The first team squad are into their second week of pre-season training and the manager reports that he's happy with the way things have been going so far.

"The players seem to be enjoying it.

Credit to them. Each player that we had with us last season had their weight and body fats taken at the end of the season. If they reported back higher than they were last season in either weight or body fat, then they would face a fine. I'm happy to say that we haven't had to fine anybody which shows they have all looked after themselves over the summer. 

Although they had a six week break, they didn't have six weeks off. They were all given a booklet with a six week programme to follow.  They had 10 days off then they had to start cycling, swimming, golf or similar things that got the legs moving and then during the final four weeks they were running and doing weights. Out of those final four weeks, they were working 16 out of the 28 days. A lot of work went on behind the scenes before last season finished to get the programmes in place, and our close season/pre-season planning was probably finished at the start of April. 
 
The booklets had a lot of information. Not only did it have all the close season training, it also had the complete plan for our pre season schedule right up until our first competitive game on the 15th July. The players knew exactly when they were back, when they would have single or double sessions and whether those sessions would be on the pitch or in the gym. We like to be organised and methodical and I want to set standards that I was used to in my playing career for the players. 
 
It also helps that players like Scott Mercer have already worked under us and he would be able to tell the others what to expect when they came back. 90% of our pre season work involves the ball and that has come as a bit of a surprise for players like John Rankin who have been brought up like me with an old school type of pre season where you ran non stop for two weeks before you touched a ball.

Andrew Lombard now does injury and pre-hab prevention with the boys each morning. This is something new we have introduced. Some players start this as early as 9.15am and all the lads are in the gym by 9.30am. The whole group starts at 9.30am however anybody with a specific weakness works an extra 15 minutes on that particular weakness each day. 
 
In the afternoons at the start of pre -season, the boys follow a generic weights programme where most are doing the same for the first couple of weeks. They will then start to follow their own individual programmes as not every player needs to work on the same things. 
 
By the time we play Cowdenbeath we will have had 16 training sessions. The players will be tired going into the first two games. Their legs will be heavy from the work we are doing so both the Cowdenbeath and Annan games will just be a continuation of pre-season.  We will actually train the morning of the Annan game. 
 
I've gone with three friendly games as I think with those three games and then four cup games that seven games before the first league game on the 5th of August will be enough for the players. 

It is also important that the players eat within a certain time of finishing their exercise and we have made improvements in that department. We make sure that the players are fed every day straight after training and this also allows us to control what they eat whilst they are at the club and that the correct food is going back into their system to help them refuel quickly. 

One other addition is the introduction of heart rate monitors.  When the lads first came back, we spent the first day they came in carrying out tests. From those tests, one of the things that Andrew was able to work out was each players maximum heart rate.  Its stored into a live computer system and the players have all got their own individual belts that they'll wear each day. We can monitor what they are doing every day and how hard they are working during each part of a session. The system is "live" on Andrews computer and if someone isn't working to the level we expect, we can quickly ask them to work harder as they are currently not working hard enough. There is now no where to hide for the players during each session. 
 
Under 20 coach, Eddie Warwick has been up watching how we do our sessions and taking notes as we want to the Under 20's pre-season to be the same as the first team. We want it planned so that the 20s are on the same training programme so that if they have to train with the first team they're already used to the same type of training which is a lot of ball work at high intensity.  Andrew has already designed a weight programme for the Under 20s so when Eddie gives them a gym session its all already written by Andrew.

Of course, there are still improvements that we would like to make but it all takes time, it takes money and it's not all going to happen overnight. The board have bought into everything I have asked for in regards to improving standards off the pitch for the players and I am grateful for the backing they have shown me. 

I have to say, pre-season is the best time for us as coaches/managers. For the first two weeks especially, there is no pressure to get results and you don't have to spend a lot of time away from the training ground doing video analysis or scouting as no one is playing games  It's just you and the players. Training is intense and serious but the first two weeks allows us time to bond a relationship between ourselves and the players and for us all to get to know what we expect from each other throughout the season ahead".
 

As well as a lot of changes to the playing squad from last season, there have also been a few changes off the park and the biggest one of those changes is a new training base for the first team squad for next season. 

The players will now be reporting for training at Hamilton Palace rather than Broadwood stadium. The Board have been up for a look around our new base and have reported that the new facilities are "fantastic" and that both the management team and the players are very happy with our new arrangement. 

Manager Gary Naysmith added "There is always a worry when you move to a new training base especially when everyone was reasonably happy at Broadwood but I think that the move to Hamilton is going to work out better for everyone, especially the lads travelling up from Dumfries everyday as it will save them around an hour's travelling time each day. 
 
The facilities are as good as we had at Broadwood if not better. Each player has full access to all the facilities at the David Lloyd leisure centre which is located next door to our training base. We also have use of their swimming pool and that is great for recovery sessions and for working injured players who are unable to run. The reception area and cafe area are also ideal for when we are having a double session as the players can sit, relax and chill out in between sessions.

