One of Scottish football’s great unsung heroes is being rewarded with a Testimonial Match this weekend and it promises to be a fantastic day for everyone connected with Queen of the South.
Midfielder Paul Burns joined the Doonhamers youth team in 2000 and was promoted to the senior Palmerston Park side in 2002 and apart from one season at Dunfermline he has been there ever since.
Burns has been in the engine room for the Dumfries side in nearly 350 games and his approach to how he plays football has brought him warm praise from his fellow players, coaching staff and fans.
Fans will get their chance to say thanks on Sunday when the current Queen of the South squad, many of whom have Second Division and Ramsdens Cup winners’ medals in their possession, take on the greatest Scottish Cup runners up in the club’s history.
Burns bridges the gap between Jim McIntyre’s current squad and Gordon Chisholm’s squad of 2008 that reached the Final and almost took the oldest football trophy in the world south.
Coach Billy Dodds also has a foot in both squads and he is ideally placed to talk about the qualities Burns has.
Dodds said: “Everybody will say the exact same thing about Paul Burns. He is a model professional, a good boy about your club, a quiet lad but one who can more than stick up for himself when required.”
“On the pitch he is effective and versatile and an absolute pleasure to work with. No-one can say anything different and I bet I am just reiterating what others would say. If you lined up 100 people who know Paul 99 would say the same thing and other one would be wrong.”
Whilst he is a great fan of Burns the now 29 year old could drive Chisholm, his assistant Kenny Brannigan and Dodds to despair as Dodds explained: “You would be a winning a game and looking to see it out by keeping the ball in a good area. No matter where the ball was Burnsy would appear somewhere other than the right of midfield.”
“Chis and I would look at each other and wonder what is he doing on the left wing and decide that he was not always the best at following instructions. However he just had so much energy that even if he went to places he should not have he always had the ability to recover.”
“If the ball was lost he would go and win it back and you were left wondering how did he do that. That approach says everything about him.”
Dodds added: “He was a massive part of the 2008 team in what were great days at Queen of the South. I was recently discussing them with Steven Tosh and it brought back some fantastic memories.”
“It was all a bit of a blur at the time and we seemed to go from the semi-final to the final really quickly. I woke up on the Sunday after a party the night of the Final and realised that it had all gone by too quickly. “
“It is terrific that the boys are getting back together to celebrate Burnsy’s Big Day.”
When the players and coaches from 6 years ago get together there may well be a lot of ‘Did we really do that’ questions with Dodds saying: “We had to pinch ourselves that we were really in the Scottish Cup Final and we pinch ourselves again when we realise that we almost won it. We had a chance just after we got it back to 2-2.”
“We had been two down at half time but we came back as we had character in that team. Guys like Burnsy, Steven Tosh and Neil MacFarlane would drive them on from midfield. You had a determined character at the back in Jim Thompson who was desperate not to get beaten.”
“They would be the first to admit that they were not the best players ever at Queen of the South but as a collective they were good and they had a great spirit and drive ��" nobody who knew them as a team would doubt that.”
Unfortunately not everyone will be there with Dodds explaining: “Tosher is away in Saudi Arabia and will miss the game which is a shame as he scored that famous goal at Hampden with his shorts. He always talks about the time when we equalised with big Jim’s booming header and the cameras focused on the bench where Chis, Big Kenny and I were all in shock.”
“It was amazing to think about that day and then Queen of the South going to play in Europe. It was an absolute joy to be part of it. It was a really emotional journey and getting so close to glory was terrific.”
Dodds added: “I am delighted that this game has been put on. It is a great idea and if Queen’s fans turn out like they did at the semi-final, the final, in Europe home and away it would be terrific.”
Former Scotland player Dodds remains surprised that Burns did not enjoy a sustained top flight career as he explained: “I am disappointed that he did not do more at Dunfermline as he is a Premier League player. He deserved his chance at that level but never got a long enough chance to prove himself. But it was their loss as he has always been a terrific fit at Queen of the South.”
“He would be a good fit anywhere but Queen’s have reaped the benefits and no more so than in that Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. The chance to put us 2-1 up fell to him and it was blocked but he curled home a more difficult chance on the half volley into the top corner.”
Dodds added: “Queen of the South have been lucky to have him all these years and other teams have missed out on him and that is their loss. Throughout his time he has been a popular boy and whilst the boys will give him stick he will take so much and then he will give it back. He is not always quiet and accepting of things and he can throw in a few darts himself.”
Dodds added: “I would ask the fans to please turn out as he deserves it. If anyone deserves a good turnout it is him and what he did in that Scottish Cup run alone deserves recognition.”
“Burnsy deserves that and I hope people show him how much he means to them.”
Current manager Jim McIntyre was the manager who opted to give Burns a chance to be a top flight player when he signed him for Dunfermline back in 2011 however their relationship was not to be a lengthy one.
McIntyre said: “I signed Paul for Dunfermline due to the consistency he had shown at Queen of the South. That and the fact that he has energy to die for and I thought he would make it in the Premier League.”
“We had a few older heads at East End Park and I felt that Paul would counteract that with the energy levels he would bring. He did that for me there and he did it in a number of positions.”
The Palmerston manager added: “He was been excellent for me and I was very surprised that he did not feature more for Dunfermline once I had left. Of course it is a happy co-incidence that I am working with him here again after being re-united last summer.”
“When I looked at the squad before my interview to come here, I saw he was part of it and I was pleased with that. I knew Chris Higgins as well and both of those guys are types that you want in your dressing room all day long.”
McIntyre has a special name for Burns as he explained: “I call him number 7 and that is not because he wears that number but he genuinely gives you a 7 or more in every game. He is a Steady Eddie and someone you can rely on every week.”
“He is the type of boy that leads by example even though he is a quiet lad. You can ask him to play right back or sitting midfielder or wide right or left and he just goes out and does the job. He is not one to fuss as he just gets on with things.”
McIntyre continued his praise saying: “A fantastic professional who is also a leader on the training pitch. Whilst he is quiet he does have a bit of bedevilment in him as well. If he gets kicked or doesn’t get the right decision you will hear him. He has the heart of a lion and will fight his corner.”
“Without a shadow of a doubt he is worthy of a testimonial. The days of players staying a long time at the one club are few and far between. He deserves his moment in the spotlight.”
Playing for the 2008 side are Jamie MacDonald , Ryan McCann, Bob Harris, Andy Aitken, Jim Thomson, Neil Macfarlane, Paul Burns, Jamie McQuilken, Sean O`Connor, Stephen Dobbie, Eric Paton, Scott Robertson, John O`Neill, John Stewart, Neil Scally, Brian Gilmour and Ross Hyslop.
The Cup Final side will be managed by Gordon Chisholm with John Kerr back as physio for the day.
The current side will be missing Burns however McIntyre, his assistant Gerry McCabe and Dodds will all be pulling on the boots again for the occasion.
Tickets will be available for sale from the club’s Ticket Offices on Sunday from 12:30pm. Prices are £12 for Adults and £6 for Concessions. Remember this match is a 2pm kick off.
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