in November 2002 to join Morton full-time.
Former player Kenny Brannigan became manager in January 2003. His time was not very successful. But they had some good wins. One was a 2–1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the League Cup. In 2004–05, Brannigan left after an incident during a match.
Billy Stark took over in August 2004. Queen's finished 4th that season. They missed the play-offs the next season. But in 2006–07, the Spiders were promoted. The team was mostly young players. In August 2006, Queen's beat SPL team Aberdeen in a League Cup penalty shootout. This was one of their greatest wins.
League form got much better after New Year. They lost only one home match in the second half of the season. Queen's won eight games in a row. Goalkeeper David Crawford set a new club record. He kept seven clean sheets in a row. Queen's finished 3rd in the league. They got promoted through the play-offs. They beat Arbroath 4–1 and East Fife 7–2. Richard Sinclair and Frankie Carroll were the first players to win promotion more than once. Queen's Park's attacking style was praised.
Queen's won 11 games in a row (8 league wins) across two seasons. Billy Stark left in 2007 to manage the Scotland under-21s.
Gardner Speirs and Young Players
Gardner Speirs replaced Stark in February 2008. He helped the team avoid relegation. Queen's lost many talented players in 2008. These players went to clubs that paid them. Queen's still played well. They lost 2–1 to Celtic in the Scottish Cup in February 2009.
Queen's Park was relegated to the Third Division in 2009. In January 2010, David Murray scored the Spiders' 3000th home goal.
Queen's Park reached the play-offs in their next two Third Division seasons. But they lost in the semi-finals both times. In 2012–13, Queen's had their best season in years. They finished third and played exciting football. But they didn't get promoted in the play-offs. They lost to Peterhead. The team, with players like Andrew Robertson, Lawrence Shankland, and Paul McGinn, then broke up.
In 2014–15, Queen's Park finished 2nd. They qualified for the Scottish League One play-offs. They drew 2–2 with Arbroath in the first game. They won the second game with a goal in the 118th minute. But they lost the final to Stenhousemuir. This meant Queen's Park would stay in League Two.
150th Anniversary
After finishing fourth in 2015–16, they were promoted. They beat Clyde in the play-off final. Queen's Park celebrated their 150th birthday on 9 July 2017. Events were held to mark the special day. They were relegated to Scottish League Two in 2017–18. They lost 3–2 to Stenhousemuir in the play-offs.
In the 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup, the Spiders beat The New Saints 4–2 on penalties. The New Saints are a team from the Welsh Premier League.
Queen's Park Becomes Professional (2019–Present)
Promotions and Return to the Second Tier
In 2019, a big change was suggested for the club. Members were asked if they wanted to stop being amateur. They wanted to be able to hire professional players. This was partly because they lost good players without getting money. On 14 November 2019, 91% of members voted to become professional. This allowed the club to sign players to longer contracts. They could also get transfer fees for players.
Ray McKinnon became the new head coach in January 2020. He was the first manager since the 1980s to win his first two matches. The League Two season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In summer 2020, Queen's Park signed many professional players. These included Simon Murray. The team then won the 2020–21 Scottish League Two title. They were promoted to League One.
On 12 January 2021, Leeann Dempster became the club's new chief executive. She announced she would leave in January 2024.
Ray McKinnon left his role at the end of the 2020–21 season. Laurie Ellis replaced him. But Ellis left in December 2021 after the team's performance dropped.
Owen Coyle became the new manager in March 2022. Queen's Park was promoted to the 2022–23 Scottish Championship. They beat Dunfermline Athletic 1–0 in the play-off semi-final. Then they beat Airdrieonians 3–2 in the final. This meant they had two promotions in a row. They went from the fourth to the second tier of Scottish football.
In their first season back in the second tier, Queen's almost got promoted to the Scottish Premiership. But they lost to Partick Thistle in the play-offs. Owen Coyle left soon after.
In June 2023, Robin Veldman became the new head coach. He had coached for Ajax and Anderlecht. After a good start, the team's form dropped. Veldman left on 9 December 2023.
Former St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson became the new head coach in January 2024. He signed players like Danny Wilson, Cammy Kerr, and Zak Rudden.
On 3 May 2024, Queen's Park finished 8th in the 2023–24 Scottish Championship. They avoided a relegation play-off. They won 2–0 against Airdrieonians.
