# Iain Ferguson

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{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{for-multi|the British businessman|Iain Ferguson (businessman)|other people|Ian Ferguson (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name        = Iain Ferguson
| image       =
| fullname    = Iain John Ferguson<ref>{{Hugman|6301|accessdate=23 February 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|df=y|1962|8|4}}
| birth_place = [Newarthill](/source/Newarthill), Scotland
| height      = 
| position    = [Forward](/source/Forward_(association_football))
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =  Fir Park Boys Club
|  years1 =  1978–1984 
| years2 =  1984–1986 
| years3 =  1986 
| years4 =  1986–1988 
| years5 =  1988–1990 
| years6 =  1989 
| years7 =  1990 
| years8 =  1990–1993 
| years9 =  1993–1994 
| years10 =  1994–1996 
| years11 =  1996–1997
| years12 =  1997–1998
|  clubs1 =   [Dundee](/source/Dundee_F.C.) 
| clubs2 =  [Rangers](/source/Rangers_F.C.) 
| clubs3 =  → [Dundee](/source/Dundee_F.C.) (loan) 
| clubs4 =  [Dundee United](/source/Dundee_United_F.C.) 
| clubs5 =  [Heart of Midlothian](/source/Heart_of_Midlothian_F.C.) 
| clubs6 =  → [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.) (loan) 
| clubs7 =  → [Bristol City](/source/Bristol_City_F.C.) (loan) 
| clubs8 =  [Motherwell](/source/Motherwell_F.C.) 
| clubs9 =  [Airdrieonians](/source/Airdrieonians_F.C._(1878)) 
| clubs10 =  [Portadown](/source/Portadown_F.C.) 
| clubs11 =  [Dundee](/source/Dundee_F.C.) 
| clubs12 =  [Dundalk](/source/Dundalk_F.C.)
| clubs13 =  [Gretna](/source/Gretna_F.C.)
| caps1 =            119  
| caps2 =   32   
| caps3 =    3   
| caps4 =   75  
| caps5 =   52   
| caps6 =    1   
| caps7 =   11   
| caps8 =   51  
| caps9 =   31   
| caps10 =   39  
| caps11 =   14   
| caps12 =   4   
| caps13 =  
| totalcaps = 432    
| goals1 =  40  
| goals2 =  6  
| goals3 =  2  
| goals4 =  27  
| goals5 =  8  
| goals6 =  0  
| goals7 =  2  
| goals8 =  10  
| goals9 =  9  
| goals10 =  14  
| goals11 =  1 
| goals12 =  0 
| goals13 =  
| totalgoals = 119 
| nationalyears1 = 1982–1983   
| nationalteam1 =  Scotland U21<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=100 |title=Iain Ferguson |work=fitbastats.com |accessdate=11 October 2012}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 =  3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
'''Iain John Ferguson''' (born 4 August 1962) is a Scottish former professional [football](/source/Association_football) [striker](/source/Forward_(association_football)). He developed a reputation for scoring important and from his powerful right foot shot, sometimes spectacular goals.<ref name=patullo/><ref name=87semi/> He scored in a domestic cup final winning team with both [Rangers](/source/Rangers_F.C.) and [Motherwell](/source/Motherwell_F.C.). His goals against high-profile opponents in Europe include for [Dundee United](/source/Dundee_United_F.C.) in away games at [F.C. Barcelona](/source/F.C._Barcelona) and [Borussia Mönchengladbach](/source/Borussia_M%C3%B6nchengladbach) en route to his appearance in the [1987 UEFA Cup Final](/source/1987_UEFA_Cup_Final).<ref name=patullo/>

From the late 1970s to 1990s he also played for [Dundee](/source/Dundee_F.C.), [Heart of Midlothian](/source/Heart_of_Midlothian_F.C.), [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.), [Bristol City](/source/Bristol_City_F.C.), [Airdrieonians](/source/Airdrieonians_F.C._(1878)), [Portadown](/source/Portadown_F.C.) and [Dundalk](/source/Dundalk_F.C.).

==Playing career==
===Dundee===
Ferguson started his professional career with [Dundee](/source/Dundee_F.C.), who signed him from Fir Park Boys Club in 1978. He flourished at [Dens Park](/source/Dens_Park) scoring his first senior goal at the age of 16.<ref name=patullo>[http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/dundee/interview-iain-ferguson-on-crossing-the-great-dundee-divide-1-4369955 "Interview: Iain Ferguson on crossing the great Dundee divide" The Scotsman 18 February 2017]</ref> Ferguson stayed behind after training with manager [Tommy Gemmell](/source/Tommy_Gemmell) and his assistant [Willie Wallace](/source/Willie_Wallace), both [Lisbon Lions](/source/Lisbon_Lions), to hit shots at Scotland international squad goalkeeper [Ally Donaldson](/source/Ally_Donaldson). Ferguson later said, "Willie pulled me aside. He said: 'son, I am going to give you a tip. Every time you get a chance, put your head down and hit it as hard as you can, because the ball knows where it is going'. So that's what I did."<ref name=patullo/>

