Palmerston Park (Dumfries)

Palmerston Park is a football stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is the home ground of Scottish League One club Queen of the South, who have played there since 1919. South of Scotland League club Heston Rovers have shared Palmerston since 2013. The stadium has a capacity of 8,690 of which 3,377 are seats.

General information

Arena capacity: 8,690 spectators

Address: Dumfries, DG2 9BA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 55°04′13.22″N 3°37′28.56″W

Year of construction: 1919

Field: Artificial 3G lawn with dimensions of 112 x 73 yards

Seating plan of Palmerston Park

Palmerston Park is a great looking traditional ground, with a nice blend of new and old stands. On one side of the ground is the relatively new Rosefield Salvage (East) Stand. This smart looking, all seated single tier stand, is covered and runs the full length of the pitch. It has a capacity of 2,192 seats. Opposite is the Gates Power Grandstand, a classic looking covered seated stand, that has a raised seated area. It only runs for around half the length of the pitch, straddling the half way line. There are small portions of terracing at the front of the stand and at either side.

At one end is the Portland Drive Terrace. This is a fair-sized terrace, that is partly covered (to the rear). The roof has a gable perched upon it, which features a traditional looking clock. This terrace is now the largest remaining terrace at a football ground in Scotland. The stadium has benefited with the re-opening of the Terregles Street End. This open terrace had been closed for some years, but after some repairs and safety work, it is now in use once again, boosting the overall capacity of the ground by almost 2,000. Palmerston Park also has a striking set of floodlights. During 2013 an artificial 3G playing surface was installed, which was upgraded a year later to a 5G pitch.

On the external wall of the Terregles Street Terrace there are some interesting looking murals, which depict past scenes. Also, on the outside of the Main Stand there also some very good memorial paintings of former supporters.

Away fans are located in the relatively new Rosefield Salvage Stand, which is shared with home supporters. Around half this stand is allocated, which is around 1,100 seats. If demand requires it, then the Terregles Street open terrace can also be allocated, taking the total allocation to around 3,000. The facilities in the Rosefield Salvage Stand and view of the action are pretty good and even a small number of away supporters can really generate some noise from it. Plus unlike the Terregles Street End it has cover.

The ground is a mixture of a new stand, an updated old stand and old terraces. It feels like a throwback to watching football in years gone by. The atmosphere is lively, especially at times when a bagpipe player is blowing.

Where to buy tickets?

The club partners with TicketCo to offer online season tickets and match tickets to all the fans. Physical tickets will also be available to purchase on match days at the ground.

You can view all the available tickets, including match tickets for home and away fans, here: qosfc.ticketco.events/

Please note that cash is not accepted at the turnstiles. Away fans can purchase tickets at the ticket office which is located on one corner of the sports complex situated behind the Rosefield Salvage Stand.

How to get there?

By car

Approaching Dumfries from the North or East you will reach the A75 Dumfries by pass. Follow signs for Kilmarnock/Stranraer and when you reach the roundabout, that is the junction with the A76 (Glasgow Street) turn left towards Dumfries, go over a couple of roundabouts and when you a reach a T junction (where you can see the Spread Eagle Inn), with a set of traffic lights, turn right at the lights onto the A780. A short way down this road turn right into Terregles Street for the ground. There is a fair amount of parking at the ‘Ice Bowl’ behind the Galloway News (East Stand), otherwise there is some street parking available.

By Train

Dumfries Railway Station is served by trains from Glasgow and Carlisle. Palmerston Park is just over a mile away from the station and should take about 20-25 minutes to walk. When you arrive by train you will see an imposing hotel right in front of you and behind it is a street called Lovers Walk. Turn right along Lovers Walk until you reach Academy Street. Continue along Academy Street bearing right past Burns Statue on to Buccleuch Street.

Continue until you pass over Buccleuch Street Bridge, then turn right into Glasgow Street. After 60 yards turn left into David Street and immediately right into King Street. At the next junction turn left into Portland Drive and the ground is in front of you. Away fans then turn left. Note that tickets need to be purchased from a ticket booth behind the Rosefield Salvage Stand or the ticket office in the new building situated behind the main stand.

If you wish to see the murals painted on the outside of the Terregles stand, do not turn into Glasgow Street, but keep walking up Terregles Street. Unless you already have a ticket for this stand you will have to either retrace your steps or carry further on and turn right and right again to access the stadium area.

On Foot

The stadium is about a 10 minute walk from the centre of Dumfries. From the High Street, head towards Greyfriars Church and then down Buccleuch Street, or find the Whitesands and walk along it with the river on your left.

Then:

1. Cross the Buccleuch Street bridge over the river, to the traffic lights.
2. Turn right at the traffic lights, onto the Glasgow Road.
3. Take the first left, onto David Street.
4. Take the first right onto King Street

Home Fans:

1. Follow King Street until you come to the Ice Bowl.
2. Continue round to the right side of the Ice Bowl
3. You are now at the ground and can either enter the Rosefield Salvage stand or Oakbank Services terrace from here, or walk round the back of the terrace to the Arena and Gates Power Transmission stand

Away Fans:

1. Follow King Street but turn left just before the Ice Bowl
2. Take the next right, which will take you behind the Ice Bowl to the away section of the Rosefield Salvage stand.

Where to eat and sleep?

There is a bar at the ground, at the rear of the West Stand. This is called the Palmerston Lounge Bar and away fans are welcome. The nearest bar, is the Spread Eagle Inn, which is about a five minute walk away. Around the corner from this bar, are a number of others including the Devorgilla Lounge Bar. Otherwise, Dumfries town centre is around a 10-15 minute walk away.

There are a number of pubs to be found including a Wetherspoons Outlet called ‘Robert The Bruce’ on Buccleuch Street. Also on the same street is the Cavens Arms. Whilst on Whitesands there is the Coach & Horses and the New Bazaar. All these four town centre pubs are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. If you are after a bit of history then on the High Street is the Globe Inn. Dating back to 1610, this was once the favourite bar of poet Robert Burns, who often frequented as a customer.

Facilities

Enjoy the match in style in the Tartan Lounge. It offers the perfect place to enjoy a pre-match meal and drink as part of the hospitality packages.

There are two fantastic packages; two ways to enjoy fantastic food while watching your team play. During the day you will have the chance to meet Players and the choice of a stadium tour.

Package A

Like all the packages, this one helps to support the club. And the price includes:

• Match Day Ticket;
• Match Day Programme & Team Sheet;
• Prime Seating in our Hospitality Box located in the Main Stand;
• All drinks from the bar are included in your package;
• Three course set menu with coffee;
• Enjoy a ‘Food Boost’ at half time;
• Optional stadium tour;
• Sponsor & Man of the Match presentations.

Package B

Like all the packages, this one helps to support the club. And the price includes:

• Match Day Ticket;
• Match Day Programme & Team Sheet;
• Prime Seating in our Hospitality Box located in the Main Stand;
• Three course set menu with coffee;
• Enjoy a ‘Food Boost’ at half time;
• Bar accounts can be arranged for you;
• Optional stadium tour;
• Sponsor & Man of the Match presentations.

History

The club was relegated to the Scottish Second Division in 2012, but carried out some remedial work to the stadium, including new water systems and ticket offices. During March 2013, Queen of the South were given approval to install a new 5G artificial pitch at Palmerston Park for the start of the 2013–14 season. After the club’s final home game of the 2012–13 season, the club sold the turf for £10 per square yard as well as auctioning seven special lots. These were the four corner plots, the two penalty spots and Ryan McCann’s 84-yard spot.