A former footballer who was famend for his fiery character each on and off the pitch has revealed how he was humbled by a stretch in jail.
The ex-player revamped 250 Premier League appearances, incomes a fierce fame because of his love for a scrap.
Nevertheless, he took it one step too far again in 1994 as he grew to become the first-ever British footballer to be jailed for an offence dedicated on the sphere.
After headbutting an opponent, he was slapped with a 12-game ban and a three-month jail sentence.
He revealed how he was introduced again all the way down to earth by having to serve a stint behind bars.
The person in query chillingly instructed BBC Sport: ‘I assumed I used to be a person. I’ve obtained all the pieces boxed-off. I used to be only a child.’
Duncan Ferguson was famend for his fiery temperament each on and off the pitch
He has now revealed how he was introduced again all the way down to earth after a stint in jail
He had quite a few different brushes with the legislation – which he admitted had been all the way down to how a lot he drank in his youthful years
That was none aside from former Everton and Newcastle striker Duncan Ferguson, who was convicted for headbutting Raith Rovers participant Jock McStay whereas enjoying for Rangers in a match in April 1994.
Quick-forward over 20 years later, and ‘Large Dunc’ has shared what life was like throughout his 44-day spell in HMP Barlinie – Scotland’s largest jail – positioned in Riddrie, north-east Glasgow.
After going inside on the age of 23, he shared considerations for his security on account of his high-profile standing having performed for Rangers, mixed along with his younger age.
The Scot mentioned: ‘It was like they had been specializing in me. You are anxious sick. You have to face that within the morning. I by no means slept a wink all night time.
‘I used to be terrified. I’ll stroll out on this touchdown within the morning and also you suppose somebody’s going to stay a knife in you.’
That got here after he had been concerned in a string of earlier altercations, together with a struggle in Anstruther, a city positioned 9 miles from St. Andrews.
Beforehand, he had been slapped with a £100 wonderful for headbutting a policeman and fined an additional £200 for punching and kicking a supporter who was on crutches.
Talking to Mail Sport final month, the ex-Toffees hardman mentioned he was decreased to a trembling ball of hysteria throughout his jail stint.
Ferguson is seen right here leaving Glasgow Sheriff Court docket in 1993 after being handed jail time
However he additionally shared how his perspective modified following a a 44-day stint at HMP Barlinie
The 53-year-old said: ‘It grew to become darker, and darker. Then there have been the threats.’
He heard threats from fellow inmates far and large, sufficient to place worry into even the guts of Large Dunc himself.
‘What cell is he in. I’m going to chop that massive soiled Orange b*****d. He is gonnae get lower tae f***.’
Ferguson added: ‘Half a dozen to 10 individuals had been telling me I used to be going to get slashed within the morning. I used to be solely 23, alone. It was horrifying. You suppose: “How has it come to this?”
He has accepted that lots of the robust conditions he discovered himself in had been all the way down to an over-indulgence when it got here to alcohol – a circumstance he has since rectified by being sober since 2008.
Luckily, given the stormy seas he navigated throughout his enjoying profession and private life, he’s a battle-hardened sailor who lives to inform the story of his voyages – simply with no need for a bottle of rum.
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