Duncan Ferguson

Duncan was a schoolboy international who came through the United youth system after signing from Carse Thistle. A part of the successful BP Youth Cup winning side of 1990, the young striker played in pre-season friendlies against Raith Rovers at Starks Park and an Australian XI at Tannadice prior to the 1990-91 season. Three months later he made his competitive debut against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium, coming off the bench in a 2-1 victory. He gradually established himself as a first team regular, scoring his first goal for the Club against East Fife in the Scottish Cup, and became part of the Scotland Under-21 squad. At the end of the 1990-91 season he was a runner up with United in the Scottish Cup, after playing in the final defeat to Motherwell.

In 1991-92, Duncan was United’s top scorer and began to attract attention from clubs south of the border, and his reputation was enhanced by a Scotland cap in May 1992, during the national teams build up for the European Championship in Sweden. He would go on to win four full caps whilst playing with United, including an appearance at Euro'92 against the Netherlands, and would gain a further three caps before a personal fall out with the SFA ended his international career.

A brief fall out with manager Jim McLean during the 1992-93 season - due to the ongoing transfer saga - did not affect the striker's goalscoring form, and at the end of that campaign the Club reluctantly began to accept bids for the player. A deal was concluded with Leeds United, but the striker rejected their terms and agreed a move to Rangers for £4 million - a then record transfer fee between British clubs.

In his first season with Rangers, he collected a Premier Division winners medal, but played in the Rangers side that lost to Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final in May 1994. Towards the end of that season, Duncan was involved in an incident against Raith Rovers that would later lead to him receiving a three-month prison sentence.

In October 1994 Duncan went on loan to Everton, a deal that was made permanent two months later. He played a key role in Everton avoiding relegation and helped the club win the FA Cup in May 1995. He was controversially sold to Newcastle United for around £7 million in November 1998, collecting a runners-up medal in the 1999 FA Cup final. After an injury hit two seasons at St James Park, he returned to Everton to see out his career, later taking up a coaching role.