Welton Toffee
Player Valuation: £40m
He is Everton’s most iconic player since Graeme Sharp. Idolised by Evertonians, feared by defenders and hated by football’s authorities. Here’s his story…
Goodison Park, May 7th 2006. The referee blows his whistle to mark the end of Everton’s final match of the season. More importantly it marks the end of Duncan Ferguson’s Everton career. It couldn’t have ended in a better way, he’d scored with his final kick as an Everton player.
In the traditional end of season lap of honour, Ferguson made an emotional farewell to the Everton fans who have idolised him for ten years. He saluted the Goodison faithful mouthing “Every one of you is quality”. One of football’s hard men even allowed a tear or two to stream down his cheek.
West Brom provided the opposition and looked set to ruin Dunc’s big day having raced into a 2-0 lead. However Ferguson inspired Everton into a late come back. Shortly after Anichebe fired in Everton’s first, Mikel Arteta won Everton a penalty in the closing seconds. Ferguson was handed the ball and Goodison Park held its breath, hoping and praying that the big man would convert it. He hit it well, only to see a flying Tomasz Kuszczak save. The rebound fell kindly at Duncan’s feet and he duly smashed it in with his right foot.
Goodison erupted. Ferguson was mobbed by his team mates and an Evertonian who’d managed to escape onto the pitch!
Duncan Ferguson was born on December 27th 1971 in Stirling. He grew up playing football on the streets and for his school team at Bannockburn High School. His talent was soon recognised and he was signed by his local side before moving to Carse Thistle then Dundee United. He secured his first professional contract in 1990 and was soon playing first team football. In 1993 Fergie realised a childhood dream and signed for Rangers for a British record fee of £4m.
His Rangers career was short and far from sweet. After just 13 matches he was named in the team to play Raith Rovers in April 1994. This was the match that changed Ferguson’s life.
After an altercation, Ferguson head butted Rovers’ defender John McStay. No action was taken at the time but a Raith fan reported to the police that they had witnessed an assault. Duncan was duly charged and also handed a 12 match ban by the Scottish Football Association.
The Scottish media were far from sympathetic and did almost everything possible to ruin Duncan’s life. He’d had enough and knew he had to get away. Rangers’ manager Walter Smith allowed him to join Everton on a 3 month loan deal.
He made an immediate impact. November 21st 1994 saw Duncan Ferguson line up in his first ever Merseyside derby against Liverpool. It was also Joe Royle’s first game in charge of Everton. As Ferguson ran out onto the Goodison Park turf for the first time, the atmosphere was electric. Nobody quite knew what to expect from Duncan. However, he proved himself straight away. In the second half Andy Hinchcliffe swung in a corner and Fergie rose above the Liverpool defence and nodded in a trade mark header. Ferguson became an instant legend as Everton beat their rivals 2-0.
After continuing his goal scoring exploits and lifting Everton off the bottom of the Premiership, Evertonians were desperate for their new idol to stay. Similarly, Duncan was loving it. In December Joe Royle splashed out £4m and signed Ferguson from Rangers. Royle had been advised that Dunc’s court case would amount to nothing more than community service. Dave Watson, the Everton captain, said “We haven’t had a superstar here for a long time, it’s Fergiemania!”
Duncan’s court case was adjourned until May, leaving him free to enjoy the rest of the season. However, January saw the first injustice of his year. Whilst playing Arsenal he pushed John Jenson in the chest, only for him to fall down clutching his face. Dunc was sent off and the F.A. upheld the ban.
Once back in the side Dunc continued his impressive form, including heading in the winner against Manchester United at Goodison.
During a match against Leicester in March 1995, Ferguson challenged Jimmy Willis for a header. Despite video replays proving there was no contact, Duncan was sent off. Even Willis himself appeared at Dunc’s appeal to help clear his name. But yet again the F.A. upheld the ban.
