User:Jackferguson77

Jackie Ferguson (Footballer) Born 29th August 1939 Minishant.

Jackie was a professional footballer who after a year of mysteriously being paralysed at the age of 14 from the waist down went on to have a 16yr professional career in the game.

Playing on behalf of his brother at 16 for local team minishant in a pair of boots too big for him he scored 6 goals and attracted attention of many clubs. His father signed him to Greenock Morton and he started his career with the Greenock club. He was of the age of the last call up for national service and was based in Germany were he flew home every week to play for Morton. During this time he also played for the British legion as one of two allowed professionals with Alan McGraw also of Morton. They beat a team featuring Beckenbaur and Muller the German legends. Matt Busby described the young Ferguson as “the greatest player he’d seen since sir Stanley Mathews” and Tottenham we’re willing to offer Morton the highest fee recorded in Britain to bring him there before they discovered he was on national service. London eventually did call when Ferguson signed for Southend united after spells at Airdrie and Clyde. He during this time socialised in the London scene with the Krays, Barbara Windsor and Marian Faithful. He returned home at 36 signing for Ally Mcleods Ayr united where he scored the winning goal in the biggest crowd ever recorded at Somerset in 1969 against Glasgow Rangers. It was a great time for Ayr who also drew with the European champions Celtic in the league cup final before loosing the replay. In later life he was given a lifetime achievement award for service to junior football having managed several clubs such as Annbank and Maybole.