Mick Ferguson

For other people of the same name, see Michael Ferguson (disambiguation).

Mick Ferguson

Personal information
Full name	Michael John Ferguson
Date of birth	3 October 1954 (1954-10-03) (age 57)
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
1970–1971	Coventry City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1971–1981	Coventry City	127	(51)
1981–1983	Everton	8	(4)
1982–1983	→ Birmingham City (loan)	20	(8)
1983–1984	Birmingham City	2	(1)
1984	→ Coventry City (loan)	7	(3)
1984–1986	Brighton & Hove Albion	16	(6)
1986–1987	Colchester United	26	(11)
1987–19xx	Wealdstone
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael John "Mick" Ferguson (born 3 October 1954 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He spent the best years of his playing career at Coventry City. Although his career was plagued by injury, he managed a decent strike-rate at most of the clubs he played for.

Biography

Ferguson was discovered by Coventry City's scouting system, broadened under Jimmy Hill's management to be able to identify young talent anywhere in the country.^[1] In his first spell at the club he scored 51 goals in 127 league games over a six-year period. In 1977 he was top scorer with 13 league goals, but the following season he and Ian Wallace formed a devastating strike partnership scoring 37 league goals between them;^[2] Ferguson's share was 17 from 30 games, including three hat-tricks. Ferguson was a key member of what was Coventry's most exciting top flight team. Playing alongside Ian Wallace, Bobby MacDonald, Tommy Hutchison, Terry Yorath and Graham Oakey Ferguson was often unplayable in the air, while surprisingly skilful for such a big man on the floor. He is one of 30 players selected for Coventry City's Hall of Fame.^[3] During this period he was considered for inclusion into the England international squad, though the call-up never came.

Everton paid £280,000 for him in August 1981, but little more than a year later he moved to Birmingham City, initially on loan. In those months on loan he scored enough goals to be the club's top scorer for the season, but injuries interrupted his career and he played only two more league games for them. He was allowed back to his old club Coventry City on loan in March 1984; the three goals he scored in what remained of that season were enough to save Coventry from relegation from the top flight, ironically at Birmingham's expense. He went on to play for Brighton & Hove Albion, Colchester United and finally non-league Wealdstone. Ferguson retired from playing in 1987, but remained in football, working in community development with several professional clubs.^[4] It is difficult to gauge how good a player Ferguson would have been if he had not been plagued by injuries, although he still accumulated more than 200 professional league appearances (mainly in the top flight), scoring more than 80 league goals.

Honours

• with Coventry City
  • Club's top league scorer 1977.
• with Birmingham City
  • Club's top league scorer 1982.

References

Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-010-2. 

• Brown, Jim (2000). Coventry: An Illustrated History. Desert Island Books Ltd. ISBN 1-874287-36=8. 

Notes

1. ^ Jim Brown (Coventry City club historian). "The talent of the academy". CovSupport News Service. http://covsupport.homestead.com/academy.html. Retrieved 2007-09-06. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Coventry City". English Top Division Goal Scorers. http://www.free-elements.com/England/Goals/CovC/CovC1977.html. Retrieved 10 October 2010. 
3. ^ "Hall of Fame". Coventry City F.C.. 29 May 2007. http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10269~1030484,00.html. Retrieved 6 September 2007. 
4. ^ "Hall of Fame". Gary Mabbutt's Knee (a Coventry City fansite). 2000-05-12. http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sId=885&StId=204869&p=2. Retrieved 2007-09-07. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Profile at Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database.

Persondata
Name	Ferguson, Michael John
Alternative names	Ferguson, Mick
Short description	Professional footballer
Date of birth	1954-10-03
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Date of death
Place of death