Peterhead were the visitors for our first home game of the league one campaign. Manager, Nicky Clark returned to the side along with Caleb Goldie after sitting out the match at East Kilbride through injury and there was a debut for Brodie Dair who joined on loan from Fulham. Ben Johnstone, Aaron Davis and trialist, Rocco McColm dropped to the bench, making up the three changes from last week.

It was the visitors who had the better start and Deniz Mehmet made his first save after three minutes, when he got down to save a header from Robel Teklemichael.

Eight minutes later Goldie played a good ball down the right channel for Cole Coughlin to chase, the youngster was fouled but no free-kick was forthcoming.

Possession was fairly even in the first fifteen minutes but it was Peterhead who had the better chances and as Blair Yule had a strike from outside the area, Mehmet made a great save to push it out for a corner. The delivery was cleared but with the ball still alive, the keeper saved from Dylan Forrest.

Queens hit back and after a good passage of play, Liam Smith laid it back for Zander Mackenzie who hit a right foot shot just wide of the post.

Midway through the half, Coughlin did well to keep the ball out on the wing and as he cut inside it was cleared for a corner. Back at the other end Yule hit another effort from just outside the box, that Mehmet parried away but with the ball not out, Forrest fired well over the bar.

On the half hour mark, Queens won a free-kick, Clark took the set-piece and as he curled the ball over the wall, it was inches to high and cleared the crossbar.

With four minutes of the first half remaining, the visitors took the lead when Lyall Keir played a cross ball over the top, it caught out the central defence and Cammy Smith controlled with his right and finished with his left to open the scoring.

The last chance before the break fell to the home side when they won another free-kick but this time the wall did its job and cleared.

HALF TIME: Queens 0 Peterhead 1

As the second half got underway it was Peterhead with the first chance when four minutes after the restart, Forrest curled a right foot shot wide.

Two minutes later, Goldie crossed from the right but the ball dropped just behind Clark. It was better from Queens and as Jack Stott played a through pass for Taylor Charters, Jason Brown blocked for a corner inside the box.

It was good pressure from Queens and Dair won another corner for his side before Coughlin had a couple of efforts blocked.

Midway through the half, Charters found himself in the 18-yard area but this time his left foot shot was too high. Queens were pushing and Coughlin had another chance cleared and as Smith played in the corner, Charters got his head on it but headed over.

Yule fired a shot just wide before Mackenzie crossed and Goldie headed it back into the danger area only for Brown to hook it clear. Substitute, Johnstone earned his side a free-kick but as Stott played it in Jack Newman collected.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Queens were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty. Stott switched the play from the left-hand side to Coughlin on the right, he used his head to knock the ball the other side of defender Tobias Browne and as they both made their way to the by-line, they both fell but with the ball still in play, Coughlin jumped up to get back on it before having the feet taken from him by the grounded defender. Queens players and fans instantly claimed for the spot-kick but the man in the middle, Graham Grainger waved play on.

Frustrated Queens continued to push and with ninety minutes on the clock, they had everyone including Mehmet inside the box looking to scramble home a corner, that didn’t come to fruition and neither did their final attempt of the game in added on time when Charters played the ball into the box and as Newman went to catch, he let the ball through his hands for another corner. But as soon as that was taken, the ref blew for full-time.

FULL TIME: Queens 0 Peterhead 1

Teams:

Queens: Mehmet, Goldie, Charters, Stott, Smith, Mackenzie, Clark, Dair (Johnstone 65), Rogerson, Coughlin & Ellis. Subs not used: Petry, McQueen, Davis, Gray, Morton, Thomson & Trialist.

Peterhead: Newman, Strachan, J Brown, Yule, Keir (Jacobs 54), Carnwath (T Browne 63), Smith (Searle 75), Forrest, Ross, Teklemichael (To 54) & Kerr. Subs not used: McKelvie, Carrol, Mackie & Luyeye.

