Queen of the South F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Queen of the South Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Doonhamers, Queens, QOS | ||
| Founded | March 1919 | ||
| Ground | Palmerston Park, Dumfries | ||
| Capacity | 8,690 | ||
| Chairman | Billy Hewitson | ||
| Manager | Peter Murphy | ||
| League | Scottish Championship | ||
| 2015–16 | Scottish Championship, 7th | ||
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Queen of the South Football Club is a professional football team from Dumfries, Scotland. The club was started in 1919. They are often called Queens or QOS by fans. Another nickname is the Doonhamers. Their home games are played at Palmerston Park.
Queens plays in the third level of Scottish football. They have won several championships over the years. This includes the Division B Championship in 1950–51. They also won the Second Division Championship in 2001–02 and 2012–13. The team won the Scottish Challenge Cup twice, in 2002–03 and 2012–13.
In the 1953–54 season, Queens even led Scotland's top division for a while. Their best finish in the top league was fourth place in 1933–34. In 2008, they reached their first major cup final. They were runners-up in the Scottish Cup to Rangers. The club's current manager is Peter Murphy.
Contents
Club History and Home Ground
How Queen of the South Started
Queen of the South Football Club was formed in March 1919. The club quickly became an important part of the local community. They joined the Scottish Football League soon after.
Palmerston Park: The Home Stadium
Palmerston Park is the home stadium for Queen of the South. It is located in Dumfries on Terregles Street. The club has played all its home matches here since 1919. Another local team, Heston Rovers, has also shared the stadium since 2013. The stadium can hold many fans. It has a total capacity of 8,690, with 3,377 seats.
Fans and Club Spirit
A Family-Friendly Football Club
Queen of the South is known for being a welcoming club. Robbie Neilson, a former manager of Hearts, once played for Queens. He said it was "a well-run club and a real family club with a good spirit." This shows how friendly the club environment is.
Supporter Behaviour and Famous Fans
Queens fans are known for their great behaviour. In 2008, when the team played in Denmark, Danish police praised them. About 850 fans travelled to watch the game against FC Nordsjælland. The police said their behaviour was "impressive" and "a great credit" to their club and Scotland. There were no arrests or problems.
Some famous people also support Queen of the South. Calvin Harris, a well-known DJ and music producer, grew up in Dumfries. He is a fan of the team. Another supporter is Bill Drummond, a musician and producer. He supports Queens because his hometown is nearby.
Meet Dougie Doonhamer: The Club Mascot
The club's mascot is named 'Dougie Doonhamer'. He is a human-sized border collie dog. A local supermarket worker, Brian Harkness, has played Dougie for many years. Dougie Doonhamer is quite a champion himself! He won the Ladbrokes SPFL mascot race at Hamilton Park in 2017 and 2018.
Club Achievements
Major Trophies and Awards
Queen of the South has won several important competitions:
- National League Competitions
- Division 2 Champions: 1950–51, 2001–02, 2012–13
- National Cup Competitions
- Scottish League Challenge Cup Winners: 2002–03, 2012–13
- Scottish Qualifying Cup Winners: 1923–24
- Scottish Cup Runners-up: 2007–08 (meaning they reached the final)
- Invitational Tournaments
- 1936 Algiers Invitational Tournament Winners
- Regional League Competitions
- Western League Champions: 1922–23
Individual Player Awards
Some players and managers have also won special awards while at Queen of the South:
- PFA Scotland Manager of the Year Award: Allan Johnston (2012–13)
- PFA Second Division Player of the Year Award: Jimmy Robertson (1980–81), Andy Thomson (1991–92, 1993–94), John O'Neill (2001–02), Nicky Clark (2012–13)
Club Records
Team Records
- Biggest Win: 11–1 against Stranraer in the Scottish Cup on January 16, 1932.
- Biggest Home Attendance: 26,552 fans watched Queens play Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Cup on February 23, 1952.
- Most League Points (3 points for a win): 92 points in the Scottish Division 2 during the 2012–13 season.
- First Scottish League Match under Floodlights: Queen of the South played against Rangers at Ibrox Park on March 7, 1956.
- Tallest Floodlights in Scotland: Palmerston Park's floodlights are 85 feet (26 meters) high, making them the tallest in Scottish football. They were first used in 1958.
Player Records
- Most Games Played for the Club: Allan Ball played 731 games.
- Longest Serving Player: Iain McChesney played for Queens from 1960 to 1981.
- Most Goals in a Season (all competitions): Stephen Dobbie scored 43 goals in the 2018–19 season.
- Fastest Hat-trick: Tommy Bryce scored three goals in just 1 minute and 46 seconds! This happened in a 6–0 win against Arbroath on December 18, 1993. This record is even in the Guinness World Records.
- Longest Distance Goal: Ryan McCann scored a goal from 84 yards (77 meters) away in a Scottish Cup match against Dundee on March 8, 2008.
European Competitions
Queen of the South has also played in European football.
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
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| 2008–09 | UEFA Cup | Second Qualifying Round |  FC Nordsjælland |
1–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 |
Current Players
Meet the Team
Here are the players currently in the Queen of the South squad:
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Club Management and Staff
Managers Through the Years
Many different managers have led Queen of the South over the years. The current manager is Peter Murphy. He took on the role in May 2024.
Behind the Scenes: Club Staff
The club has a team of people who work hard behind the scenes.
- Chairman: Billy Hewitson
- Manager: Peter Murphy
- Assistant Manager: Colin McMenamin
- Physiotherapist: Tammy McWhirter
- Groundsman: Kevin McCormick (takes care of the pitch)
- Kitman: Graeme Dalgleish (manages the team's uniforms and equipment)
See also
In Spanish: Queen of the South Football Club para niños
