Palmerston Park will be the venue for a rather unusual match later this month when NHS Dumfries and Galloway staff take on the new hospital team staff!
No Queens players haven’t taken on other duties, it’s all in aid of charity. The match between the old hospital (NHS staff) and the new hospital (the workforce building the new hospital), which takes place on Thursday 25th of August has been organised to raise funds for Ward 15 the children’s ward at the Infirmary and care of older people NHS.
Queens community coach Dan Armstrong who has been heavily involved in organising the game said “It won’t be the usual game that we expect to see at Palmerston that’s for sure! But as a club we are delighted to be hosting the match and to play our part in helping to raise money for two good causes. We hope that people will turn out to support the event for what will, I’m sure be a fun night”.
Roger Frost, project director at Laing O’Rourke said: “We’ve got some 600 people working to redevelop the new Dumfries & Galloway acute services and whilst constructing a hospital project the team work closely with remarkable NHS staff who tirelessly deliver professional health care. You hope that by building new, modern and spacious facilities, you in some way assist hospital staff to bring comfort to people’s lives at a time when they are most in need. The construction team is keen to play a part in fund-raising and a charity football match was suggested. I’d like to thank the hospital staff for accepting the sporting challenge and Queen of the South for helping us to pull the day together. Whilst the quality of our football may not be the usual standard enjoyed at Queen of the South hopefully we’ll raise much needed money for the children’s ward and Care of Older People in Dumfries and Galloway – and have some fun along the way.”
Jeff Ace, Chief Executive for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “We are delighted with the excellent progress that High Wood Health’s construction partner Laing O’Rourke have made building our new hospital on schedule and to the highest standard. The project has brought many benefits to our communities including jobs and training for local people, contracts for businesses in the region and work experience opportunities for our schools and colleges.
“Laing O’Rourke have challenged us to take part in a sporting event that will raise funds for the children’s ward at DGRI and the care of older people in the region. It will also give us an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come working together to deliver a fantastic new hospital for patients and staff.”
Tickets are on sale now, available from the QoS FC Arena or The League of Friends shop in Dumfries. Or you will be able to pay at the gate on the night.