Ref: Graham Grainger

Crowd: 945

We'd like to apologies to fans but it will not be possible to issue plastic season ticket cards before todays game.

Cards will be ready in time for the Alloa match in two weeks time. Alternatively, they can be picked up from the club shop during the week

Anyone who needs a physical ticket for today can come to the club shop who will print a paper copy.

Due to unforeseen building work we are unable to fully open the main stand for our game against Peterhead.

However, we are in a position to open sections one and two, this will be for season ticket holders and anyone who has already purchased tickets for the main stand for tomorrow’s game. 

Supporters who fall into these categories should note that due to some scaffolding still in place, seating outwith sections one and two will not be available and depending on numbers there may be restricted views for some.

Any season ticket holder or fans with main stand tickets that don’t want to sit in sections one or two will be able to use their tickets for the BDS stand or the Oakbank Terrace. 

We understand this will cause frustration to some and would like to apologies to our season ticket holders and fans who regularly sit in this area. But we hope that there is an appreciation that the safety of everyone is paramount and important to us.

Although the stand is not fully operational, the lounge bar will be open to both sets of supporters from noon.

Thank you for your patience.

Our first home game of the 2026/27 league one campaign takes place tomorrow as we welcome Peterhead to Palmerston.

Both sides will be looking to pick up their first points of the season after suffering opening day defeats. While we lost away at East Kilbride, the Blue Toon went down one-nil at home to Ross County.

Looking ahead to the game, manager Nicky Clark said “Last week was not the start that we wanted, you don't want any defeats, but we will learn from it going forward. This weekend we welcome Peterhead and having played them a couple of times last season, I know that they are a big physical side who have good experienced footballers in their team. So, I expect it to be a tough game but we are at home and we want the three points.”

Supporters Information

HOME supports will be located within the main stand, sections 1 and 2, BDS Stand, sections 1-5 and the Oakbank Terracing. While, section 7 of the BDS has been allocated to AWAY fans.

Please note, that only main stand season ticket holders, or anyone who pre-purchased a ticket in the main stand will be admitted. 

To gain entry to the BDS stand – ALL supporters should use turnstiles 1 & 2. Disabled access for Away fans is via Gate H on the south side of the BDS stand. Entry to the Oakbank Terrace will be via turnstiles 16 & 17 only. 

Turnstiles will be open for spectator entry at approximately 1345.

Entry is by ticket. Season Tickets are valid for this match and if you haven’t already bought or renewed they can be purchased at https://qosfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/202627_season_ticket  or in the club shop.

On the day ticket prices are:

Adults: £20
Concessions: £12

Students /16-21-year-olds: £10

U16s: £5

Accessible tickets: £12 (includes a carer)

Tickets are on sale now and will be available online https://qosfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/queen_of_the_south_v_peterhead until kick off or at the ground on the day of the game from the ticket office located within the QOS Arena which will open at approximately 1230. There will be no ticket office at the BDS stand for this match.

The only way to buy tickets in advance will be online.

Tickets purchased are non-transferable or refundable.

Car parking will be available to all spectators within the Queen of the South Arena car park on a first come first served basis.

Supporters’ buses including minibuses will not be allowed to park in the Arena car park.

Supporters’ buses/minibuses should drop off their passengers in Terregles St/King Street and thereafter park on College Mains Road just off the roundabout with the A76 on the town bypass (adjacent to Curry’s/PC World, as the other side at Aldi is the access road to the ambulance depot and is extremely busy). Pick up should be the same location as drop off.

Those travelling to the game should be aware that there is roadworks in and around the town may cause some delays. People travelling should check Traffic Scotland website at http://trafficscotland.org/index.aspx for confirmation of any road closures or delays.

Shared catering outlets within the supporter’s areas of the ground will be open for use. Fans should note that these kiosks are cash only. If you are looking for catering before entering the ground, The Queen of the South café within the Arena will be open and will have a range of food/snacks on offer and will accept card. 

