First ever live TV game @ Palmerston Park

Queen of the South 1
Harris 90+1

Rangers 2
Naismith 16
Novo 79

Co-operative Insurance Cup 3rd Round
Wednesday 23rd September 2009
Kick Off: 7.35pm
Referee: Collum
Stand: Portland Drive Terracing
Attendance: 6120
Capacity: 6412
Admission: £18
Programme: £2.50
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Ratings (out of 5)

Value for money *****
Grub ***
Ground *****
Atmosphere ****
Entertainment ****
Referee **
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The last couple of years for Queen of the South have been some of the most exciting in the clubs history including a first ever Scottish Cup Final appearance and subsequent qualification for the UEFA Cup. My initial trips to Palmerston as a boy were usually to midweek cup ties and I remember witnessing humiliation at the hands of Dunfermline (0-6) and Ross County (2-6) when they were still a non-league side. How times have changed though and slow but steady progress has been made at the club who have now enjoyed almost a decade in the First Division. An excellent late win in the Co-operative Insurance Cup 2ND round at Partick Thistle booked a place in the last sixteen of the competition and a seeding system guaranteed Premier League opposition. Rangers came out of the that to ensure a first home game against either of the Old Firm since 1983. It was deemed to be the tie of the round by the BBC and live cameras were to broadcast from Palmerston for the first time.

As has been the case in the past against larger opposition the Galloway News Stand was allocated to the visiting fans allowing around 2200 tickets to be given to Rangers. This left around 4000 tickets to go on sale initially to share and season ticket holders, then to voucher holders distributed to Doonhamers attending two consecutive away games at Ross County and finally on sale to the general public. The game was declared a sell-out 24 hours before the game to ensure a great atmosphere for the game.

We left for the game more than an hour before kick off to avoid the widely anticipated traffic problems and parked up in Dumfries town centre. This left an enjoyable twenty minute walk to the ground and already by the time we got to the ground at 7.05pm the queues were building up at the turnstiles. Once in it became apparent that the home end was already pretty much packed out and the place was buzzing. I had a bit of trouble finding myself a programme however I was relieved when an extra box was sent over from the direction of the Main Stand. We opted to head for the back of the terracing and it was to prove to be a great decision as we had a great view and a bit of room. The last time I was on the terracing when such a big crowd was out in force it was a wet day and space to move was very tight, thankfully tonight the weather was fine.

My photographs show the condemned Terregles End covered in many Queens flags and banners and the club had worked hard to get the ground looking its very best. As kick-off approached Palmerston looked almost perfect, the only noticable flaw being the lack of away fans who were cutting it very fine. As it turned out a few hundred seats remained empty partly due to trouble with the post apparently. The game kicked off in front of an expectant crowd and Queens struggled early on to contain Rangers and posed little threat going forward themselves. Some very slack defending allowed Boyd to run clear and Steven Naismith finished off his low cross, just the start we didn't want. The home side gradually forced their way into the game and chances started to come along. David Weatherston narrowly missed with a lob over the Rangers keeper to the agony of the home fans. The second half continued in the same manner and incredibly Queens had numerous chances to equalise and should really have been in front. Alexander made a save at full stretch from Holmes and then with his feet from Weatherston. Stevie Tosh went down with a nasty looking injury midway through the second half and it was later confirmed that the 36 year old had broken his leg. Nacho Novo was summoned from the bench and despite looking a mile offside was played clean through on goal and added a second for Rangers. With the scoreboard just going up to signal a minimum of four extra minutes Bob Harris curled in a great goal from outside the box and two sides of the ground erupted. A minute later a goal bound shot was blocked in the Rangers six yard box and an amazing comeback was denied. The final whistle was met with great applause for a fantastic effort and thoughts of just what might have been. On the way back into town we took a slight detour via the 'Hole in the Wa' for a cold one before home.

Club Websites:
Queen of the South
Rangers

Thanks

I would just like to thanks all contributors to this years pre-season friendly list. With 448 fixtures posted and subsequent results added I would especially like to thank Liam and 'L' without whom it would not have happened. I have managed to collate most of the results and access to the list can be found in the sidebar next to the last few years. I hope to be able to do it again next year!