On 27 July 2024, Queen's Park got out of the Scottish League Cup group stage for the first time. They beat Kelty Hearts 6–0. On 17 August 2024, Queen's lost 1–0 to Aberdeen in the cup's second round.
Rivals and Friends
Queen's Park is located between Celtic and Rangers. But because they were amateur for so long, they didn't play in the same league as these big teams often. So, their rivals were teams in lower divisions. These included Partick Thistle, Clyde, Albion Rovers, and Third Lanark. Third Lanark was their closest neighbour until they closed in 1967.
Since the mid-2000s, Queen's Park fans have been friends with German club SG Wattenscheid 09. Both clubs have similar black and white home jerseys.
Supporters
Queen's Park has had a supporters' association since 1947. They have members around the world. The Queen's Park Supporters' Association (QPSA) helps fans travel to away games. They also raise money and sell club items. They publish monthly newsletters.
Queen's Park's most vocal fans are called the 'Irn Bru Firm'. This is because of the club's past connection to the soft drink. The 'Irn Bru Firm' stands and sings at Hampden Park. At away games, they chant, clap, and hang flags.
Kit History
Year | Manufacturer | Sponsor |
---|---|---|
1867–1977 | Own Brand | N/A |
1977–1989 | Bukta | Granyte Paints (1988–89) |
1989–1994 | Umbro | N/A |
1994–2001 | Le Coq Sportif | Irn-Bru (1996–2022) |
2001–2003 | Fila | |
2003–2006 | Diadora | |
2006–2013 | Joma | |
2013–2020 | Under Armour | |
2020–2022 | Admiral Sportswear | |
2022–2023 | Macron (sportswear) | Scotts |
2023– | Adidas | City Facilities Management |
Stadium
When Queen's Park started in 1867, they played at the Queen's Park Recreation Ground. This is where they got their name. In 1873, they moved to their first enclosed ground. They named it Hampden Park. This ground became a popular place for international matches and cup finals. But in 1883, they had to leave for a railway to be built. After playing at another ground for a year, a second Hampden opened in October 1884.
Other Glasgow stadiums like Celtic Park and Ibrox were improving. To stay important, Queen's Park bought farmland. The third Hampden opened there in 1903. The second Hampden was taken over by Third Lanark.
Hampden Park celebrated its 100th birthday on 31 October 2003. The stadium also has the offices of the Scottish Football Association (SFA). It also has the Scottish Football Museum. Queen's Park owned Hampden Park until 2020. It is Scotland's national football stadium. It hosts major cup finals and most Scotland international games.
Hampden Park was the largest stadium in the world until 1950. Its capacity is 51,866. But Queen's Park's average attendance is around 1,800.
Hampden hosted games for the 2012 Olympic Games. It was also used for athletics in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This meant Queen's Park had to play their home games at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie for a year. The stadium has also hosted other sports and music concerts.
Lesser Hampden is a smaller ground next to the main stadium. Queen's Park used it for training and youth matches. In 2018, the SFA agreed to buy Hampden from Queen's Park for £5 million. Queen's Park planned to improve Lesser Hampden and play there. In November 2019, they announced plans to make Lesser Hampden a 1,774-seat stadium.
By August 2020, the SFA owned the main stadium. A new facility was being built at Lesser Hampden. Queen's Park played their last match at Hampden on 20 March 2021. They shared stadiums at Falkirk Stadium, Firhill, and Ochilview for a few seasons.
On 8 June 2023, Queen's announced a deal with the Scottish Football Association. They would use Hampden Park for home matches again. This deal was extended for the 2024–25 season.
