Border Queen of the South News

In football Queen of the South fans are still basking in one of the most successful season's in the club's history.

A League and Cup double, having the division's player of the year and the Scottish League's finest manager, is year the fans will never want to forget.

All of their achievements are now being immortalise, as murals at Palmerston Park tell the tale of almost a hundred years of the club's history.

Ryan Dollard reports:

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• Queen of the South
• Murals

A project to transform a dilapidated section of wall outside of the Queen of the South football ground is almost complete.

Nine out of the twelve panels have undergone a facelift, with colourful murals illustrating the club's history.

Artist Jo McSkimming, from Southerness, who is behind the Palmerston Park upgrade, is now considering illustrating the recent success of current boss Allan Johnston being crowned PFA "Manager of the Year".

Other panels include a tribute to former chairman Davie Rae and the club's hugely successful run in the 2008 Scottish Cup.

• UK
• Queen of the South
• Murals

Work starts this week to dig up the old turf pitch at Queen of the South and replace it with a new 3G surface.

The Palmerston Park ground, home of Queens since 1919, will be the latest club in South West Scotland to get a new artificial pitch - Annan Athletic ditched grass last year.

It'll cost £500,000 with Dumfries and Galloway Council paying £225,000 towards the cost, matched by SportScotland. The club is paying a further £60,000.

Doonhamer fans have been buying pieces of the old turf at £10 per square yard to help raise some of the costs.

The club says the new pitch will mean that community groups and children from local clubs and schools will be able to use the facilities during the week when the Queen of the South team don't need it.

• UK
• Queen of the South
• turf

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has confirmed his interest in Queen of the South striker Nicky Clark.

The Light Blues boss has already held talks with the player's representative and his father, former Gers player and current Palmerston assistant Sandy, about a switch to Ibrox next season.

McCoist now hopes to meet with the player, who has netted an impressive 37 goals for the Irn-Bru Second Division champions this season, in the coming days

I've spoken to Nicky's agent and I've spoken to his father, who I know reasonably well, just to let them know that we have an interest in talking to Nicky and meeting up with him and seeing if there is a possibility of him coming to the club.

"We are no further down the line than that, but I spoke to Sandy and I'm very keen to meet up, as are Sandy and Nicky, so hopefully we can get a meeting in the next couple of days.

"His goalscoring record is fantastic and we certainly need strengthened in forward areas, as we do all over the park.

• Sport
• Queen of the South
• Rangers

Queen of the South have been presented with the League Cup after being crowned Division Two champions. The Doonhamers preserved their unbeaten home league record with a 2-2 draw with East Fife on Saturday. It's been a memorable season for the team, who also won the Ramsdens Cup.

• Sport
• Queen of the South
• Dumfries

Queen of the South have re-signed four of their current squad who helped the Dumfries club lift both the Second Division League title and the Ramsdens Challenge Cup.

Mark Durnan, Chris Mitchell, Stephen McKenna and Gavin Reilly, who have all signed one-year extensions, will join Kevin Holt and Paul Burns who are already under contract next season.

However, Dumfries midfielder Willie Gibson has parted ways with the club by mutual consent.

• UK
• Queen of the South
• Signing

Queen of the South manager Allan Johnston reflects on an emphatic win against Partick Thistle:

• Sport
• Allan Johnston
• Queen of the South

Queen of the South have won the Ramsdens Cup after beating Partick Thistle on penalties in a dramatic afternoon at Livingston's Almondvale Stadium.

With the score still 0-0 after 90 minutes, the match went into extra-time. Nicky Clark put the Dumfries side 1-0 up in the 101st minute. But despite missing a late penalty and having Aaron Muirhead sent off for a headbutt in the aftermath, Partick Thistle equalised in added-time.

The penalty shootout went into sudden death and Queen of the South won to claim an historic league and cup double.

• Sport
• Queen of the South
• Ramsdens Cup Final