My games list 2010/11

001 03/07/2010 Dalbeattie Star 1 Annan Athletic 3 (0-1)
002 05/07/2010 Gretna 2008 3 Queen of the South 2 (1-1)
003 10/07/2010 Spartans 1 Livingston 4 (0-2)
004 14/07/2010 Whitehill Welfare 3 Arbroath 0 (2-0)
005 17/07/2010 Edinburgh City 5 Bishop Auckland 2 (2-1)
006 21/07/2010 Craigroyston 1 Hibernian Xl 2 (0-1)
007 22/07/2010 Whitehill Welfare 3 Raith Rovers 4
008 24/07/2010 Craigroyston 1 Keith 3
009 27/07/2010 Bo'Ness United 3 Whitehill Welfare 3 (0-1)
010 28/07/2010 Falkirk 1 Carlisle United 1 (0-0)
011 01/08/2010 Spartans 2 Spartans Juniors 1 (0-0)
012 03/08/2010 MK Dons 2 Birmingham City 3 (2-0)
013 05/08/2010 Liverpool 2 Rabotnicki Skopje 0 (2-0)
014 07/08/2010 Queens Park Rangers 4 Barnsley 0 (1-0)
015 10/08/2010 Dunfermline Athletic 1 Queen of the South 1 (0-0)-
(5-6 on pens)
016 11/08/2010 Broxburn Athletic 4 Whitburn 1 (2-1)
017 14/08/2010 Queen of the South 1 Raith Rovers 3 (0-2)
018 15/08/2010 Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1 (0-0)
019 17/08/2010 Preston Athletic 0 Edinburgh University 3 (0-1)
020 18/08/2010 Whitehill Welfare 1 Edinburgh City 0 (0-0)
021 21/08/2010 Edinburgh University 1 Whitehill Welfare 0 (0-0)
022 22/08/2010 Hibernian 0 Rangers 3 (0-0)
023 22/08/2010 Cowdenbeath 1 Queen of the South 3 (0-1)
024 24/08/2010 Heart of Midlothian 4 Elgin City 0 (2-0)
025 25/08/2010 Craigroyston 1 Dundee United Xl 5 (0-2)- 1st half only
026 25/08/2010 Edinburgh City 0 Stirling University 2 (0-1)
027 28/08/2010 Whitehill Welfare 2 Stirling University 2 (1-2)
028 29/08/2010 Liverpool 1 West Bromwich Albion 0 (0-0)
029 01/09/2010 Beith 0 Irvine Meadow XI 1 (0-0)
030 04/09/2010 Leith Athletic 3 Craigroyston 1 (2-1)
031 07/09/2010 Scotland 2 Leichtenstein 1 (0-0)
032 11/09/2010 Falkirk 3 Queen of the South 1 (1-0)
033 18/08/2010 Barnet 1 Rotherham 4 (0-0)
034 19/09/2010 Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2 (1-0)
035 21/10/2010 St Johnstone 3 Queen of the South 0 (0-0)
036 25/09/2010 Liverpool 2 Sunderland 2
037 28/09/2010 Ashington 2 Spennymoor Town 6
038 01/10/2010 Scotland U16 3 Northern Ireland U16 0 (1-0)
039 02/10/2010 Whitehill Welfare 4 Vale of Leithan 0 (2-0)
040 03/10/2010 Liverpool 1 Blackpool 2 (0-2)
041 05/10/2010 Preston Athletic 1 Tynecastle 4 (0-2)
042 06/10/2010 Lothian Thistle 1 Whitehill Welfare 1 (0-0)
043 09/10/2010 Peterhead 1 Queen of the South 2 (0-0)
044 11/10/2010 Scotland U21 1 Iceland U21 2
045 12/10/2010 Scotland 2 Spain 3 (0-1)
046 13/10/2010 Spartans 2 Stirling University 0
047 16/10/2010 Greenock Morton 2 Queen of the South 0 (1-0)
048 23/10/2010 Edinburgh City 2 Threave Rovers 4 (2-1)
049 24/10/2010 Spartans Ladies 12 Kilmarnock Ladies 0
050 26/10/2010 Motherwell 1 Dundee United 0 (0-0)
051 30/10/2010 Whitehill Welfare 4 Wick Academy 3 (1-1)
052 31/10/2010 Bolton Wanderers 0 Liverpool 1 (0-0)
053 04/11/2010 Liverpool 3 Napoli 1 (0-1)
054 06/11/2010 Coldstream 2 Peebles Rovers 3 (1-3)
055 07/11/2010 Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0 (2-0)
056 10/11/2010 Heart of Midlothian 2 Celtic 0 (1-0)
057 13/11/2010 Craigroyston 0 Leith Athletic 3 (0-0)
058 20/11/2010 Liverpool 3 West Ham United 0 (3-0)
059 21/11/2010 Stirling University 8 Lothian Thistle 0 (4-0)
060 27/11/2010 Colchester United 1 Swindon Supermarine 0 (1-0)
061 28/11/2010 Tottenham Hotspur 2 Liverpool 1 (0-1)
062 04/11/2010 Alloa Athletic 2 Peterhead 2 (1-2)
063 11/11/2010 Newcastle United 3 Liverpool 1 (1-0)

Goalpost!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that amongst my reports from different grounds that I would be running 4 regular features simultaneously. I have added sections for the first two; 'Grounds for change' and 'Not quite fitbadaft', in the sidebar. The third feature is 'Goalpost!', featuring random goalposts spotted whilst out and about which hopefully have a bit of story behind them.

The first is a particularly well used set of goalposts that I walked past on my way from Glasgow City Centre to Partick Thistle's Firhill last week. As the photo shows the pitch is right underneath the busy M8.

