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Key information about Palmerston Park

Palmerston Park was officially opened in 1919 but football had been played there since as early as 1870s. Now, it houses the Queen of the South FC, a Scottish Championship side, and is located on Terregles Street in Dumfries.

Its current maximum capacity stands at 8,690 but with only 3,377 seated places and with a pitch that measures 105m by 65m. The surface of the field is covered with artificial turf and has no running track surrounding it.

The highest ever recorded attendance at Palmerston Park was set on 23 February 1952, when 26,552 people watched the Queen of the South lose 3-1 against Hearts in a Scottish Cup third-round tie.

A history of Palmerston Park

Palmerston Park’s official history starts with the formation of the club it currently houses in 1919. However, football had been played there even before that and as early as the 1870s. It gets its name from a former farm that was located on the site, called Palmers Toun. In 1921, the Queen of the South FC bought the ground for £1,500, making it their new home ever since.

And unsurprisingly, this is also when most of the redevelopment were initially started. In the following years, Palmerston Park would cover the Portland Drive Terrace, install floodlights and construct the main stand by 1965, shortly after the original one had burned down in a fire. Interestingly enough, the club still has the highest floodlights in Scottish football, standing at 85 feet.

In 1933, they also erected the Jimmy Jolly’s Bullshed stand, later to be known as the Coo Shed, naming it after one of the founding members of the club. But that stand was demolished and replaced by an all seater East Stand in 1995 with a game against Glasgow Rangers played to celebrate its opening.

In recent years, Palmerston Park has seen more redevelopment and improvement despite its residents plummeting to the Scottish Second Division in 2012. Queen of the South installed new water systems and ticket offices and even planned the development of the main stand which has mostly remained unchanged since its early days that go back to the 1960s.

In March 2013, the club was given the permission to install a new 5G artificial pitch at Palmerston Park for the start of the 2013/14 campaign and later on, they sold the turf for £10 per square yard and auctioned the four corner plots, both penalty spots and Ryan McCann’s 84 yard spot as well.

Apart from being used for football, Palmerston Park has also hosted a live music concert in June 2015 with performances by Status Quo, Big Country and Reef. As of September 2014, the official capacity of the stadium sits at 8,690, with 3,377 seats included.

Tickets to watch Queen of the South FC at Palmerston Park

All tickets to watch Queen of the South FC play at Palmerston Park can be found on the club’s official website. The average price of an adult ticket is around £18 for all areas of the ground.

The club also offers season tickets that can be bought for £210 for adults. More information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.qosfc.com/home – Official website of Queen of the South FC

https://www.qosfc.com/stadium – Key information about Palmerston Park

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Liverpool’s rich history and recent run of success can often distort what a rollercoaster of a ride it’s been. The positive signings and season-defining moments can make a lot of people forget just how much the Reds have struggled in the past.

Rafa Benitez had just let one of the side’s best players leave in a £30million move to Real Madrid. An influential midfielder who helped Liverpool reach the dizzying heights of their 2005 Champions League win and 2006 FA Cup success. Steven Gerrard and Co needed someone of similar calibre to fill the void in midfield.

It would be a tall ask and, certainly in hindsight, one Benitez would not be able to deliver on.

Alberto Aquilani was welcomed to the club in the summer of 2009, after Liverpool agreed a £20m fee with Roma. The Italian’s stats weren’t spellbinding during his time in the capital, but he had the promise to contribute to the Reds’ engine room. However, nothing could’ve been further from reality.

In the three years he was a Liverpool player, Aquilani made just 28 appearances and spent the rest of his time out on loan. He missed the opening eight matches of the Premier League in the 2009/10 season with an ankle injury sustained in Italy.

The midfielder managed to muster up a measly two goals in his 28 matches played across all competitions for the Reds, with just six assists to top that off (via Transfermarkt). Off the back of his debut season, he was sent out on loan twice before Fiorentina decided to take him off Liverpool’s hands permanently.

