The final home game of the season saw Ross County come to Palmerston desperate for three points to ensure survival whilst Alloa were desperate for us to do them a favour and keep them alive in the fight to avoid relegation. It was Alloa who were the happier at full time as we did our part with a 1-0 win provided by Sean O'Connor's winner after half an hour. Colin Scott made a couple of fine saves to confirm the victory but, in truth, County deserved nothing from the game. At the end of the game, Brian McLaughlin threw his shirt to the crowd and John O'Neill, who is left out after missing training for a fortnight, is seen departing the ground with all his boots. Both are interpreted as signs the players in question will be moving on.
Queens defence on top against County
Later that night, at the Doonhamers Travel Club Player of the Year Dance, Steve Bowey is confirmed as the Player of the Year with Brian McColligan getting the Young Player of the Year Award. Bowey also takes Goal of the Season for his strike at St Mirren in the Challenge Cup semi-final. It's a poor turn out from the players though with only eight showing face, two of them the departing Goram and Gray. The others were Aitken, Thomson, Atkinson, Dawson, Bowey and Weatherson.
During the following week it's confirmed that Sean O'Connor has also agreed a new deal for next season but that John O'Neill had failed to turn up for further contract talks and, as a result, the club now accepted he would be moving on. He would go on to sign a two year deal with St Mirren after the final league games were played. Brian McLaughlin had also intimated that he was close to agreeing a deal with a full-time club but, as he had kept the club informed all along and continued to train and play as required, he would be in the pool for Saturday's final match. It was also confirmed that Partick Thistle had offered £10,000 for Peter Weatherson, which was rejected out of hand by the club.
The season finished in fine style with a first win over pre-season favourites St Johnstone away at McDiarmid Park. Derek Lyle scored the only goal of a game that saw first starts for Paul Burns and Willie Gibson. Gibson it was who crossed for the goal. It's one of the youngest Queens starting eleven's in history with only captain Jim Thomson (31), over the age of 25 in a team with an average age, even including him, of just 22 years old! It also includes Jamie Campbell making a first appearance of the season and a farewell appearance at the same time when Colin Scott is unavailable through injury. The club also announce that Ben Dawson joins the list of players leaving whilst negotiations are continuing with Eric Paton who has been offered a deal but is yet to accept it.
An extremely successful season sees the club finish three points ahead of Ayr United in fifth spot, comfortably Scotland's top part-time team, with 48 points from 36 games. John Connolly's achievements see him generally held to be one of two candidates for the, still to be announced, Divisional Manager of the Year Award along with Clyde's Alan Kernaghan whilst Steve Bowey is named in a Division One Team of the Season by "The Sun" newspaper. Connolly however somehow manages not to get even a Manager of the Month award after results remained consistent throughout the season rather than particularly good in any one particular month.
Honours & Awards List
Bell's Scottish League Division One - 5th
Scottish Cup 3rd Round
CIS Insurance Cup 2nd Round
Bell's Challenge Cup Winners 2002
Scottish Brewers Challenge Cup Runners Up
Southern Counties Cup Winners
Doonhamers Travel Club Awards
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Young Player of the Year - Brian McColligan
"Away Day" Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Goal of the Season - Steve Bowey
Female Supporters "Rear of the Year" - Andy Aitken
Female Supporters "Lunchbox" Award - Andy Goram
QoS Fan Club Awards
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Young Player of the Year - Steven MacKay
Globe Inn Doonhamers Fan Club Award
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
QoS Internet Supporters Club
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Junior Blues
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Facts and Figures
Appearances
Queens defence on top against County
Later that night, at the Doonhamers Travel Club Player of the Year Dance, Steve Bowey is confirmed as the Player of the Year with Brian McColligan getting the Young Player of the Year Award. Bowey also takes Goal of the Season for his strike at St Mirren in the Challenge Cup semi-final. It's a poor turn out from the players though with only eight showing face, two of them the departing Goram and Gray. The others were Aitken, Thomson, Atkinson, Dawson, Bowey and Weatherson.
During the following week it's confirmed that Sean O'Connor has also agreed a new deal for next season but that John O'Neill had failed to turn up for further contract talks and, as a result, the club now accepted he would be moving on. He would go on to sign a two year deal with St Mirren after the final league games were played. Brian McLaughlin had also intimated that he was close to agreeing a deal with a full-time club but, as he had kept the club informed all along and continued to train and play as required, he would be in the pool for Saturday's final match. It was also confirmed that Partick Thistle had offered £10,000 for Peter Weatherson, which was rejected out of hand by the club.
The season finished in fine style with a first win over pre-season favourites St Johnstone away at McDiarmid Park. Derek Lyle scored the only goal of a game that saw first starts for Paul Burns and Willie Gibson. Gibson it was who crossed for the goal. It's one of the youngest Queens starting eleven's in history with only captain Jim Thomson (31), over the age of 25 in a team with an average age, even including him, of just 22 years old! It also includes Jamie Campbell making a first appearance of the season and a farewell appearance at the same time when Colin Scott is unavailable through injury. The club also announce that Ben Dawson joins the list of players leaving whilst negotiations are continuing with Eric Paton who has been offered a deal but is yet to accept it.
An extremely successful season sees the club finish three points ahead of Ayr United in fifth spot, comfortably Scotland's top part-time team, with 48 points from 36 games. John Connolly's achievements see him generally held to be one of two candidates for the, still to be announced, Divisional Manager of the Year Award along with Clyde's Alan Kernaghan whilst Steve Bowey is named in a Division One Team of the Season by "The Sun" newspaper. Connolly however somehow manages not to get even a Manager of the Month award after results remained consistent throughout the season rather than particularly good in any one particular month.
Honours & Awards List
Bell's Scottish League Division One - 5th
Scottish Cup 3rd Round
CIS Insurance Cup 2nd Round
Bell's Challenge Cup Winners 2002
Scottish Brewers Challenge Cup Runners Up
Southern Counties Cup Winners
Doonhamers Travel Club Awards
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Young Player of the Year - Brian McColligan
"Away Day" Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Goal of the Season - Steve Bowey
Female Supporters "Rear of the Year" - Andy Aitken
Female Supporters "Lunchbox" Award - Andy Goram
QoS Fan Club Awards
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Young Player of the Year - Steven MacKay
Globe Inn Doonhamers Fan Club Award
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
QoS Internet Supporters Club
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Junior Blues
Player of the Year - Steve Bowey
Facts and Figures
Appearances