At the club's AGM on Tuesday, 9th December, David Rae was appointed as the new chairman of Queen of the South F.C. A retired farmer, he joined the Board of Directors two years ago and is now the major shareholder at the club.

When were you first approached about the job we asked David? "When Ronnie resigned back in June I was asked then if I'd take over as chairman. I said 'I'd like a few months to think it over' so Tommy Harkness took on the role of 'acting chairman' and did an excellent job. Six weeks before the AGM the issue was raised again and I agreed to give it a go. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing I'll soon find out" he replied.

David is a Hightae lad, born and bred, and enjoyed football from an early age. He recalls "As a youngster I played for Hightae Primary School then Lockerbie Academy. I started off as a centre-forward but reverted to an inside-right, in modern day lingo, a midfielder. When I was older I played in some real battles in the Houliston Cup at Glencaple. Keith Houliston says he's thinks he remembers me--he was just a young boy at the time, helping to line the park with sawdust.

"When I was 16 I went to work on my uncle and aunt's farm near Hightae, called Smallholm. Later I bought the neighbouring farm--it was called Smallholmburn. They were not very inventive in names in those days! When my uncle and aunt died I took over their farm then rented another in the same area, Upper Dormont. I worked these three farms seven days a week, 365 days a year for over 35 years but eventually sold them three years ago.

"It was then that Ronnie Bradford approached me with a view to joining the Board of Directors at Palmerston and I did so in August, 2001.

"I still vividly remember my first ever visit to Palmerston. It was in August, 1948 and I was only 11 years old. Queens beat Partick Thistle 8-2 that day and Billy Houliston scored five of them. My granny took me to the game and we had to walk four miles from Hightae to Lochmaben to catch the bus to Dumfries and we'd to do the same on the way home. Another memorable match was in October, 1955 when Queens beat Hearts 4-3. We came back from 3-1 down and Wattie Rothera scored the winner in the final minute.

"The 5-4 victory over Ayr United in the Scottish Cup replay at Palmerston in 1976 also springs to mind and I'll never forget the roar when Peter Dickson's lob finished in the back of the net for an extra-time winner. Since I became actively involved with the club two games I really enjoyed were the championship clincher when we won 3-0 up at Forfar and the Challenge Cup semi-final tie the following season when we beat St Mirren 5-3 at Paisley."

David's boyhood heroes were Billy Houliston and Roy Henderson. He recalls "Billy was a big strong bustling player and when he was capped for Scotland I was ever so proud. Roy was known as the 'Clown Prince of goalkeepers' and really lived up to his image. Jim Patterson was another player I admired. He could score goals from all angles with both his head and feet. I'm told he netted 251 goals in his 14 years with Queens--a record which will never be equalled. In more modern times only Andy Thomson could come close to him as a prolific scorer.

"In today's team there are several players I admire but now that I'm Chairman I don't think I should name them in case they come after me looking for more money" he joked.

On our manager the new chairman reflects "I think what John Connolly has achieved is phenomenal. In the short space of three and a half years he has taken us from the foot of the Second Division to the top of the First Division, albeit a five week spell. We have won the Division Two Championship and lifted the Bells Challenge Cup--it's the best managerial record there has ever been at Palmerston. He has a great backroom staff in 'Scottie', Warren Pearson and Kenny Crichton--not forgetting all the youth coaches who are out in all weathers with the youngsters. In fact all the staff at Palmerston play a big part and I'd like to say a special 'thank-you' to the many people who give up their valuable time and work for the club for nothing.

"At times I feel some of our fans go a bit O.T.T. (over the top) and expect too much too soon. To finish fifth last season was fantastic and if we could finish up third or fourth this season it would be another outstanding achievement. However, we've got to be realistic--we're a 'part-time' club competing at a high level in the most competitive league in Scotland. Of course it would be great to win the championship but clubs like St Johnstone, Falkirk and Inverness Caley Thistle have the strength in depth which we don't have.

"When I first came to the club our home gates were averaging about 1200, now they're up to 2600 which is great and I'd like to thank the fans for their support. I've come in as chairman when Queens are on a high and my aim is to keep up the interest, build upon it and take the club to a higher level. There are some important matters which need to be addressed--upgrading the ground and securing better training facilities are two of the main ones--but it all takes time".

Bill Goldie