Cup run produces financial bonus

Queen of the South fans made two trips to Hampden last season

A run to the Scottish Cup final has produced a major financial boost for a first division side.

Dumfries team Queen of the South recorded a profit of some £535,915 last season thanks to a string of displays which took them to Hampden twice.

Figures for the club's annual general meeting showed that turnover had risen more than £1m on the previous campaign.

The Doonhamers beat Aberdeen 4-3 in a thrilling cup semi-final before losing to Rangers 3-2 at the final hurdle.

Queen of the South set out on their Scottish Cup run in November 2007 when they overcame Peterhead away from home.

They followed it with wins over Linlithgow Rose, Greenock Morton and Dundee.

That set up a historic first trip to Hampden Park for the semi-final with Aberdeen.

Further rewards

More than 9,000 supporters travelled to Glasgow in April to see their team record a famous 4-3 victory.

An even greater number returned to Hampden the following month to watch Queens take on Rangers and narrowly lose out.

The club enjoyed further rewards when it played its first Uefa Cup tie as a result of the Scottish Cup run.

It has produced financial rewards which will be seen when the club accounts are presented to shareholders early next year.