Aquilani moved back to Italy in a €7m (£6.3m) transfer to Fiorentina, where he made more of an impact, but didn’t set the league alight.

Ultimately, Liverpool saw a huge 68.5% loss on what they originally forked out for the midfield man. A massive deficit which has no doubt created a sense of wariness for the club as they approach future deals.

How would you describe Alberto Aquilani’s time at Anfield? Join the conversation in the comments below…

West Ham’s season has finally drawn to a close and fans have been left discussing the future of one player in particular – many aren’t happy with him either.

Irons drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at the London Stadium, which saw the visitors secure their place in the Premier League for next term.

Sebastien Haller was given a little runout in the second half, replacing Michail Antonio at the break though he wasn’t much better.

A recurring theme was the fact that the French forward was a waste of time, money and space having cost a club-record £45m last summer. His value has plummetted to £32.4m as per Transfermarkt.

Haller was also blasted for being “lazy” and “absolute toilet.”

Via SofaScore, the 26-year-old failed to register a shot on target from two attempts, had just 22 touches and lost possession four times from that too.

Some fans believed that David Moyes was effectively putting their star summer signing in the ‘shop window’ by introducing him in the final game of the season.

It’s led to many wanting Haller to be sold, once again he was slammed for being “useless” and that he doesn’t bring anything to the side.

There were even a couple of members in the Irons faithful who already had a replacement in mind – that being Brentford talisman Ollie Watkins or QPR’s Eberechi Eze.

AND in other news, West Ham can’t afford to sell Moyes’ resurgent £45m superstar this summer….

According to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham face the prospect of a summer in which they have “no sizeable transfer budget” to play with.

What did he say?

Despite the welcome news of the Premier League restarting next month, the upcoming summer transfer window is likely to be relatively low-key as clubs search for ways to try and strengthen their squad with limited amounts of money.

And as per Gold, the uncertainty still surrounding football and the top-flight in England has all added to Spurs having very little to spend in the transfer market should Jose Mourinho wish to do so.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

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He said: “Right now as it stands, there’s a massive hole in finances so yes there’s no sizeable transfer budget. What happens next with TV money and lost receipts will define whether that continues to be the case, hence why there’s been no agreement with the players to cut/defer their wages yet.

“Hopefully today’s meeting and the talk of a June 17 start will have brought some answers.”

Worrying

Gold’s assessment is hardly the most surprising of news considering the current climate. But even still, it’s something that Mourinho will surely be concerned about.

The current Spurs boss will be heading into his first summer in charge at Spurs, and would no doubt have wanted to make some major changes to the squad that he inherited from his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino.

Given that he was used to spending big money at his previous clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea, having to make do with a shoestring budget may hearken back to his glory days back at Porto.

Unless he can weave some magic with the players he already has at his disposal, next season may be a difficult one for Mourinho try and navigate through without any new faces of his own.

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Mark Noble has admitted in his Evening Standard column that the endless speculation over not only Marko Arnautovic’s future, but also that of every one of West Ham United’s strikers, has affected the team.

What’s the word?

Arnautovic spent most of the January window with his head seemingly elsewhere when it emerged that clubs in the Chinese Super League were chasing his signature. Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez also had their names regularly spread across the back pages.

Even the injury-prone Andy Carroll was tipped to be heading for the exit door as a shock replacement for Harry Kane at Tottenham. But come the end of deadline day, not one of the quartet actually left the London Stadium.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals what Lasagne-Gate was really like for Tottenham’s food-poisoned stars – Check out the video below…

Now, with the window behind them, Hammers captain Noble has acknowledged in his Evening Standard column that the speculation over their respective futures affected the rest of the squad.

The £6.3million rated midfielder noted: “That [speculation] has to have an effect on everyone, not just the players concerned but all the squad.

“It hasn’t been ideal at all. Everyone knows how it works. Agents are very active during the window, and there is no way players concerned can prepare properly for a game when that is happening.