Average Home Attendances
Year | Average Attendance | Stadium |
---|---|---|
2010/11 | 566 | Hampden Park |
2011/12 | 519 | |
2012/13 | 2,803 | |
2013/14 | 402 | Excelsior Stadium |
2014/15 | 509 | Hampden Park |
2015/16 | 518 | |
2016/17 | 566 | |
2017/18 | 688 | |
2018/19 | 573 | |
2019/20 | 583 | |
2020/21 | 0 | Falkirk Stadium |
2021/22 | 593 | Firhill Stadium |
2022/23 | 911 | Ochilview Park |
2023/24 | 1,798 | Hampden Park |
Current Team
First Team
|
|
On Loan
|
|
Coaching Staff
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | Callum Davidson |
Assistant head coach | Barry Nicholson |
First team coach | Steven MacLean |
Goalkeeping coach | Michael McGovern |
Head physiotherapist | Euan Duffy |
Sports scientist | Alex Headrick |
Club doctors | Simon Gibson Kevin Thomson |
Head of youth programme | Lee Mitchell |
Academy director | Tommy McIntyre |
B team head coach | Sean Crighton |
U18s head coach | Charley King |
Head of children's programme | Ian McCall |
Director of football | Darren O'Donnell |
Head of recruitment | David Stevenson |
Managerial History
Year | Name |
---|---|
1908–1928 | John Nutt |
1928–1946 | Bert Manderson |
1946–1963 | Willie Gibson |
1963–1965 | Eddie Turnbull |
1965–1969 | Harold Davis |
1969–1974 | Tommy Duncan |
1974–1976 | Davie McParland |
1976–1979 | Joe Gilroy |
1979–1994 | Eddie Hunter |
1994–1997 | Hugh McCann |
1997–1998 | Graeme Elder |
1998–2002 | John McCormack |
2002–2004 | Kenny Brannigan |
2004–2008 | Billy Stark |
2008–2013 | Gardner Spiers |
2014–2018 | Gus MacPherson |
2019–2021 | Ray McKinnon |
2021–2022 | Laurie Ellis |
2022 | Gardner Spiers |
2022–2023 | Owen Coyle |
2023 | Robin Veldman |
2024– | Callum Davidson |
Club Records
- Most capped player:
- All at club: Walter Arnott (14 caps)
- Including some at club: Alan Morton (31 total / 2 at club)
- Played for club, international elsewhere: Andrew Robertson (72 caps - ongoing as of 18 June 2024)
- Most league points in a season:
- 2 points for a win: 57 (Division Two – 1922–23)
- 3 points for a win: 69 (Third Division – 1999–2000)
- Most league points per game in a season:
- 2 points for a win: 1.5 (Division Two – 1922–23)
- 3 points for a win: 2.45 (League Two – 2020–21)
- Record appearances: Ross Caven (594 Appearances)
- Record goal scorer: James McAlpine (163 goals)
- Most league goals in a season: Willie Martin (30 goals – 1937–38)
- Record victory: 16–0 vs St Peters (Scottish Cup, 26 August 1885)
- Record defeat: 0–9 vs Motherwell (Division One, 29 April 1930)
- Record attendance: 95,722 vs Rangers (Scottish Cup, 18 January 1930)
- Longest spell as club manager: Eddie Hunter (15 years)
- Fastest hat-trick: David Galt (5 minutes vs Elgin City, 16 March 2019)
Honours and Trophies
Major Trophies
League Titles
- Scottish second tier
- Winners (2): 1922–23, 1955–56
- Scottish third tier
- Winners: 1980–81
- Play-off winners: 2021–22
- Winners: 1980–81
- Scottish fourth tier
- Winners (2): 1999–00, 2020–21
- Play-off winners: 2006–07, 2015–16
- Winners (2): 1999–00, 2020–21
Cup Wins
- Scottish Cup
- Winners (10): 1874, 1875, 1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1886, 1890, 1893
- Runners-up: 1892, 1900
- Winners (10): 1874, 1875, 1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1886, 1890, 1893
- Sheriff of London Charity Shield
- Winners: 1899 (shared)
- FA Cup
- Runners-up: 1884, 1885
Other Honours
- Football World Championship:
- Winners (4): 1876, 1881, 1882, 1893
- Glasgow Cup
- Winners (4): 1889, 1890, 1899, 1946
- Runners-up (8): 1896, 1898, 1929, 1932, 1940, 1965, 1985, 2022
- Winners (4): 1889, 1890, 1899, 1946
- Glasgow League
- Winners (1): 1896–97
- Runners-up 1897–98
- Winners (1): 1896–97
- Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup
- Winners (8): 1877, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1891
- Runners-up (20): 1889, 1890, 1894, 1896, 1906, 1908, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1953, 1955, 1957
- Winners (8): 1877, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1891
- Ayr Charity Cup
- Winners (5): 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
- Scottish Amateur Cup
- Winners (12): 1912, 1920, 1928, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1963, 1964, 2009
- SPFL Reserve League
- Winners: 2013–14
- SPFL Reserve League Cup
- Winners: 2013–14
See Also
In Spanish: Queen's Park Football Club para niños
- Club of Pioneers
- List of Queen's Park F.C. players (100+ appearances)
- List of Queen's Park F.C. international players