Whitton Park

Broughty Athletic 3
Russell 21
Craik 29
Farquharson 40

Dundee U19 0

Lyall Murdoch Memorial Tournament
Saturday 25th July 2009
Kick Off: 12.00pm
Attendance: 96 (head count)
Capacity: 2000
Admission: £4
Programme: £1
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Ratings (out of 5)

Value for money ***** £4 covered both games
Grub ***
Ground ***
Atmosphere **
Entertainment *** Home side were excellent
Referee ****
______________________________________

I made the decision to head North over the Forth Road Bridge today and attempt a 'Dundee double'. With the Lyall Murdoch Tournament providing a 12.00pm kick off in the city it opened up a number of opportunities to get to a second game afterwards. I decided to head to a 2.00pm kick-off at Downfield Juniors which I found out was just along the road; more on this in later though.

Broughty Athletic were hosting the first ever Lyall Murdoch Memorial Tournament and had invited along three teams to compete. First up was a match between the hosts and local First Division club Dundee. With the Dens Park side already hosting Aberdeen in a friendly match the club had agreed to send along it's Under 19 team for some valuable experience against 'grown up' opposition.

Next up was Highland League Fraserburgh who were drawn to face local side Broughty Amatuers. The tournament followed the standard preseason format of two semi-finals on the Saturday followed by a third place play-off and final on the Sunday.

The journey took just over an hour and fifteen minutes and I found the ground by following the A92 across the Tay Bridge and through the City. I was pleased to find a good sized car park right next to the ground and there were a few spaces left. Entry was a very reasonable £4 which covered both games and the club had printed plenty of programmes priced at £1.

I got talking to the brother of Lyall Murdoch here and I managed to find out a bit about the man. Lyall sadly passed away suddenly on 15 November 2006. After a Short playing career at Dundee Violet he became club secretary during the late 1980's and 1990's. His highly regarded skills saw him appointed as President of the Tayside Junior League and he went on to become involved with the SJFA, was president of the East Region SJFA as well as being a long established secretary of Broughty Athletic. He is obviously sadly missed by many and three years on the club have set up a fitting tribute to him.

Whitton Park is a fairly basic ground and features pretty much all grass standing with no cover. There is a clubhouse with pie shop included and portacabin at the car park end. The pitch is railed off by the almost standard wonky fencing at Scottish Junior grounds. There are floodlights at Whitton Park with six wooden posts (if my memory serves me correctly) with halogen lamps on top.

Having watched a few U19 sides taking on non-league sides a number of times in the past few years they provide interesting games. A stern physical test for the younger players and one in terms of stamina and skill for the older players. This one was to break the mould in some ways though as the Junior outfit were to prove themselves superior in most areas. It wasn't really a contest and they cruised into a three goal lead.

Dundee were unable to pass through the midfield and got punished time and time again. They had a real lack of height all over the park and they were very lucky not to be even further behind. It is perhaps unfair to focus only their negatives though as Broughty were outstanding. Broughty have came very close to promotion in both of the last two seasons and with only one promotion spot available from the East Region North Division they seem to have been somewhat held back.

On my travels I find that the odd player every now and then stands out and anybody who knows anything about Broughty Athletic will know who I am about to mention! Bobby Brown the clubs centre back and captain is still going strong at an amazing 49.

I wouldn't say it to his face...but he looks every year of his age however on today's evidence he certainly doesn't play like it and he was a rock at the back. As with most friendly matches the managers made numerous substitutions but not Bobby Brown! He played the full ninety and I don't blame the home manager Kenny Cameron as I wouldn't have had the guts to take the man mountain off either.

A crowd of just under 100, by my headcount, was enjoying the game and the summer sunshine. As the second half wore on fans and some players from Fraserburgh and Broughty Amateurs began to arrive which swelled the attendance. A ball went into the houses behind the goal and a young ball boy sent to fetch it. He returned a few minutes later to tell the Broughty manager that it had gone. It turns out that one of the residents has taken to keeping any stray balls and apparently that was the 22nd one that had been taken. At £50 a time that was more than £1000 that this had cost the club to date the ball boy was told.

The young Dundee side did manage to trouble the home goalkeeper in the second half, an improvement on the first, however success eluded them. Broughty's substitute Perera was guilty of missing two gilt edged chances and the photo below shows a tame shot of his cleared off the lane.

Shortly afterwards the referee blew the final whistle to confirm Broughty's place in the final.

I had positioned myself at the car park end of the ground to aid a quick exit to the second part of my Dundee double. As I made my way out of the ground the Fraserburgh team bus was reversing in and threatened to block in my car. I just managed to squeeze out, narrowly avoided running over a few players as they collected their bags from the luggage hold, and I was on my way to Downfield.

Club Websites:
Broughty Athletic
Dundee

Grounds for change....#3

Now this ground alteration is a little bit different. The Civil Service Sports Ground in Edinburgh is home to East of Scotland sides Civil Service Strollers and Leith Athletic. Here each team has tended to have their own pitch on the playing fields and on matchdays they are roped off.

This season the arrangement of pitches has been changed and although Leith Athletic's pitch seems to have stayed the same Civil Service Strollers have had theirs turned around 90 degrees. The picture above is from the Eddie Queen Tournament held last month and shows the aformentioned.