There is no real difference in the pitch quality that we are training on and the food company that we located in Cumbernauld are happy to continuing delivering our food to our new base which is great. Our new staff office is based in the David Lloyd centre and already it has a homely feel to it. The staff at both the training ground and the leisure centre can't do enough for myself or the players and they have all helped in making us feel as though we belong there. We are feeling quite happy with our new facilities and there is a general feeling amongst the group that It feels like we actually have our own training complex". 

A host of players turned out on Sunday for Derek Lyles testimonial match and served up a decent game for the 1741 fans in the crowd.

The Queens team featured some recent departures, Chris Higgins and Andy Dowie along with current squad members, Lee Robinson, Stephen Dobbie and, of course the "tan man" himself - even the manager, Gary Naysmith, pulled his boots on for the day. They lined up with a mix of players from across the years, including some very familiar names, like Jim Thomson, Paul Burns, Sean O'Connor and Peter Weatherson.

The Rangers Legends team featured, ex Queens "goalie" Andy Goram, Jordan McMillan, David Hutton, and Allan Johnston alongside some names familiar to all fans of Scottish football, such as Gordon Durie, Barry Ferguson and current Kilmarnock manager Lee McCulloch.

It was a lively opening 15 minutes with Goram, in the Rangers goal, pulling off a couple of great saves but it took until the 21th minute for the first goal when Allan Johnston hit a long range effort past Robinson. The lead was only to last 6 minutes when the man of the moment, Derek Lyle tapped in from close range to make it 1-1.

That led to a flurry of goals before half time, first McCulloch hit another long range effort to give Rangers the lead before two goals from Peter Weatherson made it 3-2 to Queens at the break.

After a number of half time changes the game settled down a little until the last 15 minutes. Allan Johnston showed his quality to score his second of the game, and Rangers 3rd to level the score. That lead only lasted a few minutes before Iain Russell, who recently announced his retirement from football, tapped in to make it 4-3 to Queens.

The game ended in the perfect way with Derek Lyle finishing the scoring to end the game 5-3 to Queens.

A great day all round and thanks again to all those who attended to support Derek Lyle. Dont forget, this match kicked off a year of testimonial events, so look out for further details later in the year.

QOS select; Robinson, Atkinson, Higgins, McKenna, Reid, Dowie, Burns, Neil, Lyle, Weatherson, Russell. Subs; J Thomson, Bowey, Dobbie, O`Connor, Aitken, Paton, Ferns, Naysmith.

Rangers Legends : Goram, Durie, McMillan, Andrews, Malcolm, Ferguson, Rae, McCulloch, Johnston, Wylde, Novo. Subs; Dowie, D Hutton. Mensing, K Hutton, Shellsuit Bob, Solo

SEE MORE SHOTS FROM THE MATCH HERE

SEE SHOTS OF THE MASCOTS HERE

We are happy to confirm that we have now agreed pricing for the two Betfred Cup Group matches at Palmerston against East Kilbride on Tuesday 18th July and against Albion Rovers on Saturday 29th July. Prices for these group matches will be reduced to the following:

£10 Adults
£5 Concessions (Over 65's, Full time students, 16 - 21 yr olds)
Free Entry for u16's

Accessible pricing to be confirmed, though clearly accessible u16's will also be free of charge.

We will confirm the pricing for our two away games at Stenhousemuir and Hamilton as soon as possible.

The draw for the first round of the Irnbru cup has just been made and we have been drawn home to Airdrie in the Southern Section.

The tie is scheduled to be played on the 15th or 16th August.

With Dels testimonial match played, to kick off a year of events, attention turns to the competitive stuff and the first Ladbrokes Championship game is just 6 weeks away.

Season tickets are already on sale but if you havent got yours yet, now is the perfect time to pick one up from the Club Shop or order online - you can even order online and choose to pick them up in-store later, saving on postage but still enjoying the convenience of online shopping!

All admission prices were frozen again this season, so adult season tickets remain at £256, with various concessions from just £90. And dont forget the Junior Blues ticket which at £18 is just £1 per game, perfect for the young Queens fan in the family.

The Derek Lyle Testimonial Committee would like to thank each and everyone of you who contributed, sponsored or supported yesterdays match at Palmerston between Queens and Rangers Legends.  It was a fantastic day, better than we could have hoped for.  Your support was appreciated by those involved in organising the day, by Derek and his family.

It was the start of his Testimonial year and we can only hope that other events between now and next June, including the dinners in Dumfries and Glasgow along with Golf Day in September go as well.

Once again, on behalf of us all, especially Derek, thank you very much. 

Mascot photos can be viewed on our gallery by clicking here.

Match action photos can be viewed on our gallery by clicking here.

Our deadly strike duo of Del Lyle and Stephen Dobbie modelled the new tops for us today, complete with the winner of the shirt draw, J.B. Houstons, logo on the front.

The local, award winning, butcher was the main shirt sponsor in 2008/09, the season after our Scottish Cup final appearance and the only year we have competed in Europe. Check out their range and awards on their website - www.jbhouston.co.uk

You can also see our full range of Macron merchandise - including the new tops - on our online store