Playing position Years Team | 1960–1981 Queen of the South Name Iain McChesney | |
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Iain McChesney is a former professional association footballer with Scottish Football League club Queen of the South from Dumfries. McChesney is the longest serving player in the club's history, playing with them from 1960 to 1981. McChesney was a utility player.
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Playing career
McChesney showed great dedication and commitment to the club. The defender played his first game at the age of 16 and is the club's longest serving player. McChesney made 615 appearances between 1960 and 1981 and scored 79 goals. McChesney is 2nd in the club's record appearances list.
McChesney signed for the Palmerston Park side of manager Jimmy McKinnell, Jr. in July 1960 from Kello Rovers. Others on the playing staff already were Jim Patterson, Ivor Broadis, George Farm and Jim Kerr. Others to soon join were future Scotland centre forward Neil Martin, right winger Ernie Hannigan (like Martin, Hannigan went on to play in England's top division) and goallie Allan Ball. This was the best side of McChesney's two decades at the club winning promotion to Scotland's top flight and playing there for two seasons. Queens notched a league victory at Celtic Park during season 1962-63.
McChesney scored for Queens on March 26, 1970 in the first ever game when Queens played overseas opposition at Palmerston. FC Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine (at the time part of the U.S.S.R.) were the opponents with Queens winning the challenge game 2–0. This was Queens first game against overseas opposition since the club's 1936 Overseas tour.
McChesney was awarded a testimonial against Ayr United in 1971 for his loyalty. Joining McChesney and Ball to play at Palmerston through most of the 70s was Jocky Dempster.
Queens were promoted to the First Division at the end of the 1980-81 season with McChesney in their ranks. Also in the side were fellow long servants Allan Ball, Crawford Boyd and Jimmy Robertson and future manager Rowan Alexander.
After playing
McChesney retired from playing in 1981 but continued his association with the club as sponge man for a period, and trainer for the local-based players and was assistant manager to Billy McLaren.
McChesney became an electrician. As part of maintenance work on the floodlights at Queen of the South's ground it was he who climbed up to change the lightbulbs.
McChesney was inducted into the Queen of the South Hall of Fame on 19 January 2013.