Part-time football one response to big freeze

The harsh winter weather has hit already cash strapped clubs in Scotland hard.   Dumfries club Queen of the South is thinking about going back to part-time football as a response.   They have not staged a home game since November 13th, the worst record since the winter of 1962-3   They are hoping that a cup replay will go ahead tonight and that virtually their only geographical rival Annan Athletic will win.

The harsh winter weather has hit already cash strapped clubs in Scotland hard.   Dumfries club Queen of the South is thinking about going back to part-time football as a response.   They have not staged a home game since November 13th, the worst record since the winter of 1962-3   They are hoping that a cup replay will go ahead tonight and that virtually their only geographical rival Annan Athletic will win.


The south of Scotland is sparsely peopled and this is reflected in the limited number of football clubs.   Stranraer are the only other possible rivals to Queen of the South. Even before the bad weather attendances at Queen of the South were down by 50 per cent.


The population of Dumfries is about 43,000 which in England might support a third tier non-league club.   However, the club reached the Scottish Cup final in 2008.