| SPIDERS CAN FLY |
| What a season. I'm not sure if there's any point in trying to write about Queen's Park's achievements this year, so great were they, but I've got the urge to say a few words about them so here we go. The facts: Queen's were promoted by defeating East Fife and Arbroath in the play-offs, winning all 4 matches and scoring 11 goals in the process. Among the highlights- and there were too many to mention- were two wins at a ground, Bayview, which we'd lost at twice during the normal season, a breathtakingly skilful display against the Fifers in the first leg at Firhill (which is fast becoming our second home), and Paul Paton's strike, again at East Fife's expense, in the opening minutes at Bayview, a goal of such dreamlike quality that triumph seemed certain from then on. And so it proved. Queen's Park's demolition of both East Fife and Arbroath- there's no better word to use- brought warm praise from both the players and supporters of those clubs, happy to admit that Queen's were simply a much better football team on the nights, boasting a range of passing and vision that neither could hope to match. They may have been sporting after the event, but neither club was particularly interested in upholding principles while the ties were going on. East Fife kicked Queen's Park black and blue, especially at Firhill, with David Weatherston in particular taking a real battering. Arbroath weren't as blatant in their methods, but they weren't flying the flag of fairness. John McGlashan's decision to throw on a substitute before Alan Trouten got the chance to take the decisive penalty kick in the last minute of the semi-final first leg was petty and desperate, but it didn't put Trouten off in the slightest. Queen's would not be denied. That was the point really- the players were just too determined, too set on victory, for it not to happen. How many teams will come through four play-off matches completely unscathed, winning every game? No other Scottish team has done it since the play-offs were re-introduced. It's rare in England too; they only play 3 games down south, with a neutral final, yet more often than not penalties are needed, and even when none are, the games tend to go to down to the wire. Queen's made sure that nerves and doubt were not an issue by playing with an authority and with skill rarely seen at this level. We ended the regular campaign in strong fashion, finally securing a play-off spot by crushing Elgin at Hampden, before reclaiming third place with a last-day win over Dumbarton. We confirmed our mastery over the Sons that day- and the signs were there that events were moving in our direction, particularly, when the ball went in off Robert Dunn's backside for our second goal. That hope was confirmed three days later at Hampden against Arbroath. The Angus side had gone down to East Fife a few days earlier, and were unhappy that the first-leg against Queen's had been put back by 24 hours to suit Queen's request that they play the game on their home ground. They certainly played with indignation, giving a tough performance that nonetheless didn't spill over into brutality the way East Fife's would a week later. In an absorbing game, Arbroath could feasibly have been 3 up before an hour had elapsed, but Willie Martin missed three brilliant opportunities, including a penalty early in the second half. That had been bafflingly awarded, Reilly going down without even much fanfare, but DC was equal to the task, as he had been at Dumbarton on the Saturday. Queen's bided their time after that, eventually striking in the 77th minute when Weatherston collected Cairney's looping header and steered the ball under Peat from a tight position. Trouten's penalty settled the issue, for the night at least, and only a major collapse would now prevent Queen's lining up for the final. Defeat clearly hadn't entered the players' minds come the Saturday; they started like a train and didn't stop until a two-goal lead had been earned, putting us, remarkably, 4 goals ahead overall against the side that finished runners-up in the league. Trouten and Weatherston both scored again, and ensured that a second=half goal was Arbroath was an irrelevance. So back to Glasgow, and for the second time this season, the north side of the city, for the final. There were a number of famous faces in the crowd for the East Fife home leg but the only stars present were the Queen's team. It was a performance of characteristic patience from Queen's, but even we have rarely played with such command, terrorising East Fife with our expansive passing. More than anyone else though, it was David Weatherston who ripped East Fife apart, even if he didn't score. Twice he set up Alan Trouten for easy chances that Alan couldn't convert, but Queen's took the lead when Steven Canning drilled home a free-kick from 25 yards. Then, as half-time approached, Mark Ferry eluded the East Fife defence, cheekily lobbing the ball across from the bye-line for Mick Dunlop to power home. Mick promptly challenged the world sprint record in celebration, much to the delight of the Mick Dunlop