Sport and it’s clubs are a global entity, followed by the masses for centuries and brought much joy to it’s communities.
I would often sit and wonder if supporting a sports club that sits on the other side of the world is not only possible, but respected by the local fans which come from the place the club represents.
Fans who support these clubs will eventually make the trip to see their teams in the flesh, for many it isn’t possible and they will have to settle for live scores or the possible TV appearance.
I am a fan of Scottish football, I support a small club from Dumfries called Queen of the South Football Club.
For years I would struggle to find my place following the club, restricted access to games on TV and not being able to interact with other fans who are in the terraces each week made it difficult to strike up conversation.
Proud of my Scottish roots and wanting to support a professional club from the south and close to my Grandparents town of Selkirk. I stumbled across Queens in 2007 after they signed Stephen Dobbie and went on to survive relegation. They were the team for me.
Live scores, merchandise and the weekly YouTube highlights were all I had to keep the fire burning, then the global covid pandemic hit in 2019 and everything changed.
With crowds locked out, clubs were forced to broaden their horizons and the Queens TV live stream was born. The coverage is as close to professional as you could get.
I finally had access to the club which I never could have dreamed of. Weekly live streaming of matches, shout outs on the coverage from commentators and now the ability to discuss performance and tactics with other fans.
Being a small club in the Scottish Championship I find myself not getting lost in discussion like you do with bigger clubs that have billionaire and millionaire owners. It really does feel like your club.
Facebook connections and friend requests began, I had found myself now becoming close to local supporters of the club who stand on the terraces home and away that I would now consider friends.
Through all of this I was able to join the Queens Trust as a paid up member, ensuring fans voices are always heard and becoming even more entrenched within the culture of the club and it’s supporter base.
With weekly streaming now a staple in our household, I have been able to pass on the Queens torch to my daughter who watches games alongside me on the couch. Now a full-fledged Doonhamer herself, the streaming coverage has given rise to a new set of fans for the club.
Bus rides to school have her watching Queens on YouTube, and Lee Connelly now how her favourite player. Who could blame her?
Supporting Queens through a TV screen won’t be the only way we watch, with plans to visit Dumfries once the covid situation settles down is something we look forward to. But for now we appreciate the work everyone has done to bring the club closer into our hearts.
Finally I realise that it is possible to support a club that sits thousands of kilometres from you and feel just as connect as many others, to feel like your voice does mean something.
Queens are all about their local community, for me it’s the online community which has really connected us to everything we love about the club.
I might not be from Dumfries, but the life of an adopted Doonhamer is something I would never change.
Mon the South!
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