Duncan Ferguson, the former Everton forward known for his tough persona both on and off the pitch, has opened up about his past in an exclusive interview with the Mirror. Ferguson, who has been a controversial figure in British football, is set to release his autobiography, “Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography,” which delves into his turbulent past and his journey towards personal growth.
Duncan Ferguson said: “I’m not that big hard case that everyone makes me out to be. But I’ve got the record. I’ve got the red cards, they are there. I’ve got others things that happened to me off the field, they are there. You cannot get away from that. But I’m not that man. I got myself into some scrapes when I was younger … but who’s not had a fat lip when they were younger? I thought it was incredibly unfair and unjust what happened to me (being sent to prison for the McStay incident), but you get that reputation. You have got to deal it with your whole life … Big Dunc, the hardest man in football. Let me tell you … I’ve never even been the hardest man in one of my dressing-rooms.”
Ferguson has had his share of run-ins with the law, including a notable incident where he served a jail sentence for headbutting Raith Rovers defender John McStay while playing for Rangers. Despite these past events, Ferguson believes that his reputation as a hard man in football was not entirely justified. He reflects on the challenges of living with such a label and how it affected his life both on and off the field.
Duncan Ferguson said: “In a way, I found it hard to talk about that. You kind of lock it away. I was a young man, I was fearless, I didn’t care. I had this approach that I had to get in there and get it done but it was obviously terrifying. I was in D Hall and when I walked in there for the first time, the place fell deadly silent. People were all on the landings. It was like a coliseum and all eyes were on me. It was not an easy experience.”
Ferguson also shared insights into his personal life, including his battle with alcohol. He admitted that during his playing days, he often indulged in drinking, which eventually took a toll on his health and career. He recalled times when he believed he was indestructible, only to realize later that his lifestyle was contributing to his injuries.
Duncan Ferguson said: “I thought I could go out drinking, do what I wanted to do, did not need to rest. I was falling out of nightclubs on a Friday night. I thought I was indestructible. I thought I can go out on it on a Friday night and destroy a team on a Saturday … and I was doing it. But in the end, it all catches up with you. You start getting injuries. But you don’t clock that it’s the booze that could be causing these injuries.”
Ferguson’s autobiography, co-written with Henry Winter, promises to offer an unfiltered look at his life, including his time in prison and his subsequent transformation. The book, set to be published on May 8th by Century, is expected to shed light on the man behind the infamous reputation and his journey towards sobriety and personal redemption.