He was a first-team regular under [Don Mackay](/source/Don_Mackay) as well as a three cap [Under-21 internationalist](/source/Scotland_national_under-21_football_team). His right foot shot pulled a goal back for Dundee in the last game of the 1982–83 season derby fixture against [Dundee United](/source/Dundee_United). United won 2–1 to clinch the Scottish Premier League at Dens Park that day.<ref name=dens>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbPeVkmnwXI United win the league on rival turf!]</ref> Among his goals in 1983–84 last season at Dundee he scored five goals against Rangers.<ref name=patullo/>

===Rangers and loan back at Dundee===
In 1984 [Jock Wallace](/source/Jock_Wallace) signed him for [Rangers](/source/Rangers_F.C.) for £200,000. He scored the only goal with a low right foot shot from 12 yards in the [1984 Scottish League Cup Final (October)](/source/1984_Scottish_League_Cup_Final_(October)) against Dundee United. A few days later he scored two goals in a 3–1 [UEFA Cup](/source/UEFA_Cup) win against [Internazionale](/source/Internazionale) of Milan (Rangers lost 4–3 on aggregate).<ref name=patullo/> The first was a right foot drive from just outside the penalty area into the top corner of the net. The second was a header from inside the six yard box.<ref name=inter>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK9cjLTAj1A Rangers 3 Inter Milan 1 1984/85 UEFA cup 2nd leg Ibrox]</ref>

He was already on the sidelines at Ibrox in 1986 and then among the first departures after [Graeme Souness](/source/Graeme_Souness)' high-profile arrival although he had nutmegged Souness in one of the new player-manager's first training sessions.<ref name=patullo/> He was loaned back to Dundee early in the 1986–87 season where he scored twice in three league games.<ref name=neilb>{{NeilBrownPlayers|player/iainferguson}}</ref><ref name=patullo/>

===Dundee United===
Ferguson joined [Jim McLean](/source/Jim_McLean)'s [Dundee United](/source/Dundee_United_F.C.) in 1986 paying £145,000 to secure his services after Dundee refused the fee asked by Rangers. In his first season he scored important goals in reaching the [1987 UEFA Cup Final](/source/1987_UEFA_Cup_Final). he was though ineligible for the first three rounds due to the date he signed for United.<ref name=remember>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/mar/18/dundee-united-1986-1987-barcelona-uefa-cup-scottish-premiership "Remembering Dundee United in 1986-87: 70 matches, two finals, no silverware" The Guardian 18 March 2015]</ref> He headed the winner in the 2–1 defeat of [Barcelona](/source/FC_Barcelona) at the [Camp Nou](/source/Camp_Nou) and the opening goal in the semi-final victory at [Borussia Mönchengladbach](/source/Borussia_M%C3%B6nchengladbach). Ferguson due to suspension missed the first leg of the final that [IFK Goteborg](/source/IFK_Goteborg) won 1–0. He played in the 1–1 draw return leg at Tannadice.<ref name=patullo/>

In his two seasons there Ferguson reached consecutive [Scottish Cup](/source/Scottish_Cup) finals. He scored his team's first two goals in the 3–2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over his ex-Dundee side at neutral [Tynecastle Park](/source/Tynecastle_Park).<ref name=patullo/> The opener was a right foot shot high into the net from just inside the penalty box. Television commentator [Archie MacPherson](/source/Archie_MacPherson) said in response, "Somebody once said to me about Iain Ferguson, he doesn't score ordinary goals, they are all smashers."<ref name=87semi>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDOsMv7xoP4 "Dundee v Dundee Utd Scottish Cup semifinal 86-87"]</ref> In the [1987 Scottish Cup Final](/source/1987_Scottish_Cup_Final) Ferguson had an extra time goal disallowed much disputed by him and his teammates.<ref name=patullo/> [Terry Butcher](/source/Terry_Butcher) in the television punditry after initially sitting on the fence regarding the offside decision then said he felt the goal should have stood.<ref name=87cupfinal>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycw6u99y55c "St.Mirren v Dundee Utd. 1986-87 Scottish Cup Final"]</ref> Minutes later Ferguson's name sake [Ian Ferguson](/source/Ian_Ferguson_(footballer%2C_born_1967)) scored the only goal of the game for St Mirren. A year later United lost the final 2–1 to Celtic after [Kevin Gallacher](/source/Kevin_Gallacher) had United ahead.

