Editing Duncan Ferguson (section)

==Club career==
===Dundee United===
Born in [[Stirling]],<ref name=Hugman/> Ferguson played for the juvenile side Carse Thistle, initially as a left-back.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=QA30pOgRAd1On4-0&t=937&v=pYkHcex1cL0&feature=youtu.be |title=Duncan Ferguson: Red Cards, Bust Ups & Goodison Park Memories {{!}} Stick to Football 79 |date=2025-04-17 |last=The Overlap |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref> [[Dundee United]] signed him as a schoolboy, and he went on to win the [[Scottish Youth Cup|BP Youth Cup]] in 1990.<ref name="Arab"/> Later that year, on 10 November, Ferguson made his professional debut for them against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] at [[Ibrox Stadium]].<ref name="Arab">{{cite web|url=http://www.arabarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=130|title=Duncan Ferguson|publisher=ArabArchive.co.uk|access-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> His first goal was an extra-time winner against [[East Fife F.C.|East Fife]] in the [[1990–91 Scottish Cup|Scottish Cup]] on 29 January 1991.<ref name="Arab"/>

The following [[Dundee United F.C. season 1991–92|season]] saw him become a first-team regular. With 41 appearances and 16 goals, he became the club's top scorer.<ref name="Arab"/> His good form continued in [[Dundee United F.C. season 1992–93|1992–93]] with 33 appearances and 15 goals. The form he displayed at Dundee United also saw him win a call-up to the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]].<ref name="Arab"/>

===Rangers===
[[File:Duncan_Ferguson_1994.png|thumb|upright|Ferguson in 1994, during his spell at [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].]]
A 22-year-old Ferguson moved to Rangers in 1993 for a transfer fee of £4 million,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-17 |title='I cried when Rangers wanted to get rid of me - there was too much pressure to succeed' |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/i-cried-when-rangers-wanted-to-get-rid-of-me-there-was-too-much-pressure-to-succeed-5087730 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> which set a new British record.<ref name = "waste">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/aug/17/sport.comment5 |title=What a waste of money |first=Jamie |last=Jackson |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 August 2003 |access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> During a match with [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]] in April 1994, Ferguson headbutted the visitors' [[John McStay]] in the south-west corner of the Ibrox pitch.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/english/from-infamy-to-hall-of-fame-jock-mcstay-finds-peace-1-3940289 |title=From infamy to Hall of Fame, Jock McStay finds peace |work=The Scotsman |date=7 November 2015 |access-date=18 April 2019 |first=Alan |last=Pattullo}}</ref> Referee [[Kenny Clark (referee)|Kenny Clark]] did not see the incident, but Ferguson was subsequently charged and found guilty of assault.<ref name = "independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/soccer-player-jailed-for-foul-play-1577101.html |title=Soccer player jailed for foul play |first=Richard |last=Brennan |work=The Independent |date=12 October 1995 |access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> As it was his third conviction for assault, he received a three-month prison sentence in October 1995.<ref name = "independent"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishleague.net/archive/archive45.htm|title=SCOTTISH LEAGUE SFAQS|website=Scottishleague.net|access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref> The SFA banned Ferguson for 12 matches before the court case was heard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12697532.sfa-beaks-deliver-their-verdict-on-ferguson-striker-considers-appealing-against-his-12-game-ban/|title=SFA beaks deliver their verdict on Ferguson. Striker considers appealing against his 12-game ban|website=HeraldScotland.com|date=13 May 1994 |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=bW6MVJiyGqpfCmKA&t=359&v=pYkHcex1cL0&feature=youtu.be |title=Duncan Ferguson: Red Cards, Bust Ups & Goodison Park Memories {{!}} Stick to Football 79 |date=2025-04-17 |last=The Overlap |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

Ferguson scored a last-minute winner against [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]], from a [[Brian Laudrup]] pass, in the first game of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scottish Football: Rangers count cost of McCoist injury|first=David|last=McKinney|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/scottish-football-rangers-count-cost-of-mccoist-injury-1376613.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110120045/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/scottish-football-rangers-count-cost-of-mccoist-injury-1376613.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2012|newspaper=The Independent|date=15 August 1994|access-date=20 January 2011|location=London}}</ref> Four days later, he scored a [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] in a 6–1 win over [[Arbroath F.C.|Arbroath]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hateley's hundred leads to a seaside stroll for Rangers|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12692321.hateleys-hundred-leads-to-a-seaside-stroll-for-rangers/|website=The Herald Scotland|date=18 August 1994|access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Duncan Ferguson factfile|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/duncan-ferguson-factfile-1.317428|newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=25 November 1998|access-date=20 January 2011}}</ref> 

