Ian McChesney

Ian McChesney is a former footballer with Scottish Football League club Queen of the South F.C. of Dumfries.

Ian McChesney signed for the Palmerston Park side of player manager George Farm in July 1960 from Kello Rovers. Others on the playing staff already were Jim Patterson and Ivor Broadis. 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 fellow long servant 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 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 ever serving player. In his career he made 587 appearances scoring 79 goals from 1960 to 1981. This places McChesney second in the Queens all time appearances list. [http://www.qosfc.com/qosaz.htm]

Ian 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. [http://www.qosfc.com/qosaz.htm]

McChesney was awarded a testimonial against Ayr United [Meeting with Ian Black, QoS FC historian, Palmerston Park, Dumfries, 29/7/2008] in 1971 for his loyalty. [http://www.qosfc.com/qosaz.htm]

In 1980-81 with Ian McChesney Queens were promoted from division 2. Also in the side were fellow long servant Allan Ball and Rowan Alexander.

McChesney hung his boots up 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. [http://www.qosfc.com/qosaz.htm]

Ian McChesney works as an electrician. As part of maintenance work on the floodlights at Queen of the South's ground it was McChesney who climbed up to change the bulbs in the lights. [Meeting with Ian Black, QoS FC historian, Palmerston Park, Dumfries, 29/7/2008]