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In Search of Duncan Ferguson: The Life and Crimes of a Footballing Enigma
He was one of the hardest, most controversial footballers of his generation: the £20million man who became the first professional player to go to jail for an offence committed on the field of play. He was the fans’ hero who disappeared.
Duncan Ferguson was an old-fashioned Scottish centre-forward who went from a boarding house in Dundee to the marble staircase of Rangers in a record-breaking transfer.
His £4m move from Dundee United to Ibrox made him British football’s most expensive native player. But he would also become one of the most notorious footballers in the land. Sent to prison after head-butting an opponent during a Scottish Premier Division match between Rangers and Raith Rovers, Ferguson made history all over again.
He served half of a three-month sentence in Glasgow’s infamous Barlinnie Prison. A twelve-match ban from the Scottish Football Association was later overturned following a long appeal process. Bruised by the experience, he turned his back on Scotland’s national team and the media.
Ferguson reaped the riches of the Sky era. He was a folk hero at Everton, where he spent ten years either side of an injury-hit spell at Newcastle United. Although the game made him a millionaire, he rejected its new culture of celebrity and remained a fiery figure, racking up a Premiership record of eight red cards. And then, after scoring in the final minute of the last game of his career, he turned his back on football completely – or so it seemed.
Duncan Ferguson was an old-fashioned Scottish centre-forward who went from a boarding house in Dundee to the marble staircase of Rangers in a record-breaking transfer.
His £4m move from Dundee United to Ibrox made him British football’s most expensive native player. But he would also become one of the most notorious footballers in the land. Sent to prison after head-butting an opponent during a Scottish Premier Division match between Rangers and Raith Rovers, Ferguson made history all over again.
He served half of a three-month sentence in Glasgow’s infamous Barlinnie Prison. A twelve-match ban from the Scottish Football Association was later overturned following a long appeal process. Bruised by the experience, he turned his back on Scotland’s national team and the media.
Ferguson reaped the riches of the Sky era. He was a folk hero at Everton, where he spent ten years either side of an injury-hit spell at Newcastle United. Although the game made him a millionaire, he rejected its new culture of celebrity and remained a fiery figure, racking up a Premiership record of eight red cards. And then, after scoring in the final minute of the last game of his career, he turned his back on football completely – or so it seemed.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 20, 2022
A thorough examination of the life and career of Duncan Ferguson that I thoroughly enjoyed from cover to cover.
Not only do I enjoy the author's writing style, I'm also a fan of the way he approached writing a book about such an enigmatic figure as Ferguson.
As someone who grew up with Ferguson as a prominent footballing figure, I genuinely hadn't heard his voice until long after he had retired. With such a lack of media presence and interviews to draw on, it was necessary for Pattullo to do his homework. And that he did.
There is incredible effort to meet and search out sources to bring insight to some seemingly impenetrable times in Ferguson's life, particularly speaking to Jock McStay and then exploring his time in Barlinnie in forensic detail.
I also enjoyed reading about his time at Dundee United and his international career (contrary to the author's opinion, I still think the overhead kick hits the bar after watching it again) how the book explores times in his life rather than methodically moving from match to match and season to season.
I suppose the only complaints I would have are the lack of access to Ferguson or his parents - hardly the author's fault and certainly not for his lack of trying - and the bizarre chapter about a musical performance by a Finnish composer that really could, and should, have been left out.
However, all in all, this is a fantastic piece of work and insight into a controversial yet reclusive figure in Scottish (from which perspective the book is really written) and English football history.
Not only do I enjoy the author's writing style, I'm also a fan of the way he approached writing a book about such an enigmatic figure as Ferguson.
As someone who grew up with Ferguson as a prominent footballing figure, I genuinely hadn't heard his voice until long after he had retired. With such a lack of media presence and interviews to draw on, it was necessary for Pattullo to do his homework. And that he did.
There is incredible effort to meet and search out sources to bring insight to some seemingly impenetrable times in Ferguson's life, particularly speaking to Jock McStay and then exploring his time in Barlinnie in forensic detail.
I also enjoyed reading about his time at Dundee United and his international career (contrary to the author's opinion, I still think the overhead kick hits the bar after watching it again) how the book explores times in his life rather than methodically moving from match to match and season to season.
I suppose the only complaints I would have are the lack of access to Ferguson or his parents - hardly the author's fault and certainly not for his lack of trying - and the bizarre chapter about a musical performance by a Finnish composer that really could, and should, have been left out.
However, all in all, this is a fantastic piece of work and insight into a controversial yet reclusive figure in Scottish (from which perspective the book is really written) and English football history.
April 9, 2020
I didn’t read this as an Everton fan as I support Southampton i read this out of curiosity for the name he has become.
I think it would have been better if it had been written by the man big Dunc himself as this is just options and statements by people that knew him, worked with him or were kind of close to him but not his own actual words. I understand to need to keep his private life private but it would of made for a better read.
Although being one of the icons of football today his career was blighted by injury and mis-management.
I think he could of been a big star like everyone thought he was going to be but it was just never to be for Dunc.
I think it would have been better if it had been written by the man big Dunc himself as this is just options and statements by people that knew him, worked with him or were kind of close to him but not his own actual words. I understand to need to keep his private life private but it would of made for a better read.
Although being one of the icons of football today his career was blighted by injury and mis-management.
I think he could of been a big star like everyone thought he was going to be but it was just never to be for Dunc.
June 1, 2017
A really fascinating insight in to the little know life of the former Premiership footballer Duncan Ferguson.
Big Dunc was very underrated as a footballer mainly due to poor discipline and a bad injury record.
However it was obvious from the book that there was a lot more to him than that. He always had time for the fans and now he is a youth coach at Everton.
A really interesting book and well worth reading
Big Dunc was very underrated as a footballer mainly due to poor discipline and a bad injury record.
However it was obvious from the book that there was a lot more to him than that. He always had time for the fans and now he is a youth coach at Everton.
A really interesting book and well worth reading
November 9, 2019
A well researched book with a lot of different sources that helped to give a clear understanding impression of the subject. An interesting book for any Everton supporter to read
December 11, 2021
As good as it could be without any cooperation from the man himself
April 13, 2024
For Everton supporters a good exploration of this enigmatic character
July 6, 2025
A hero of mine🤗💙 Lv Big DUNC. Very scary/ unnerving in parts. A very good read for me.
March 9, 2015
It's some way from one hump or two: the frank worthington story. Alright, but only if you are evertonian, dundonian or a bear.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews