Doonhamers clinch European place

Queen of the South fans will venture into Europe next season

Queen of the South supporters have started making plans for following their club in Europe.

Rangers win over St Johnstone on Sunday in the second Scottish Cup semi-final means the Dumfries side goes into the Uefa Cup competition next season.

An attempt by the Scottish Football Association to stop cup runners-up getting into the Uefa draw has failed.

Queen of the South are now guaranteed a place in the Uefa Cup whatever the outcome of the Scottish Cup final.

Followers of the Dumfries side have been amazed they have ended their season by securing their first European campaign.

"It has not really sunk in yet," admitted club spokesman and long-time fan Bill Goldie.

He said the team had come a long way from one of its early fixtures of this season - a 1-0 defeat to East Fife in the CIS Cup.

"We were all disappointed then because a CIS Cup run is worth quite a lot of money," he said.

However, he was quick to point out that Queen of the South are not total novices in the continental game with experience going back to 1936.

Cup victory

"We are not completely new to European football," he said.

"We were one of the first teams to go and play games in a tour in France.

"And we also went and won a cup in Algeria which is still here at Palmerston."

Those were all friendly clashes but the Uefa Cup will be Queens' first competitive foray into Europe.

Last season's Scottish Cup runners-up, Dunfermline Athletic, entered the Uefa Cup competition at the second qualifying round.

They lost out to BK Hacken of Sweden at that stage.

Victory in the cup final against Rangers on 24 May could see Queen of the South enter the competition at a later round.