Palmy Salutes A Legend

Glasgow Rangers were the visitors for Queen's legend Jim Thomson's testimonial at Palmerston on Sunday. Rangers manager Walter Smith as promised brought down a strong side and the Doonhamers rose to the occassion to put on a fine showing.

Rangers, sporting a rather strange looking away kit as expected dictated the early stages but Queens were well marshalled by Reid and McKenna and stood firm although Miller should have had a least one goal but was thwarted by the much maligned McKenzie in the home goal.

Queens were living on scraps but the talented Carmichael was showing up well and is certainly one for the future. The enigmatic Mclaren also threatened now and then but Queens rarely troubled the experienced Rangers rearguard.

Towards the interval McKenzie took a nasty one to his thigh and had to go off. With no substitute goalkeeper Queens had to throw on Scally who ran towards the Portland Road end to be greeted like a hero by the faithful.

Rangers entered into the sporting feel of the occassion by lending Queens one of their goalkeepers McGregor for the second half and the big Ranger took his place in the home goal to great cheers from the regulars in the West Stand.


Rangers continued to dominate and although Queens made a game of it they were unable to prevent Naismith setting up Miller for a neat goal on 54 minutes which proved to be the winner.

The man of the moment Thomson eventually came on for the last 20 minutes or so and every Queens fans was praying that the big man could get his napper on to a corner and score but it was not to be and Rangers ran out winners as both teams introduced their young brigade for the final few minutes.

At the finish the great man jogged round the hallowed Palmy turf to receive warm applause from Queens and Rangers fans alike.

Jim Thomson was a fine player and a nicer bloke you couldn't meet. I had many a natter with him and his charming wife Victoria in the Bar after games.

The Scottish cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden was probably Jim's finest hour when his equalising goal put us within touching distance of the Cup. However his finest game in a Queens shirt in my opinion was at Cappielow in 1997 when we beat Greenock Morton 2-0 in the Challenge Cup semi-final. We went 2-0 up through goals by Flannigan and Mallan but Jim almost on his own kept Morton at bay in the closing minutes with a magnificent display of defending.

Queens MAD wish Jim,Victoria and family all the best of luck in the future and thanks for the memories.

Sunday's teams: QUEENS - McKenzie(Scally 42)(Alexander 46) McGuffie,Harris (Thomson 70) Reid,McKenna,Johnson(Reilly 83) Burns(Orsi 83)McLaren,Holmes(McShane 83) Carmichael,Weatherstone(O'Connor 58) (Degnan 83)

RANGERS - McGregor,Broadfoot,Weir(Wilson 65) Webster(Loy 65) Papac(Bendiski 70) McCulloch(Fleck 60) Davis(McMillan 60) Naismith(Skinner 60) Whittaker(Wylde 60) Miller (Ness 60) Lafferty(Perry 65)

JIM WITH SILVERWARE THAT FAMOUS HAMPDEN GOAL JIM INSPECTS HIS GUARD OF HONOUR