 Aitken joined a Queen of the South in 1996 with new chairman Norman Blount getting the wheels moving on the club's revival.In 1997 Queen of the South reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time.Second Division Queens lost 1–0 to 1st Division Falkirk despite a rousing Queens display at Motherwell's Fir Park; a performance that included the man of the match award going to Queens veteran central midfield playmaker Tommy Bryce and an early career appearance for Jamie McAllister.