Dickie Davies

I remember 1980/81 very well....it was the 1st season that I started regularly watching Queens culminating in that dramatic last game of the season. I can vividly remember the 1,500 fans invading the pitch at the end of that last match and congregating at the tunnel facing the stand whilst chanting "One Willie Harkness..etc etc". Soon after the players came into the stand where they were warmly congratulated by excited fans. I recall Jimmy Robertson standing on my usual seat while saluting the fans.....as an excitable 10 year old I absolutely thought I was in dreamland! I also remember Alan Ball hugging my brother in celebration and even asking how his new Fiat Strada was going!! Conversely, 1981/82 was a disaster of a season what with Jimmy Roberton in contract dispute with QOS and who didn't play for us until October. Mind you I'm not sure that would have made a big difference. Do you remember Harry Hood being appointed manager at the start of 1982 only for him to resign several weeks later?! And finally that 1981/82 QOS strip......who was the shirt sponsor? Barollon or Legoland?? 1980s nostalgia - you can't beat it!

What about QOS v Carlisle United in the 1991 Willie Harkness Cup which featured as the main match on Border TV? Or who can forget QOS v Stranraer featuring as the big match on Border TV football highlights package in 1995/96 season?! Of course this only counts if you regard Border TV as a genuine TV channel! Back to the season so far.... Great result against Hibs tonight, very good start to the league and now why not go up to Ibrox and turn over that monstrosity of a football team that plays as Rangers. Yes there is a handsome income stream to be gained in the Sevco tie, but I would also like to see Queens go for trophies this season. This could be quite a season if we can hold onto our manager?!

I'm not Skyline. Completely new to this board........regular contributor as Dickie Davis on the QOSMAD board.

Whilst we are witnessing the decline of QOS, there is and will be a fast paced decline across all of Scottish football. FT football in the 1st Division is not financially feasible unless clubs have significant money floating in their coffers. I believe the 1st Division will be mostly part-time within 2 years as all clubs have to balance their books (like ourselves) because banks will simply not be able to lend/grant overdrafts to the levels that are even being offered today. Let's face it...QOS has gone to the casino in the last 4 years, gambled, won a big windfall (2008 cup final), but largely lost a lot of money. Moving forward, I'd like to see the BOD put togther a plan which presents realistic goals for QOS within the cost constraints that we face and ultimately which ensures the club a sustainable business. A fan base of between 1,200-2,000 is realistically what the club can play with......not 3,000+ (and possibly never will be) - we need to work with the income that such a fan base offers and there is still potential with this. However, for me the biggest driver of such a financial model is the sale of Palmerston a la St Mirren style.....without this I fear we will decline a la Harkness era! On the Manager front....I was astounded when I heard that Gus signed the boy SImmonds in the summer! Subsequent signings have certainly not delivered. I really sense that the QOS challenge is not the right one for Gus and I have always advocated that we need a manager who is familiar with running both FT and PT set ups (a Danny Lennon type is what the club needs). But hey, what do I know about football? In the meantime, let's get behind Gus! Mr Monkey Tennis...a pleasure to actively be contributing on this board (I've followed it for years!). Will the footballers who play in the school team please stand up!