593 Brian Ferguson

Biography

Midfielder Brian Ferguson joined the Tigers in December 1980, though he played at left back in his first four games for Mike Smith’s team over the festive period. He made nine starts in midfield during the closing weeks of the season as City crashed out of the Third Division, a stark contrast to the ambitious intentions City had when they lured Smith from the Wales international manager’s job. At the start of the 1981/82 season Ferguson was first choice on the left of City’s midfield and in September 1981 he scored three goals in five games – a winner against Bradford, an equaliser in the League Cup against Lincoln and a third strike against Peterborough. However an injury in early October saw Brian miss four months of football, when he returned in January 1982 Smith’s tenure was in its last throes. Fergsuon was used sparingly by caretaker bosses Bobby Brown and Chris Chilton as the club went into receivership and Brian left the club in the 1982 close season.

James Brian Ferguson was born in Irvine on the North Ayrshire coast but started his career as an apprentice professional at Mansfield Town. In January 1979, before he had made a senior appearance for the Stags, Fergsuon was signed by Second Division side Newcastle United. He was given his first team debut by the Magpies in an April 1980 match against Burnley and went on to make four starts in the closing weeks of the 1979/80 season, scoring his first goal in a 1-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers. Ferguson did not make any further first team appearances for Newcastle in the 1980/81 seasn prior to his move to Hull City.

Ferguson spent the 1982/83 season playing for Goole Town before he returned to the Football League in August 1983 and signed for Southend United. He was a regular presence in the Shrimpers’ first team during a 1983/84 season that ended in relegation to Division Four, scoring five goals in 34 appearances included a brace in an October 1983 6-0 thumping of Brentford. He made seven further appearances for Southend at the start of the 1984/85 season, scoring once, before an October 1984 transfer took him to Fourth Division rivals Chesterfield. Ferguson quickly established himself as a first team regular at Saltergate, first as an attacking midfielder then later in the season at right back as the Spireites lifted the Division Four title. However in the latter weeks of the season he suffered a knee injury that led to his retirement from the professional game. He made 36 appearances for the Spireites, taking his career total between 1980 and 1985 to 118 appearances and 10 goals.

Ferguson spent some time at Skegness Town in the 1985/86 season, which he combined with work on Chesterfield’s coaching staff. In September 1987 he was awarded a testamonial game by Chesterfield against Sheffield Wednesday, he left the Spireites a year later. He ran a pub near Skegness and later worked in the financial services industry, settling with his family at Cranleigh near Guildford in Surrey.

Details

Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 14 December 1960, Irvine
Hull City First Game: 26 December 1980, Rotherham United H (Division Three), 20 years, 12 days old
Hull City Final Game: 4 May 1982, Blackpool H (Division Four), 21 years, 141 days old

Clubs

Mansfield Town (1977-1979), Newcastle United (1979-1980), Hull City (1980-1982), Goole Town (1982-1983), Southend United (1983-1984), Chesterfield (1984-1985), Skegness Town (1985-1986)

Hull City Record

Career: 36 apps, 3 goals

Brian Ferguson

Season	LGE App	LGE Gls	FAC App	FAC Gls	FLC App	FLC Gls	EUR App	EUR Gls	OTH App	OTH Gls
1980/81	12 (1)	0	1 (0)	0	-	-	-	-	-	-
1981/82	12 (3)	2	2 (0)	0	2 (0)	1	-	-	3 (0)	0