Bobby Ferguson (footballer born 1945)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobby" Ferguson (born 1 March 1945) is a Scottish
former footballer who played as a goalkeeper
.
, Ferguson came through Kilmarnock
's youth system in the early 1960s, taking over in the first-team following an injury to Campbell Forsyth
in 1964–65. He retained the goalkeeper's shirt for the rest of the season, at the end of which Kilmarnock claimed the Scottish Football League
title (for the first and only time) with a final day win over Hearts
. Ferguson went on to make 73 league appearances for the club. During his time with Kilmarnock he won seven caps for Scotland
.
Ferguson was transferred east London club West Ham United
for a fee of £65,000 in 1967, which at the time was a world record fee for a goalkeeper. He made his Hammers debut against Sheffield Wednesday
on 19 August 1967, the first game of the 1967–68
season.
Despite having to compete for the number one shirt
with Peter Grotier
and Mervyn Day
, Ferguson still managed 276 appearances during his 13 years at West Ham. He spent time with Sheffield Wednesday
on loan
in 1973, making five appearances for them. The signing of Phil Parkes in February 1979 ultimately meant the end of his career at West Ham. He played his last game for the Upton Park
club in a 2–1 defeat on 14 November 1979 against Chelsea
, and left in 1980. He received a testimonial match
in 1981, against Southampton
, for which he earned £20,000. He also played reserve team
football for West Ham as a winger.
and played with Adelaide City
for one year and then coached the club the following year. He later coached with Vacation Soccer Schools and Burnside Rugby Club.
He went on to run a snack bar in Adelaide, then a home maintenance business, before moving back to England following the death of his mother in October 2004.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former footballer who played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Playing career
Born in ArdrossanArdrossan
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...
, Ferguson came through Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
's youth system in the early 1960s, taking over in the first-team following an injury to Campbell Forsyth
Campbell Forsyth
Robert Campbell Forsyth is a retired Scottish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for St. Mirren, Kilmarnock and Southampton. He also made four appearances for Scotland in 1964.-Early career:...
in 1964–65. He retained the goalkeeper's shirt for the rest of the season, at the end of which Kilmarnock claimed the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
title (for the first and only time) with a final day win over Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
. Ferguson went on to make 73 league appearances for the club. During his time with Kilmarnock he won seven caps for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Ferguson was transferred east London club West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for a fee of £65,000 in 1967, which at the time was a world record fee for a goalkeeper. He made his Hammers debut against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on 19 August 1967, the first game of the 1967–68
1967-68 in English football
The 1967–68 season was the 88th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-FA Cup:...
season.
Despite having to compete for the number one shirt
Squad number
In team sports, the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, uniform number or simply a number is the number worn on a player's uniform, to identify and distinguish each player from others wearing the same or similar uniforms...
with Peter Grotier
Peter Grotier
Peter Grotier , an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He played for West Ham United between 1969 and 1974, mostly as understudy to Bobby Ferguson...
and Mervyn Day
Mervyn Day
Mervyn Day is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a goalkeeper for West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Luton Town, Sheffield United and Carlisle United. He later managed Carlisle United...
, Ferguson still managed 276 appearances during his 13 years at West Ham. He spent time with Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
in 1973, making five appearances for them. The signing of Phil Parkes in February 1979 ultimately meant the end of his career at West Ham. He played his last game for the Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
club in a 2–1 defeat on 14 November 1979 against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, and left in 1980. He received a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
in 1981, against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, for which he earned £20,000. He also played reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
football for West Ham as a winger.
Coaching career
In 1981, Ferguson emigrated to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and played with Adelaide City
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
for one year and then coached the club the following year. He later coached with Vacation Soccer Schools and Burnside Rugby Club.
Career after football
In 1982 he ran a diving firm for six years, but gave up when a colleague was attacked by a shark.He went on to run a snack bar in Adelaide, then a home maintenance business, before moving back to England following the death of his mother in October 2004.
Honours
KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
- Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
champions: 1964–65
External links
- Newcastle Fans profile
- Bobby Ferguson at westhamstats.info