For safety reasons, QOS have adopted a robust and thorough search policy for spectators entering the ground to ensure that ground rules and regulations are strictly adhered to, especially in relation to pyrotechnic devices and controlled containers. We would like to remind supporters that letting off smoke devices/ pyrotechnics is a criminal offence, and anyone found doing so will be referred to Police Scotland. Not only is it against the law, it is also extremely dangerous and a health hazard to other spectators. No bottles or cans will be permitted through the gates, so anyone bring juice should bring cartons. All bags will be searched and spectators presenting themselves for entry may also be subject to search. Spectators who refuse to be searched by stewards will be denied entry to the ground.

Palmerston Park is a non-smoking venue; this includes e cigarettes and other such devices. Stewards are empowered to eject spectators who disobey these rules. No persons will be admitted to the ground who are deemed to be under the influence of alcohol.

The club shop located in the Arena will be open until kick off where you can purchase our club merchandise.

Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 3pm

We are delighted to announce TrustFord Carlisle as our new back-of-shirt sponsor.

The TrustFord Carlisle branding will appear on the reverse of the Queens home and away shirts for the 2026/27 season, worn in our William Hill League One, the Scottish Cup and the SPFL Trust Trophy fixtures.

The partnership extends beyond shirt branding as TrustFord Carlisle and the club will work together on matchday activity at Palmerston Park with vehicle display, customer-facing activations and will have joint community initiatives across Dumfries & Galloway and Cumbria throughout the course of the season. We hope that the back of the shirt sponsorship for this season will be the start of a longer-term relationship between the two organisations.

Mike Bell, General Manager at TrustFord Carlisle, said “Queen of the South is a club with real history and a support base that stretches well beyond Dumfries, including into Cumbria and right onto our own doorstep. Backing Queens was an easy decision for us. We wanted a partnership that puts us in front of a community we already serve every day, rather than a logo on a shirt and nothing behind it. Our intention from the outset is that this runs well past one season.”

Ryan Paton, New Car Sales Manager at TrustFord Carlisle, added “A lot of our customers travel between Carlisle and Dumfries as a matter of routine, so the two areas are far more connected than the border suggests. We’re looking forward to being at Palmerston on matchdays, meeting supporters properly and being visible as a local business rather than just a name on the back of a shirt.”

While our CEO, Dan Armstrong said “We’re delighted to welcome TrustFord Carlisle to the club. Commercial partnerships of this kind are genuinely important to how we operate and invest, and it is particularly pleasing to bring in a partner that understands the cross-border community our support comes from. Mike, Ryan and the team have been excellent to deal with, and we’re looking forward to building something that lasts well beyond this season.”

The home and away kits are available to pre-order from our online store https://store.qosfc.com/

The under 19s have their first home game in the CAS league tomorrow (Tues 4th Aug) when they play host to Dundee.

The match at Palmerston has a 7pm kick-off and will be open to the public.

Entry is pay at the gate £3.

It was a tough start to our league one campaign as he made the trip to face newly promoted East Kilbride. Hampered by injuries to the Caleb Goldie, Chris McQueen, Benji Luissint, Jack Hannah, Kurtis Guthrie and the manager himself, there were four changes to the side that started against Queens Park. The three youngsters who joined from Kilmarnock on the cooperation loan agreement, Ruari Ellis, Aaron Davis and Cole Coughlin were all in from the start along with a trialist. Brodie Dair who signed a loan deal from Fulham on Friday night wasn’t involved as international clearance hadn’t come through.

After raising the league two title flag they won last year, the hosts were confident and pushed forward early. With just seven minutes on the clock, Ben Johnstone made a foul on Finlay Gray inside the box and former Queens player, Craig McGuffie fired the spot kick past Denzi Mehmet into the bottom right-hand corner.

Queens were under pressure but as Jack Stott’s shot took a deflection, it fell to Coughlin on the left-hand side of the area and his left foot shot forced a save from Shay Kelly.