Of Ferguson's time at Rangers, one of his strike partners [[Mark Hateley]] said: "Duncan was a really good player, but I think he came to Rangers a couple of years too early. [[Walter Smith]] wanted me to take him under my wing. He was a boisterous young lad who wanted to play all the time. It was a period in his career where he'd gone from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in the big pond at Rangers. He probably found that a bit difficult."<ref name=opengoal>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxYnPCuQeYg "MARK HATELEY | Open Goal Meets... Former Rangers, England, AC Milan & Monaco Striker"] – Open Goal, [[YouTube]], 29 November 2021</ref> Smith was the assistant manager at Dundee United when he spotted a young Ferguson in [[Tayside]] youth football. Smith had moved on to Rangers by the time Ferguson arrived at [[Tannadice Park|Tannadice]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=BN4Zm4ZmafevUlFs&t=1078&v=pYkHcex1cL0&feature=youtu.be |title=Duncan Ferguson: Red Cards, Bust Ups & Goodison Park Memories {{!}} Stick to Football 79 |date=2025-04-17 |last=The Overlap |access-date=2025-04-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

===Everton===
In October 1994, [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] were struggling under the management of [[Mike Walker (football manager)|Mike Walker]] and looking for options to reinvigorate their faltering season. The solution enacted was to take two Rangers players on a loan deal, [[Ian Durrant]] for one month and Ferguson for three. Ferguson's move to Everton was later made permanent by Walker's successor [[Joe Royle]], and Ferguson played a key role in saving Everton from relegation, and also helping them win the [[1994–95 FA Cup]].<ref name="Durrant and Ferguson loan deal">{{cite news|title=Football: Everton loan for Ferguson and Durrant|first=Derek|last=Potter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-everton-loan-for-ferguson-and-durrant-1440770.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=4 October 1994|access-date=20 January 2011|location=London}}</ref> The subsequent [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96 season]] was less successful for Ferguson. A persistent [[hernia]] problem caused him to be unavailable for large amounts of time, as did his prison sentence during the first half of the season.<ref name="persistent hernia problem">{{cite news|title=Ferguson has second operation|first=Catherine|last=Riley|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/ferguson-has-second-operation-1598972.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=1 September 1995|access-date=20 January 2011|location=London}}</ref>

On 28 December 1997, Ferguson scored a [[List of Premier League hat-tricks|hat-trick]] against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] in a 3–2 victory, the first time that a trio of [[Header (association football)|headers]] had been scored in the Premier League.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/43030.stm |title=Ferguson hits hat-trick for Everton |publisher=BBC |date=28 December 1997 |access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38232131|title=West Bromwich Albion 3–1 Swansea City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 December 2016|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> Everton finished the season surviving relegation only on goal difference.

Ferguson was sold to [[Newcastle United]] for a fee of £8 million in November 1998.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson completes Newcastle move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/221755.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=25 November 1998 |access-date=2 April 2012 }}</ref> The deal was done to sell Ferguson by the Everton chairman, [[Peter Johnson (businessman)|Peter Johnson]], without the knowledge of [[Walter Smith]]. Ferguson wrote a two-page goodbye letter in the club magazine to fans, stating his sadness at leaving and that he would never forget them.<ref>{{cite news |title=Smith knew nothing about Ferguson move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/224900.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=30 November 1998 |access-date=2 April 2012 }}</ref>

===Newcastle United===
After bringing Ferguson to Newcastle, manager [[Ruud Gullit]] was rewarded when Ferguson scored twice on his debut against [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] in the [[Premier League]]. The final result was a 3–1 victory to Newcastle.<ref name="Sunday Times"/> At the start of 1999, Ferguson suffered a hernia injury, meaning that he played only seven times in the [[1998–99 in English football|1998–99 season]]. He made his comeback on 11 April, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 extra-time FA Cup semi-final win over [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Phil |title=Football: Shearer strikes to deny Spurs |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearer-strikes-to-deny-spurs-1086734.html |access-date=27 January 2022 |date=11 April 1999}}</ref> and did the same in the [[1999 FA Cup Final]], which Newcastle lost to Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lea |first1=Greg |title=Where are they now? The last Newcastle United team to play in an FA Cup final |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-1999-fa-cup-18316163 |access-date=27 January 2022 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=30 May 2020}}</ref>