“I’m not making any excuses for our past two performances, but it must have had an adverse effect.”

Pellegrini’s man-management crucial

When the leader of the pack is stating that the interest in his colleagues has affected results, the captain of the ship must step up and hit refresh on the mindset of his players.

In the case of West Ham, this responsibility falls to Manuel Pellegrini and the end product of his man management will come clear on Monday night when the Irons host the current league leaders Liverpool.

The Reds will be keen to push further clear of the current title-holders with a win, and if Jurgen Klopp can orchestrate such a result, it will be the Hammers’ fourth loss in a row after defeats at Bournemouth, AFC Wimbledon and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There is only so much Pellegrini can do when it comes to outside influences, such as transfer talk and whispering agents – but after Noble suggested this is a common issue at the club in January, it’s something he’ll need to try and prepare for next time around.

For now though, Pellegrini needs to get his squad simply thinking about their football again, rather than potential futures elsewhere.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is famed for his running speed, but Rasmus Hojlund claims to be even quicker over the turf.

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England ace is famed for his paceDanish striker now on boardTight race predicted between pairWHAT HAPPENED?

Rashford’s ability to race past opponents has helped him to become an established star at Old Trafford and an international performer with 55 England caps to his name. Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt is among his many admirers, with the Olympic gold medallist conceding that even he would struggle to live with Rashford’s pace over a short distance.

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Hojlund – who joined United for £72 million ($89m) during the summer transfer window – says he is even quicker than Rashford, telling reporters when asked who would prevail in a race between the pair: “That’s me.” He added on linking up with Rashford in speedy counter-attacks: “We try to talk to each other and he knows I'm going to be there. He knows I can keep up with his pace when we go on the counter.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Rashford has made a slow start to the 2023-24 campaign, with United often struggling as a collective, but Hojlund is backing a proven performer to come good. He added: “I really like and enjoy playing with him. He is a world-class player. He's a player I've looked up to, even though he's only a few years older than me. He has done well since he came in as a 19-year-old and scored against Midtjylland. I think he has been a great player ever since, and it is of course great that we are team-mates today.”

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Rashford hit 30 goals for United across all competitions last season, earning him a new contract, but has just one effort to his name this term. Hojlund has delivered more end product for the Red Devils, with the 20-year-old Denmark international striker finding the target on three occasions through eight appearances.

Darwin Nunez scored a stunning goal for Liverpool against Bournemouth just seconds after a terrible first-touch, leaving Jamie Carragher agog.

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Nunez scored winnerCurled ball home from rangeLiverpool into quarter-finalsWHAT HAPPENED?

Nunez showed off both the worst side of his game and the best within three seconds in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth on the south coast. He initially failed to control a simple pass, and was jeered by the home crowd for it, before bending an outrageous finish into the top corner from just inside the box.

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Carragher was watching his former club and made sure to pass comment on the Uruguay international, who has endured some ups and downs at Anfield since his arrival. The former defender aptly labelled Nunez "Captain chaos".

DID YOU KNOW?

Nunez has been in fine form this season and has scored seven goals in 14 games in all competitions, while also laying on five assists.

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Liverpool face Luton Town in the Premier League at Kenilworth Road this weekend.

England are preparing to open their quest for Women’s World Cup glory in 2023, but can they dethrone the all-conquering USWNT?

The Lionesses have headed to Australia and New Zealand as reigning European champions and winners of the inaugural Finalissima from back in April. Sarina Wiegman’s side are – despite having to deal with a number of unfortunate injuries – expected to go well Down Under and will feel as though they are a match for anybody on their day.

The United States are, however, the current holders and four-time winners of FIFA’s flagship event, with an almighty effort required from somebody in order to wrestle a global crown from their clutches.

Can England do that and what will it take to halt the USWNT’s relentless march towards title number five?

GOAL put those questions to Lionesses legend Rachel Yankey.

GettyReady to roar!