In the [1986–87 Dundee United F.C. season](/source/1986%E2%80%9387_Dundee_United_F.C._season) of their UEFA Cup Final appearance they played 67 competitive matches. Ferguson played in 51 of these top scoring for the club with 28 goals. One of these was on 20 December 1986 from 44 yards in a 3–1 win against Hearts. He dispossessed [Sandy Jardine](/source/Sandy_Jardine) before hitting the ball over goalkeeper [Henry Smith](/source/Henry_Smith_(goalkeeper)).<ref name=44yards>[https://twitter.com/YoorWullie/status/866736777821921280 "DUFC 3 – 1 Hearts. 20th December 1986."]</ref> He also top scored for [United the season after](/source/1987%E2%80%9388_Dundee_United_F.C._season) with 16 goals. In the league they finished in third and fifth places respectively in these two seasons. Despite featuring in one of the ''Tangerines'' most celebrated sides, Ferguson did not earn silverware in his two seasons with United.

===Heart of Midlothian and loans at Bristol City and Charlton Athletic===

In [1988–89](/source/1988%E2%80%9389_in_Scottish_football) Ferguson equalled [Hearts](/source/Heart_of_Midlothian_F.C.)' record transfer fee of £350,000.<ref name=lh>{{Cite web |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/fergusoniain.html |title=Iain Ferguson, London Hearts |access-date=3 February 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033329/http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/fergusoniain.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [Alex MacDonald](/source/Alex_MacDonald_(footballer_born_1948)) signed him to replace [Newcastle United](/source/Newcastle_United_F.C.)-bound [John Robertson](/source/John_Grant_Robertson). He scored another important goal notching the only strike when Hearts defeated [Bayern Munich](/source/Bayern_Munich) in the first leg of [1988–89 UEFA Cup](/source/1988%E2%80%9389_UEFA_Cup) quarter finals. He latched on to a free-kick tapped to him by [Tosh McKinlay](/source/Tosh_McKinlay) to hit a 25-yard drive past [Raimond Aumann](/source/Raimond_Aumann) into the net<ref name=patullo/> described by television commentator [Jock Brown](/source/Jock_Brown) as "a shot of stunning power from Iain Ferguson".<ref name=heartsuefa>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5X016gLh8g Hearts UEFA Cup Run 88/89]</ref> Ferguson for his part said this goal was his career favourite.<ref name=patullo/> Bayern won the return leg 2–0 to go through on aggregate. Robertson returned to [Tynecastle](/source/Tynecastle_Stadium) only 8 months after his departure meaning Ferguson was largely demoted to the substitutes' bench.

He spent time on loan with [Bristol City](/source/Bristol_City_F.C.) and [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.) before leaving in December 1990.

===Motherwell===
He helped the [Fir Park](/source/Fir_Park) side win the [1991 Scottish Cup Final](/source/1991_Scottish_Cup_Final). He headed the opening goal as Motherwell defeated his old side Dundee United 4–3 after extra time.

===Later career===

During 1993-94 he moved to Lanarkshire rivals [Airdrieonians](/source/Airdrieonians_F.C._(1878)) scoring 9 times from his 31 league games.

He next moved mid-season joining [Portadown](/source/Portadown_F.C.) in the [Irish League](/source/Irish_Football_League).

In a brief return to Dundee he scored a penalty in a League Cup shoot-out win over ex-club Dundee United at Tannadice in 1996.<ref name=patullo/>

Ferguson spent the second half of the 97–98 season in Ireland with [Dundalk](/source/Dundalk_F.C.), 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](/source/Gretna_F.C.).

==After playing==

Ferguson operated a sports equipment stall at [The Forge Shopping Centre](/source/The_Forge_Shopping_Centre) in Glasgow. In 2006, he was charged with handling stolen football equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/football-star-is-charged-after-raid-936944|title=FOOTBALL STAR IS CHARGED AFTER RAID|publisher=Daily Record|date=27 October 2006}}</ref>

As of February 2017 he was working in car sales.<ref name=patullo/>

==Honours==
;Rangers
*'''[Scottish League Cup](/source/Scottish_League_Cup):''' winner 1984–85

;Dundee United
*'''[UEFA Cup](/source/UEFA_Cup):''' 1986-87 runner up
*'''[Scottish Cup](/source/Scottish_Cup):''' runner up 1986–87, 1987–88

;Motherwell
*'''[Scottish Cup](/source/Scottish_Cup):''' winner 1990–91

==See also==
*[Dundee United F.C. season 1986-87](/source/Dundee_United_F.C._season_1986-87)
*[Dundee United F.C. season 1987-88](/source/Dundee_United_F.C._season_1987-88)

==References==
{{reflist}}
*Dundalk FC matchday programme, Dundalk v Drogheda Utd, April 1998

==External links==
*[http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/fergusoniain.html Profile at londonhearts.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033329/http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/fergusoniain.html |date=30 September 2007 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Iain}}
Category:1962 births
Category:Living people
Category:Footballers from North Lanarkshire
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:NIFL Premiership players
Category:Dundee F.C. players
Category:Rangers F.C. players
Category:Dundee United F.C. players
Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players
Category:Motherwell F.C. players
Category:Airdrieonians F.C. (1878) players
Category:Portadown F.C. players
Category:Gretna F.C. players
Category:Dundalk F.C. players
Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:People from Newarthill
Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Iain Ferguson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Ferguson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Ferguson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.