Queens fan shares memories

Mar 20 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

ROSS CORBETT has been a lifelong Queen of the South supporter and holds many, many memories of the club close to his heart. Here, the 37-year-old, who is chairman of the Doonhamers Travel Club, shares some of them.

“You could say that I was born to be a Queens fan following in my late father and late grandfather’s footsteps who were both regulars at home and away matches.

In fact, my grandfather used to help run transport to games from Moffat in the 50s and 60s.

My father used to lift me over the old turnstiles at the Terregles Street end regularly when I first started attending matches in the mid 70s.

My first clear memories following Queens are during the early 80s when it was very uncommon for kids my age to follow their local team in Dumfries.

People used to ask why Queen of the South?

Well, apart from being my local team, where else would you be able to be involved in selling programmes, being a ball boy, helping in the club shop, serving behind the bar, helping out in the office, cleaning the boots, sweeping the terracing, helping with the kit and even drive the club tractor to name but a few activities which really make myself and others feel part of this great club.

Some of the first matches at Palmerston which I remember were from the Scottish Cup run during the 1979/80 season with a draw with Falkirk and after victory in the replay wins at Palmerston over Coldstream and Motherwell followed by a 3-1 defeat to Partick Thistle.

The atmosphere for these matches at Palmerston was buzzing and Jimmy Robertson and Gerry Phillips were my favourite players at that time.

If my memory serves me correct I am sure my father bought our tickets for the Partick match at one of Watson's old shops in market square.

Little did I know that on my first journey on the supporters club buses to the Stranraer cup tie during the 84/85 season that in years to come I would become the chairman of the official supporters club.

What a match, Queens ran out 6-4 victors at a snow bound stair park, I was amazed at how much trouble there was at this match considering the low crowd.

One of my all time favourite players George Cloy scored two that day to send us into the next round against Dundee United.

I could probably write a book about my great times following Queens and Scotland but here are a few more memories.

Best away matches

1. 85/86 winning promotion to the 1st division at Arbroath’s Gayfield following a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from local lad Stewart Cochrane.

The pitch invasion that followed the match then running the gauntlet from local casuals was something I will never forget.

2. A pre-season trip in the mid 90s to Ireland and Northern Ireland where Queens played Ballyclare Comrades, Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United a great trip with a handful of Queens fans including the late Willie Johnstone.

3. This season’s UEFA cup away match against Nordsjaelland great atmosphere for the three days off the trip which was made even more special due to the fact that my three kids made the trip as well.

Best home matches

1. Queens 2-0 Dundee in last season’s Scottish Cup quarter-final. It was a great atmosphere rounded of by a great strike from 84-yards from Ryan McCann to spark wild celebrations in the covered terracing.

2. 85/86 Queens 3-1 Dunfermline; A great victory against our main promotion rivals that season, a massive crowd with a big Dunfermline support were treated to a great Queens performance with Stewart Cochrane playing a blinder its just a pity his career was cut short due to injury.

3. Queens v Clyde during the 95/96 season it was the last match I attended with my late father although very ill at the time I will never forget the joy on his face when Stevie Mallan scored one of the goals that day.

Proudest moment

It has to be last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, seeing my twins Greig and Patricia lead Queens out to victory against the mighty Aberdeen.

Dream team

Having seen so many great players, here would be my all time greatest team which would give any team a run for their money

A Davidson, G Robertson, B Parker, J Thomson, B Harris, B McLaren, T Bryce, T McMinn, J Robertson, A Thomson, G Phillips.

Subs: A Ball, G Cloy, R Alexander, P Dickson, S Bowey

Remember: “Yer hame team’s yer ain team.”