The club has received �21,000 from the SFA as a grant to help further fund their respected youth development program. Those clubs considered to have the most impressive set-ups were award this maximum sum, with 5 levels reaching down to �3,500 for several non-league outfits. A total of more than �750,000 worth of grants was made to all clubs who met the minimum criteria specified at youth development level. The fact that Queen's were considered to be on a par with every SPL club - with the exception of Partick Thistle, who in fact only received a level 2 grant - is testament to the dedication and hard work of Frank Reilly and the team of coaches who are attempting to nurture more players of the quality of Steven Canning and John Gemmell. Consolation, also, in knowing that, although Thistle have surged ahead at first-team level over the last couple of years and Queen's have slipped badly, there is one area where we are far out in front.
10 Jan Queen's Park v. Gretna - the only ones left out in the cold
Tomorrow will be the 4th time that Queen's have played the league newcomers this season, with the balance of the previous meetings being heavily tilted in our favour. Queen's were 1-0 and 2-1 winners back in August at Hampden, in the League and Bell's Cup respectively. Then we were unfortunate not to win at Raydale in October, when Gretna equalised courtesy of a late penalty award. The Dumfriesshire team have been in improved form of late, winning their two most recent away matches, and comfortably beating Cove Rangers last Saturday in their first ever Scottish Cup tie. For this match, they could give debuts to Brian Fairbairn, Michael Galloway and yet another veteran additon to their squad, 38 year old Keith Knox. Gretna are certainly not short of experienced players, and those such as Mark Dobie ( 39 ) and Davie Irons ( 41 ) are two of the most influential players in the division despite their extensive collection of years. They are a capable football team and will be confident of a first ever win over Queen's tomorrow.
For their part, Queen's have been on a good run of results but more wins, instead of draws, are required if they are to lift themselves above Gretna in the table. A win in tomorrow's game would put Queen's level on points with their opponents, so tomorrow's match counts as being particularly important. With the sub-zero temperatures meaning that the vast majority of matches scheduled for this weekend have had to be postponed, and with the SPL having its winter shutdown, a larger than normal crowd could be reasonably anticipated also.
On the squad front, James Allan is frustratingly suspended having broken the points barrier: most of these yellow cards have been for petty offences such as dissent or niggly fouls, and the petulant side of his game is something James could well do with ridding himself of. John Gemmell is fit again, and John Gallagher is available again after work commitments had meant he couldn't be considered for the last couple of games. Jim White and Steven Canning are also near to being fully recovered from their injuries; in Stevie's case, a really good piece of news for Queen's, though he won't make the Gretna game. And will David Menelaws start? Probably not, as John Gemmell has returned, but he provides a welcome option on the bench.
9 Jan Latest on new coach appointment
In case you had forgotten, Queen's Park have still to make the appointment of a new, permanent coach. The form of the team under Paul Martin's stewardship has probably given the commitee the chance to take their time about choosing a replacement for John McCormack, and the fact that we have just passed Christmas and New Year has also been a factor in the long wait. The latest is a suggestion that some sort of announcement could be made by the end of the week, but at this stage that remains no more than speculation. Martin has stated his intention not to apply for the job already, so unless there is a complete
volte-face performed then a brand new chap will be in charge in probably the space of a few weeks, possibly sooner. Personally, I would hope that Paul Martin would be leading the team for both the replayed Scottish Cup tie against Albion Rovers, and the possible Third Round game if we succeed at Cliftonhill.
7 Jan Game postponed
The Scottish Cup replay against Albion Rovers, due to be played this evening, was yesterday postponed due to a frozen pitch. The match is now scheduled to go ahead a week today, 14th January. Both other cup games supposed to be played tonight, in Airdrie and Hamilton, were also called off.
4 Jan Queen's Park 1 Albion Rovers 1 - glad still to be in contention
Queen's last Scottish Cup victory against League oppositon came at Hampden 17 years ago to this day against Albion Rovers, but they never looked likely to repeat the feat as they struggled to carve out openings on this occasion. Rovers opened the scoring after only 2 minutes, Iain Diack nodding home a Silvestro cross after the midfielder had outpaced Ferry and Clark. Queen's improved slightly after the restart and equalised when Ferry, out of sorts in the first half, swung over a right foot cross for Whelan to stoop and head low past Shearer. David Menelaws then came on for his debut, and set up Willie Martin for a near post flick that flew just over. The Rovers forwards caused Queen's a few more problems than most of their Division 3 counterparts have recently, but Peter Hetherston will feel his side underperformed as much as Queen's did. The third round draw has thrown up a home game for the winners of the replay against Hamilton or East Fife. Their game was postponed today, as were all but two of the other ties, and they are also scheduled to meet on Tuesday night. With the weather in Lanarkshire as frosty, if not more so, than in Glasgow, the further re-scheduling of both games would be no surprise.
1 Jan Stewart leaves to go back to Kilmarnock
Colin Stewart's second loan spell at Hampden has ended and a new one cannot be negotiated. Under new SFL rules coming into force as a consequence of the new FIFA regulations governing transfers, any player over 21 can move on loan until the opening of the mid-season transfer window on 1 January ( or from 1 January until the end of the season ) but cannot stay on loan for an entire season, unlike players aged under 21. As Colin is 22, he cannot be re-registered. Presumably, the club were aware of this anyway and knew that Colin could only stay at Hampden for 4 months. In total, he has made 29 league starts for Queen's during his two loan periods ( the first of which was from August 2000 until January 2001 ); in addition, he appeared in 4 cup-ties. Tony Mitchell will now get his chance as first choice goalkeeper again, beginning with the match on Saturday against his former club, Albion Rovers, in the Scottish Cup. Stewart Thomson is the other goalkeeper at the club.
More January 2003 news