LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Sami Hyypia of Liverpool clashes with Duncan Ferguson of Everton during the Barclays Premiership match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park, on December 11, 2004 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Ferguson against Liverpool(Image credit: Getty Images)

Premier League players and inconsequential disputes on the pitch go hand-in-hand, with police intervention completely unnecessary. When the handbags come out, there's little chance of a punch being thrown - let alone a prison sentence.

But, prior to his move to the Premier League with Everton in 1994, Scotsman Duncan Ferguson had spent three months in prison after headbutting Raith Rovers defender John McStay on the Ibrox pitch while playing for Rangers.

Still in his early 20s and having been convicted of three previous counts of assault, in which he didn't go to prison, this fourth incident saw the rare occurence of an on-the-field incident leading to three months jail time - not even Eric Cantona spent time behind bars for his infamous kung-fu kick.

Premier League defenders scared of Ferguson

Having moved from Dundee United to Rangers for what was then a British record transfer fee in 1993, Ferguson's reputation preceded him when he arrived at Everton a year later following his prison sentence.

"You gain a reputation in a night that it takes a lifetime to get away from," Ferguson exclusively tells FourFourTwo. "As a young guy, you do stupid things.

"Weve all done stupid things in our lives; I did a lot of mine off the pitch at 16, 17, 18. On the pitch, I still feel aggrieved about an incident up in Scotland. Over the years, people have been more sympathetic about the time I went to prison. Im not that guy any more.

"Is anybody the same as they were at 16, 17 or 18? I became a better person."

While Ferguson certainly isn't proud of his action when looking back, he's merciless in his aggressive nature on the pitch. Across his 13 season in the Premier League at Everton and Newcastle United, Ferguson picked up either red cards - a joint-record.

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For the former striker, though, that's what helped give him his edge and contributed to the 68 goals he managed in England's top flight.

"As a player, though, I was aggressive: I was a strong forward and used an edge any way I could to win. Ill never apologise for that," Ferguson adds.

Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.

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Publisher: FourFourTwo

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