Putting The Fun Back Into Football

Q.P.S.A. F.C.
By The Spider
December 1 2002

Saturday, 30th November "The Hoops" 3 "Irn Bru" 2 (QPSA Practice Match)

There were a lot of sore limbs to be found in the South Stand prior to the Queen's v Stirling Albion game at Hampden, but that had little to do with the flu virus which had inflicted the Spiders' squad in the days leading up to Saturday.

Instead, these aches and pains were to be found amongst the ranks of the Club's supporters who had got together earlier that morning at the nearby Holyrood School's Sports Centre to take part in a practice match to mark the reformation of the Supporters Association Football Team which had been mothballed for several years.

For the game, which was organised on behalf of the Association by Hector Cook, those who ought to know better were joined by those who are not yet old enough to know better, but nonetheless a happy time was had by all.

Partly to make allowance for the majority of players who now come into the "veteran" category, but also to give as many of them a game as possible, it was agreed that proceedings should commence with 12-a-side. Although the initial 24 players were arbitrarily split between "The Hoops" and "Irn Bru", the sides ended up being pretty well matched with "The Hoops" just shading it by 3-2. Alan Johnston opened the scoring for "Irn Bru", but goals from Stephen McGilp and Ally Dick gave "The Hoops" a deserved interval lead. Although substitute Hector Cook grabbed an equaliser, Paul Quigley snatched the winner for "The Hoops".

Many of the oldies who will form the nucleus of the side showed that they had lost none of their silky skills, although it was noticeable that there were considerably fewer one-two's played than was the case in yesteryear! However, it was good to see some fresh faces prove their worth, and Ally Dick & Paul Quigley for "The Hoops" and Alan Johnston & Andy Myles for "Irn Bru" particularly caught the eye. A special mention too for Eileen Myles who became the first member of the fairer sex to represent the Supporter's team, and she certainly did more than enough to merit inclusion on future occasions. All the players owe a debt of gratitude to Joe "Columbo" McMonagle who kindly refereed the game, and who proved that it is indeed possible to maintain control of a match for the entire 90 minutes without moving more than ten yards either side of the halfway line!

It should now be possible to put together a fairly decent side who hope to play a few games after the New Year against other club's supporters' teams on Saturday mornings prior to Queen's games. However, the dressing room was rocked by Colin "big Leggy" Stewart after the game (no, it wasn't him sitting down!) who intimated that he was now retiring after more than 20 years service to the team.

Just like the team these players support, the search for a goal-scorer is now on!

 

THE HOOPS : Martin Harvey, Andy McNaught, Fraser Gibson, David Wilson, Gordon Hunter, Paul Bladworth, Colin Shepherd, Stephen McGilp, Joe Mullaney, Derek Stronach, Ally Dick, Paul Quigley   Sub : Alan Raeburn

IRN BRU : Martin Kelly, Stephen McGovern, Richard Johnstone, Jamie McNab, Ian Fitzpatrick, Andy Myles, Graeme Shields, Ross Greig, Alan Johnston, Colin Stewart, Chris Creighton, Scott Gorrod   Subs : Hector Cook, Eileen Myles

REFEREE : Joe McMonagle * * * * *