Malek Zaid was a constant threat in the middle of the park and he wasn’t far away with an effort that he dragged just wide.

Midway through the half, Taylor Charters slipped a good ball into the path of Coughlin who went down inside the 18-yard area but ref Josh Hay gave a free-kick to the home side instead. It was better from the visitors and Charters again looked for Coughlin with a ball in from the left but the keeper got their first.

It proved to be a brief fightback though as Owen Moffat wasn’t too far away with a snap-shot with the outside of his right boot before McGuffie scored again to give Kilby a two-goal lead inside twenty-three minutes. This time he was first to react after Zaid’s attempt was blocked and fired the ball past Mehmet.

Queens did hit back and two minutes later, Liam Smith made his way forward and as he slipped the ball to Coughlin, he touched it into the path of Stott who made a great run to place the ball into the net.

Again, it was the hosts who threatened and Ellis cut out Moffat’s delivery before Davis cleared the danger. Minutes later Sean Fagan was too high with his shot. In the closing minutes of the first half, McGuffie was inches away from completing his hat-trick when his corner clipped the top of the crossbar. And Mehmet made a good save as Owen Calder held off Ellis and his left foot shot was saved by the keeper at the bottom corner.

They did find the net again with sixty seconds of the half remaining when Moffat played in a free-kick from the left-hand side and Gray headed home.

In added on time, Moffat made his way into the area before playing it back to McGuffie. He couldn’t connect properly and his shot ended up the wrong side of the post.

HALF TIME: East Kilbride 3 Queens 1

As the second half got underway the hosts continued where they’d left off and McGuffie was too high with an early free-kick.

Queens were toiling and just after the hour mark they fell further behind when Jamie Hamilton showed great composure and started a move in his own half, as the ball was played in from the right-hand side Gray finished well with a right foot shot from the centre of the box.

Three minutes later, Mehmet made a double save first from McGuffie then from Smith to keep the score down. The hosts then had a claim for a penalty when Smith looked to be pushed by Zander Mackenzie but the ref booked him for diving.

Queens injury list grew when young Josh Kelly who had come on as a substitute had to go off with what looked like a knee injury.

Things went from bad to worse with fifteen minutes to go when a ball in by Moffat was caught by the right foot of Darragh O’Connor and he got enough on it to force the ball under Mehmet to make it five.

It had been disappointing from Queens but Coughlin kept going and had two chances in the final five minutes. Hamilton made a goal-line clearance from the Killie loanee as he raced away and had Kelly beaten and with the last chance of the game, Mackenzie made a clearance to send the striker away but the keeper came out to block.

FULL TIME: East Kilbride 5 Queens 1

Teams:

East Kilbride: Kelly, Kyle (Calder 17), Hamilton, Fagan, Zaid, McGuffie (Balde 74), Gray, Smith, O’Connor, Armstrong & Moffat. Subs not used:

Queens: Mehmet, Charters, Stott, Smith, Mackenzie, Johnstone (Morton 84), Rogerson, Coughlin, Ellis, Davis (Thomson 84), Trialist (Kelly 56 (Gray 72). Subs not used: Petry, Newall & Harris.

Ref: Josh Hay

Crowd: 646

Also joining the ranks is Brodie Dair who comes in on loan from Fulham.

The 18-year-old comes from a football background as he is the son of Lee and nephew of Jason. He made headlines when he switched from St Johnstone to Craven Cottage for a significant fee. Although he is young his performances earned him opportunities with the first team and since joining Fulham he has been capped for Scotland under 17s, scoring his first goal against Liechtenstein.

Manager Nicky Clark said “Brodie has a big future in the game. He is a prolific goal scorer and did really well at St Johnstone, I know him well and what he has to offer as he trained with the first team a lot when I was there. He is hard working off the ball and likes to win the ball high up the pitch as well as scoring goals. Hopefully the move will benefit both ourselves and the player.”

Brodie will be available for selection once we receive international clearance.