Pack the Palmy!

THE stage is set, the lights are ready and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Palmerston Park will take centre stage tonight as Queen of the South begin their quest for Championship promotion in the play-off semi-final first leg against Stenhousemuir. And Queens chief executive Dan Armstrong believes a buzzing Palmerston can be a deciding ingredient to success. Speaking ahead of the Tuesday night showdown, he issued a passionate plea to the people of Dumfries to pack the stands. Armstrong said: “We are urging Dumfries to get right behind the team in our play-off semi-final first leg. “We all want the same thing – to get back into the Championship and this is a moment where that backing really counts.” He added: “We’ve all seen what nights at Palmerston can be like when it’s full and we are all behind the team. “Those memorable occasions, the noise, the feeling when something big is building – that only happens when everyone is there and part of it. “Those are the moments people talk about long after the final whistle.” Armstrong noted that the energy from the terraces translates directly to the pitch. He added: “The players have worked hard to put themselves in this position and they’ll feel that support. “In tight games that backing can lift them, give them belief and help them find something extra. “We’re asking the whole community to come together and move in one direction. “Nights like this are what football is all about. If we all play our part, we give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving what we all want.” Last season, Peter Murphy’s men suffered the heartbreak of falling at the semi-final hurdle. This year, there is a determination to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself. And QoS no2 Colin McMenamin has echoed calls for the Dumfries public to turn out in their numbers for Tuesday’s crucial first leg. He said: “It’s a huge help to the team to get that backing. “I know Tuesday nights can be difficult, but the atmosphere really helps. “The kids behind the goals make such a good noise and it really roars us on. We want to drum up as much support as possible.” As Tuesday night approaches, the message from the club is clear. The journey back to the Championship starts at home and every voice in Dumfries is needed to help carry them over the line.