Duncan Ferguson-Everton Cult Hero-Part 1
Posted by Ian Marshall's Double in Duncan Ferguson, Everton | 2 May 2006
“He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.” The Bible
There finally seems to be a little doubt over whether Dunc will leave at the end of the season, according to reports. However, the likely outcome is that he won’t get offered another deal and anyway, do we really need an excuse to celebrate the great Duncan moments?
It is a testament (in one sense) and a criticism (in another) that Ferguson’s record against our most fierce rivals stands out. He has always been a ‘big game’ player, maybe symptomatic of the Old Firm mentality in Scotland, (Super) Mo Johnston also fell into this category to an extent.
So a look at some memorable moments from Duncan’s first spell at Everton.
Liverpool (home) 21/11/94 – 14 games gone and still a single figure points total, we were very close to being down. Joe Royle first game in charge and it couldn’t have gone better. The previously insipid (almost polite) Everton side had been fired up – the ‘dogs of war’ were born and both Duncan and Paul Rideout gave their defence a torrid time. Dunc banged in a powerful header from a Hinchcliffe corner (to feature later in the season) and we were on our way. Cue Pet Shop boys.
Man United (home) 25/2/95 – By now Everton had got their season back on track and were proving to be fearsome opponents, having won more than half of our games under Royle, although we had just fallen to our annual defeat at Elland Road. Everton held their own early on against previous season’s double winners. Early in the second half, another Hinchcliffe corner and Duncan leapt even higher to power it past Schmeichel. Off with his shirt, his milky white torso blinding all concerned and United's season was falling apart. We banged in the final nail in May.
West Ham (home) – 11/12/95 – A game memorable for 2 things, the return of the big man after his stretch in Barlinnie, and the fact that Julian Dicks ended up in nets for the Irons. Everton won easily, but the delight with which Dunc was greeted was a beautiful thing.
Newcastle (home) – 17/8/96 – You’ll have to believe me when I say this kids but Newcastle had come perilously close to actually winning something the year before. The League no less. They had also added Shearer to the side so were really fancying their chances. Dunc game their defence an awful time of it, earning a pen and setting up Gary Speed with a deft flick (both went on to play for Newcastle) and generally giving them a proper do-ing. Cue ‘Cheer up Kevin Keegan’.
Man United (away) – 21/8/96 – Dunno about you, it probably stems back to the League Cup night match in 1984/5, but Everton look great in all blue. The previous Saturday's win over Newcastle was being lauded, but surely a visit to the Champions would bring them back down to earth. A great volley (why are half volleys called volleys now?) and a towering header from Dunc meant the blues were 2 up at half time. This couldn’t and didn’t last with Jordi (surely no relation) Cruyff and boyhood United fan Unsworth with an OG. Bizarelly, and it’s still hard to work out why, our season fizzled out soon after. Dunc was superb that night.
Liverpool (home) -18/10/97 – Everton were awful that season, much worse than 2003/4 and were very lucky to stay up. Luckily, the RS never fancied it at Goodison and were always beasted out of the game (much as they’ve started to do to us to be honest). What was weird about this occasion was that otherwise anonymous players like Danny Williamson and John Oster also got stuck in. Dunc ran them ragged once again, with the hapless combo of Ruddock and Kvarme bearing the brunt, and at one stage the Big Man shook erstwhile youth boxer Jason McAteer warmly by the throat. Great that.
Next we’ll take a look at Duncan’s second spell at the club, after his shock sale.
If you’ve got any other first spell Big Dunc memories, feel free to stick on a comment. Cheers.
Comments
I don't see what all the fuss is aboot Big Dunc.....
.....Who Am I kidding! I love him! I was distraught when he was sold to Newcastle. He's never really set the world alight for us to be honest but he's just been a beacon of blue football. Football as it used to be played by real men, not sculpted hair wussies.
It's always pained me to see the treatment doled out by refs purely on reputation (most notably by that bug eyed fraud Collina). Sadly though despite this Big Dunc could've been so much better.
Whatever the weather. He will always be a legend to us and his signed picture has pride of place on my bedroom wall.
Beefy
Cheers Beef,
Maybe it is a sad indictment of how we have fallen from grace as a club, but it doesn't stop us loving him, especially for his efforts last season, when he wasn't on that stupid fat contract Walter gave him.
Let's just hope he gets a run today.
IMD