In 1999–2000, Ferguson scored in three rounds of the FA Cup as Newcastle beat Tottenham 6–1,<ref>{{cite news |title=Magpies steal the show |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/575538.stm |access-date=27 January 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 December 1999}}</ref> [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] 4–1<ref>{{cite news |title=Newcastle blunt Blades |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/595515.stm |access-date=27 January 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 January 2000}}</ref> and [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] 3–2,<ref>{{cite news |title=Magpies dash Rovers' double dreams |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/649825.stm |access-date=27 January 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 February 2000}}</ref> before a semi-final elimination by Chelsea. He scored six league goals, including two in a 5–0 home win over [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] on 16 January 2000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Back in Tyne: Five splendid wins against Southampton |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/features/back-in-tyne-five-splendid-wins-against-southampton/ |access-date=27 January 2022 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |date=27 August 2021}}</ref>

===Return to Everton===
[[File:Duncan Ferguson.jpg|thumbnail|Ferguson on his testimonial in 2015]]
On 17 August 2000, Ferguson moved back to Everton for a fee of £3.75 million. The transfer had previously been close to collapse as he sought a £1 million "loyalty payment" from Newcastle for not personally asking for a transfer; he had made the same amount of money from Everton when he transferred in 1998 on the same basis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Duncan's deadlock |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/880111.stm |access-date=21 December 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson signs for Everton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/884163.stm |access-date=21 December 2019 |date=17 August 2000}}</ref> Two days after signing, he played his first game in a 2–0 loss at [[Leeds United]], coming on for [[Stephen Hughes (footballer, born 1976)|Stephen Hughes]] after 56 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Smith sparks Leeds flier |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/885983.stm |access-date=21 December 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 August 2000}}</ref> On 23 August, on his return to Goodison Park, he scored twice in a 3–0 win over [[Charlton Athletic]] after coming on for [[Mark Hughes]] in the 67th minute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gazza and Ferguson end Charlton fight |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/893458.stm |access-date=21 December 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 August 2000}}</ref>

On 1 April 2002, Ferguson was sent off after 20 minutes for elbowing [[Bolton Wanderers]]' [[Kostas Konstantinidis]] in an off-the-ball incident in a 3–1 win for a struggling Everton side.<ref>{{cite news |title=Everton leave Bolton struggling |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1900942.stm |access-date=21 December 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 April 2002}}</ref>

In August 2003, Jamie Jackson of ''[[The Guardian]]'' called Ferguson "arguably the biggest waste of money of all", citing his high transfer fees and wages compared to his injury record and age. By that point, he had scored 12 times in 41 games in three years at Everton, while earning over £5 million in salary. His 192 minutes of play in 2002–03 as a goalless substitute cost the club £9,000 per minute.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Jamie |title=What a waste of money |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/aug/17/sport.comment5 |access-date=21 December 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=17 August 2003}}</ref>

Ferguson was accused of racial abuse by [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]'s [[Luís Boa Morte]] after an FA Cup fourth round match in January 2004. The accusation was dismissed by the Football Association, who found insufficient evidence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nisbet |first1=John |title=FA dismisses Ferguson racial abuse allegations |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fa-dismisses-ferguson-racial-abuse-allegations-568385.html |access-date=19 September 2019 |work=The Independent |date=1 April 2004}}</ref> On 28 December that year, Ferguson came on for [[Marcus Bent]] in the 74th minute of Everton's 2–0 loss at Charlton, and within ten minutes he was sent off for an elbow on [[Hermann Hreiðarsson]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton 2-0 Everton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4107825.stm |access-date=21 December 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 December 2004}}</ref>

During the 2005–06 season, Ferguson was sent off against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] for violent conduct. His confrontation with [[Paul Scharner]] and subsequent fracas with [[Pascal Chimbonda]] resulted in a seven-match ban and his eighth Premier League red card, equalling [[Patrick Vieira]]'s record. On 7 May 2006, against [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] at Goodison Park, Ferguson was named captain in the game that marked the end of his Everton career. His 90th-minute penalty kick was saved by [[Tomasz Kuszczak]], but he subsequently scored from the rebound, netting his final goal for the club. Ferguson was not given a new Everton deal and retired, moving his family to Mallorca and spurning advances from a number of clubs.<ref>{{cite web | title = Review of the Year 2006 | work = Article on Evertonfc.com | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/match/review-of-the-year-may-2006.html | access-date = 11 January 2007 | archive-date = 28 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140228120902/http://www.evertonfc.com/match/review-of-the-year-may-2006.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Ferguson played for Everton in a [[testimonial match]] in his honour on 2 August 2015 against [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/02/wayne-rooney-everton-duncan-ferguson-testimonial |title=Wayne Rooney makes his Everton return in Duncan Ferguson testimonial |first=Niall |last=McVeigh |date=2 August 2015 |access-date=3 August 2015 |work=The Guardian }}</ref>