Days Like This by John Cartner
The most memorable day in my life so far has definitely got to be the 24th of May 2008 when I went to see my favourite team Queen of the South play Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final. It was the first time ever that Queen of the South had reached the final of the Scottish Cup and it was their biggest achievement yet. It was Gordon Chisholm's first season as manager and he helped the team accomplish so much in that season.
The morning of the final I got up early and got ready for the biggest football match of my life. My mum, my friend Aaron and I all went to the White Sands in Dumfries and met my Uncle Paul. We got the bus from Dumfries to Glasgow but it took ages because we had to stop every 20 minutes because everyone needed the toilet because they had been up drinking since 7am. On the bus my Uncle Paul, Aaron and I were the only ones singing so everyone was laughing at us and it was really funny but then everyone else started to join in. When we finally got to Glasgow it was straight back into the pubs. Aaron and I wandered about for an hour to kill time before we headed to the stadium. The atmosphere was electric with all the Queens fans singing there hearts out. Walking up to Hampden was an unbelievable feeling because I was so excited we were in the final but I was still in shock after we won the semi-final against Aberdeen. We went into the ground 30 minutes before kick-off so we could watch them warming up. Our seats were right at the front so we had a great view. The players went into the changing rooms before kick-off and by this time the stadium was filling up with Queens's fans. My Uncle Paul started to get us in the mood and by time the players came out of the tunnel the stadium was practically bouncing.
The Queens players ran onto the pitch and the stadium erupted into chants of QUEENS, QUEENS, QUEENS! Before we knew it the match was underway and Rangers looked to be the better team and made a few good chances and came very close to scoring. 20 minutes gone and Aaron and I were beginning to get worried. 33 minutes into the game Rangers were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Kris Boyd stepped up and sent it flying in the top corner and then only 10 minutes later DaMarcus Beasley got free and received a pass which he put in the back of the net. At half time Rangers were 2-0 up and it wasn't looking good but we remained hopeful they would get a couple of goals. The second half started well for Queens and they came out looking like a completely different team. They were now passing well and putting pressure on the Rangers defence. 5 minutes into the second half when Sean O'Connor's cross was bundled into the back of the net by Steve Tosh and only three minutes later the captain of the team Jim Thomson managed to score a header when Robert Harris put the ball into the box. I couldn't believe that Queen of the South were drawing 2-2 with Rangers and the fans almost blew the roof off the stadium erupting into chants of ‘you're not singing any more!' It felt like it was all a dream and I was waiting to wake up. The Queen of the South fans were now going mental doing the bouncy and singing all the songs they could think of. We were so close to glory until with 18 minutes to go Kris Boyd scored and shattered our dreams. I was in disbelief. I still hoped for an equalising goal but it never came and then the full time whistle went. I was devastated but then I looked over at the Rangers fans and they were on they're feet applauding the Queens fans and I thought this was a great mark of good sportsmanship. Then the Queen of the South players came round and applauded the fans.
All the way home I didn't think about losing or how close we were to winning I just thought that I was at Queen of the South's first ever Scottish Cup final and I had experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was just happy we got there. That's why it was the best day ever for me and I have great memories I will never forget!