This meant that Dunc missed Everton’s successful FA Cup semi-final. In his first match back from suspension he had to be stretchered off after a hernia injury. Would he miss the FA Cup final?
Fat chance. Duncan proved his fitness just days before the final and was included as a substitute in Joe Royle’s squad at Wembley.
Everton were the under dogs playing against the mighty Manchester United. Everton started well and after half an hour Paul Rideout nodded in past Schmeichal. After 51 minutes the big man was brought on for his first, and what turned out to be his last, game at Wembley.
Dunc gave a good account of himself, winning endless headers against United’s famed defensive duo of Pallister and Bruce. He was full of running and was vital in Everton’s effort to hold on to their slender advantage. The Everton defence stood firm and they won 1-0.
Dunc joined in with the celebrations and even wore a blue nose thrown to him by a fan. He held the FA Cup aloft to the joy of the watching Evertonians. The FA Cup proved to be the only trophy of his career. Everton have yet to win anything since that great day.
Five days later Dunc found himself sitting in Glasgow Sheriff Court awaiting his punishment. He was handed a three month jail sentence. The football world was stunned. He was granted bail and his appeal put back until October.
Even John McStay, Ferguson’s victim, said the decision was ridiculous. Social workers in Liverpool pointed out all the charity work that Duncan did. Many people were confused as to how Dunc got a jail sentence for a football incident, yet Cantona (who kung-fu kicked a fan) was told to teach kids football. We saw an almost identical incident this summer involving Zinedine Zidane. No chance of him being given a jail sentence.
Dunc’s appeal was unsuccessful and on October 11th he received the devastating news. He was sent to jail. Evertonians sent thousands of letters to Dunc whilst he was in prison. In return he wrote an open letter to Evertonians thanking them for their support. He also promised to reply to every single letter personally.
After his release Ferguson made himself unavailable for the Scotland national team. Although he didn’t say why, there is no doubt that he felt hurt by the S.F.A. betraying him. This was a decision that probably cost Duncan the chance of really developing into a world class player. However, he stuck to his principles and never played international football again, despite the efforts of many Scotland managers!
In 1997 Duncan was as popular as ever. He was playing for the team he loved and banging in the goals. He decided to organise a competition for fans through the Evertonian magazine. He wanted an Everton tattoo and so invited fans to send in their designs. He sifted through thousands of entries before choosing the winner. The Everton crest with his squad number 9 in the middle was made permanent at the top of his left arm.
In late November 1998 Evertonians, Dunc and even the Everton manager Walter Smith were shocked to learn that Dunc had been sold to Newcastle for £7m.The Everton chairman went behind Smith’s back to do the deal . Nobody else at the club wanted it to happen, least of all Dunc. In an emotional farewell message he said “I will never, ever forget the Everton fans.”
By the end of August 2000 Dunc was back. After falling out of favour at Newcastle he was made aware of interest from Everton. Without a second thought he resigned for Everton for £3.75m.
His second spell at the club was somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. He scored plenty of goals but Ferguson was frustrated by many persistent injuries keeping him out of the team for lengthy spells.
The defining moment of the season was the home game against Manchester United. All the hype surrounding the match was due to Wayne Rooney’s return to Goodison.
Duncan gave a majestic performance to over shadow the young pretender and inspire the blues to victory. Playing as Everton’s lone striker Dunc was full of running and gave “an out of body performance”.
Just like he had done ten years earlier he headed in the only goal of the match. The goal was voted Everton’s goal of the season and the match will be remembered as his finest performance in a blue shirt. He received a standing ovation as he left the pitch and Evertonians remember this as their greatest game of the 21st century.
Ferguson’s last season for Everton was a frustrating one. Injury and suspension kept him out the team. He struggled with form and fitness but did manage to end on a high against West Brom.
Dunc released his second farewell message to the Everton fans. “I would like to think that the passion I have for Everton is equal to that of all the magnificent fans.”
