Iain Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Iain Ferguson is a Scottish
former professional footballer
who played as a striker
for numerous Scottish clubs during the 1980s and 90s.
, who signed him from Fir Park Boys Club in 1978. He flourished at Dens Park
, becoming a first-team regular under Don Mackay
as well as an Under-21 internationalist
.
Ferguson’s performances attracted attention from larger clubs and in 1984 Jock Wallace
signed him for Rangers
for £200,000. The Ibrox
side were enduring a transitional period however, and after collecting only one medal with Rangers, for the League Cup
victory in 1984-85
, Ferguson returned to Tayside with Dundee's rivals Dundee United
in 1986, Jim McLean
paying £145,000 to secure his services.
In his two seasons at Tannadice, Ferguson helped United to reach consecutive Scottish Cup
finals, as well as the UEFA Cup
final in 1986-87. He scored several important goals during United’s European run, netting the winner in the 2-1 defeat of Barcelona
at the Camp Nou
and the opening goal in the semi-final victory at Borussia Mönchengladbach
. United lost by the odd goal in all three finals however, and despite featuring in one of the Tangerines most celebrated sides, Ferguson was destined not to earn silverware there.
In 1988-89
Alex MacDonald equalled Hearts
’ record transfer fee to sign Ferguson, as a replacement for the Newcastle United
-bound John Robertson
. He maintained his penchant for scoring important goals, notching the only goal when Hearts defeated Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup. However, when Robertson returned to Tynecastle
a mere 8 months after his departure, Ferguson found his position threatened. The common perception was that the two players’ styles were not compatible, and Ferguson frequently found himself relegated to the substitutes’ bench. He spent time on loan with Bristol City
and Charlton Athletic
before joining Motherwell
in December 1990.
Ferguson quickly became a hero at Fir Park
as he helped the Steelmen to their first trophy since the 1950s, the 1991
Scottish Cup. He scored the opening goal as Motherwell defeated his old side Dundee United 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling showpiece. Two years later, he moved to Lanarkshire rivals Airdrieonians
before joining Portadown
in the Irish League. After a brief return to Dundee, Ferguson spent the second half of the 97-8 season in Ireland with Dundalk
, where he made four league appearances and one FAI Cup appearance in an injury hit spell. He then returned to the UK, and played in English non-league football with Gretna
.
Ferguson was the subject of an arrest in October 2006 when he was charged with handling stolen football gear at his Glasgow
indoor market stall. .All charges were subsequently dropped.
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 professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for numerous Scottish clubs during the 1980s and 90s.
Career
Ferguson started his professional career with DundeeDundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, who signed him from Fir Park Boys Club in 1978. He flourished at Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
, becoming a first-team regular under Don Mackay
Don Mackay
Donald Mackay is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.-As player:He was a goalkeeper and played for Forfar Athletic and made 104 appearances. He was then signed for Dundee United by Jerry Kerr, for whom he made 170 appearances...
as well as an Under-21 internationalist
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
.
Ferguson’s performances attracted attention from larger clubs and in 1984 Jock Wallace
Jock Wallace
John "Jock" Martin Bokas Wallace was a professional Scottish football player and manager. His father, Jock Wallace, Sr., was a goalkeeper for Raith Rovers, Blackpool and Derby County....
signed him for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
for £200,000. The Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
side were enduring a transitional period however, and after collecting only one medal with Rangers, for the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
victory in 1984-85
1984-85 in Scottish football
The 1984–85 season was the 88th season of competitive football in Scotland. This is the last time a non Old Firm club has won the Scottish Premier title.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: AberdeenRelegated: Dumbarton, Morton....
, Ferguson returned to Tayside with Dundee's rivals Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
in 1986, Jim McLean
Jim McLean
James Yuill McLean is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best known for his 22-year spell as manager of Dundee United; the longest-serving and most successful manager in the club's history, he led them to three major honours and established them as a force in European competitions...
paying £145,000 to secure his services.
In his two seasons at Tannadice, Ferguson helped United to reach consecutive Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
finals, as well as the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final in 1986-87. He scored several important goals during United’s European run, netting the winner in the 2-1 defeat of Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
at the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
and the opening goal in the semi-final victory at Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
. United lost by the odd goal in all three finals however, and despite featuring in one of the Tangerines most celebrated sides, Ferguson was destined not to earn silverware there.
In 1988-89
1988-89 in Scottish football
The 1988–89 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:Rangers regained their league title and retained the League Cup, but defeat by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final ended their hopes of a domestic treble....
Alex MacDonald equalled 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...
’ record transfer fee to sign Ferguson, as a replacement for the Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
-bound John Robertson
John Grant Robertson
John Robertson is a former professional association football player and is currently the manager of East Fife. His playing career included spells at Newcastle United, Dundee and Livingston but he is best known for his two spells at Heart of Midlothian...
. He maintained his penchant for scoring important goals, notching the only goal when Hearts defeated Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup. However, when Robertson returned to Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
a mere 8 months after his departure, Ferguson found his position threatened. The common perception was that the two players’ styles were not compatible, and Ferguson frequently found himself relegated to the substitutes’ bench. He spent time on loan with Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
before joining Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
in December 1990.
Ferguson quickly became a hero at Fir Park
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
as he helped the Steelmen to their first trophy since the 1950s, the 1991
1990-91 in Scottish football
The 1990–91 season was the 94th season of competitive football in Scotland. It was notable for the fact that there was a last day title decider at Ibrox between Rangers and Aberdeen. Both teams went into the match level on points and goal difference, but Rangers needed to win the match...
Scottish Cup. He scored the opening goal as Motherwell defeated his old side Dundee United 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling showpiece. Two years later, he moved to Lanarkshire rivals Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
before joining Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
in the Irish League. After a brief return to Dundee, Ferguson spent the second half of the 97-8 season in Ireland with Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
, where he made four league appearances and one FAI Cup appearance in an injury hit spell. He then returned to the UK, and played in English non-league football with Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
.
Ferguson was the subject of an arrest in October 2006 when he was charged with handling stolen football gear at his Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
indoor market stall. .All charges were subsequently dropped.