Quizzed on whether England are, player for player, a match for any other team in the tournament at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Yankey – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “Great question. I think it’s a good squad. Obviously if there weren’t injuries, it would probably be a different squad. I suppose throughout the three group games, we’ll see. I think the attack looks stronger than our defence – our defence is relatively unknown. You need time to form partnerships and obviously with players being injured and being out, that hasn’t been the case, but there is no reason why they can’t really go on and be strong. I think there will be more tinkering with this squad and group and the XI that starts than there was in the Euros.”

AdvertisementGettyFear factor

Pressed on whether there are any chinks in the American armour that could be exposed by the likes of England – with any side harbouring ambitions of going all the way likely to have go through the USWNT at some stage – Yankey said: “Yeah. Again, I think their defence. I don’t think they have got the strongest defence that they could have had. I always think that the way English teams play, you always have a chance of beating the USA. Even teams that I played for, and knowing a few of the U.S. National Team when we were playing, they always had a fear against the English – in terms of how we play football. It was more back then the mentality of did we really believe that we were good enough?”

GettyBelieve!

Ted Lasso, the star of the hit Apple TV+ show, was big on the power of belief at AFC Richmond and Yankey feels that quality could serve England well on the back of their recent successes. She added: “I think this squad, because they have won the Euros, actually will go into this World Cup believing that they are good enough, and that’s powerful. I wouldn’t be fearful of playing the U.S. Sometimes it’s easier to play the bigger nations. I know it’s a more difficult game, but you’re not playing against that underdog – not to say that there is complacency, but you have got to up your standard, you know that when you come across a team like Spain, like USA, France, Germany, you have got to be at your best because at any time they could beat you. I think this England team will be able to look back at their experiences from the Euros and that will put them in a really good place.”

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GettyWinning mentality

England now know what it takes to win a major tournament, while coach Wiegman boasts two continental triumphs to her name. Yankey said when asked if that winning mentality is what separates the class of 2023 from the Lionesses of years gone by, with there a belief now that they can beat anybody: “100 per cent. That’s why, for me, players like Lucy Bronze, you need players like that – that never say die and always pushing on for the next thing. OK, she hasn’t got the captain’s armband, but she is definitely a leader in that team. You need your team to be strong off the pitch. In tournament football it’s about being close, having each other’s back, and it seems like they have that. Draw on the experiences from the Euros, you believe in the manager. When you are maybe questioning if that’s the right thing, well she has been there, done it and won the Euros twice. That gives you a bit more faith to listen to the words and to go out for the tactics and what you want to do.”

The Arsenal winger scored three as a rampant England side battered North Macedonia to continue their perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

Bukayo Saka bagged his first England hat-trick, turning in a star showing as the Three Lions brushed aside a helpless North Macedonia with a 7-0 win.

Harry Kane opened the scoring, firing home from short range after a surging run and cross from Luke Shaw. Two more came in the opening period. First, it was Saka, lashing into the roof of the net after a sweeping move down the right. Marcus Rashford then provided a decisive third right before the break, continuing his strong run of form in an England shirt.

And more came after half-time. The emerging connection between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Saka continued to be productive, with the Arsenal man smashing a looping ball into the top corner for a stunning fourth.

The rout only continued, with Saka, Kalvin Phillips and Kane all finding the net to complete an emphatic evening, and inflict North Macedonia's heaviest-ever defeat.

GOAL rates England's players from Old Trafford…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (6/10):

Didn't face a single shot. His quietest night in a while.

Kyle Walker (7/10):

Rapid as ever, grabbed an assist, linked up well with Alexander-Arnold. Can still be excellent at 33.

John Stones (6/10):

Back to a more conventional centre-back role, and didn't really have to do much.

Harry Maguire (6/10):

Entrusted with another England start. Made one very funny run into the North Macedonia box.

Luke Shaw (8/10):

Assisted the opener, did the necessary defensive work. A player full of confidence.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold (8/10):

Once again thrived in a midfield role. Completed all-but two of his passes, assisted the fourth, and was instrumental in the build-up for two others.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Tidy on the day, even though he didn't have all that much to do.