Apprectiation Society- are YOU a member? And if not, why not? Queen's looked good at this point but they soon looked even better. Steven Canning surpassed himself by grabbing a second, collecting a rebounded free-kick and sending the ball sublimely over Dodds's head with a casual lob. It wasn't quite over, because East Fife pulled one back a few minutes later- they had in fact had the ball in the net before our first, but were penalised for a supposed foul on Crawford. In reality, any contact was extremely minimal, and Queen's capitalised on that break; but given the quality of our play, and the crude nature of East Fife's, you could say we deserved one. Paul Cairney restored the 3-goal advantage by sliding home from 10 yards, displaying impeccable timing in the process. Again, East Fife weren't quite done, and a McDonald header from a free-kick tossed them a crumb of hope for the second leg- as well as giving Queen's fans enough doubts to make us worry about the outcome. Actually, 4-2 was a highly satisfactory outcome, but that little nagging worry was always going to keep us on edge until Saturday's game kicked off. Within minutes of the second leg getting underway, any worries had been smothered by the rush of euphoria unleashed by Paul Paton's opening goal. Had it been scored a few weeks earlier, it would have been sure to be voted Goal of the Season. In fact it will go down as one of the defining goals of our 140-year existence. A 5th promotion in that time was on its way, and East Fife were playing through treacle for some time. They never really recovered- just as Arbroath never came back from David Weatherston's late opener in the semi-final- and Queen's saw out the game. Our second goal, the one that made absolutely, concretely sure of promotion, came with 16 minutes to go. There was controversy, as Alan Trouten seemed to handle before shooting, and in any case there was no guarantee that his shot actually beat the goalline. Justice had again caught up with East Fife, and the remainder of the game was turned into a party- even for some of the players. Mick Dunlop and Steven Canning, after all, didn't look too bothered after getting booked for their outlandish celebrations at this goal. The whole event was a dream come true, and the fantasy continued when Frankie Carroll, the hero of 2000 and playing his last game in the jersey (though we've said that before), raced clear to slot home a third. We'd actually gone out and bettered the first-leg margin, and made sure of a perfect play-off record. In fact, we'd just made the best possible case for play-off football that has ever been made by a British team; if the aim is to find the best team by making them beat their closest in-season rivals in head-to-head matches, then we had achieved that and then some; and in doing so, come as close as possible to justifying our place in the Second Division. If we hadn't gone up, some fans would have suggested that our quality of football alone would have done that. They'd have been right in a sense. But the beauty of this Queen's side is that they have shown how a team can play classic football, in a league where few others will attempt to bother, and still win- win ruthlessly even. Above all others, Billy Stark is responsible for this achievement- he took the raw materials, most of which were there when he came in, and made solid gold out of them. Yet we can't forget the many, largely anonymous, coaches who nurtured so many of our best players through their teenage years in Queen's Park jerseys. You could even pinpoint the root of this season's success to that day in 1998 when David Weatherston, as a 12-year old, wore the hoops for the first time. Not bad really- we hadn't even won our first promotion in 20 years yet and we were already planning for our second. Planning ahead has always been the way of Queen's Park though- there wouldn't be a National Stadium in Mount Florida if it wasn't. Indeed, we might all have been rugby or cricket fans if it wasn't. The future? Again, the planning has already started. Billy Stark will remain in charge, affirming his loyalty to the club by signing a 3-year contract. In the process, he has been given a security that no Queen's Park manager of the past has ever enjoyed, and it was enough for him to rebuff the advances of a certain other Glasgow club. In staying, he will have given the thumbs-up for many of the current squad to do the same- although we may lose David Weatherston, hopefully to a top club, others are likely to take their chance with Queen's in the Second Division. Next season will bring new challenges for the team, and also different challenges for the fans. It may sound like idealism, but my wish is simply to enjoy life in the higher league, savouring what we have achieved this season. It's what we wanted, and we shouldn't forget just how well the team performed this season- even on the dark nights that will inevitably follow next season, as they do every season. On the other hand, I have a suspicion that if we keep this set of players together we are capable of challenging for honours again. |