Jordan Henderson (7/10):

Typically energetic, won the ball a lot, but probably needs a rest.

Attack

Bukayo Saka (10/10):

Smashed one into the roof of the net with his right foot. Went even better for his second, blasting home from outside the box. Finished his hat-trick by beating the keeper in a one-on-one. A special player.

Harry Kane (8/10):

Bagged his 57th international goal to put England ahead – an easy tap in from close range. Scored his 58th from the spot in the second half. Also assisted Saka's third.

Marcus Rashford (8/10):

Grabbed the third goal, and was a menace in his standout 60 minutes. Has scored in both of his last two starts for the Three Lions.

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Subs & Manager

Conor Gallagher (5/10):

Ran around a lot, but tried to do too much at times.

Kalvin Phillips (6/10):

An unlikely goalscorer. Good to see him get some minutes under his belt.

Jack Grealish (6/10):

Came on when the game was mostly finished. Does he have Southgate's full trust?

Phil Foden (6/10):

A few nice touches on the right. Still hasn't found his best in an England shirt.

Callum Wilson (N/A):

A brief cameo. Now seems to be the preferred back-up to Kane.

Gareth Southgate (9/10):

Back to his 4-3-3, with most of his presumptive first choice XI in the squad. The opposition were poor on the day, but he will have few complaints about such a big win.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has some big decisions to make ahead of Monday's opening group-stage game with Iran.

The wait is almost over. England will finally get their 2022 World Cup under way on Monday afternoon when they take on Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The Three Lions reached the semi-finals in Russia four years ago and then went even closer at Euro 2022, losing to Italy on penalties in the final at Wembley.

So, this time around, they are looking to go one step further in Qatar and finally get their hands on a first major international trophy since 1966.

But who should Gareth Southgate pick to start the tournament against Iran?

We asked GOAL correspondent Charles Watts for his chosen 11 and he went for a 4-3-3 formation with the following players…

GettyGK: Jordan Pickford

His club form may have been questioned from time to time, but Pickford is a mainstay in the England team and deserves his place at No.1.

And, despite a few errors, he was impressive for the Toffees last season, playing a major role in keeping them up as they picked up crucial points towards the end of the campaign.

He has big tournament experience and is a fine shot-stopper. He is also good with the ball at his feet, which is a key attribute given the way England try and play.

Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope are both having good seasons in the Premier League, but Pickford is still just ahead of them in the England pecking order.

AdvertisementGettyRB: Kieran Trippier

What a season Trippier is having with Newcastle!

With Reece James injured, Kyle Walker still not fully fit and with Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling for form, Tripper has to be the starting right-back for England at this tournament.

He has been exceptional since returning to the Premier League in January, both defensively and going forward.

Trippier’s set-piece delivery is as good as anyone and he has the tournament experience that is often needed when the pressure really begins to build.

An easy choice.

CB: Ben White

It doesn’t matter that Ben White has been playing as a right-back for Arsenal this season, he should still be one of the two starting centre-backs for England in Qatar.

White is just an incredibly gifted footballer. The fact he has performed so well playing out of position this season is proof of that.

He is quick, he reads the game exceptionally and you won’t find a defender more comfortable in possession than he is.

If the out-of-form and under-played Harry Maguire starts ahead of him, it will be a laughable decision on Southgate's part.

White should be one of the first names down on the England team sheet, and an integral part of the England defence for the foreseeable future.

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GettyCB: John Stones

A Stones and White central defensive partnership is a very exciting prospect for England.

Both are excellent on the ball and have the ability to be progressive when they are looking to play out from the back.

They are both strong defenders and have good recovery pace to get themselves out of tricky situations if needed.

Stones has not featured in every game for City this season, but he has still played enough to be sharp and match fit.

Another player who knows what is needed in major tournaments, he has a clear edge over the likes of Conor Coady.