Glenn Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Glenn 'Spike' Ferguson (born 10 July 1969) is a former Northern Irish
footballer. He played for Ards
and Glenavon
before joining Linfield
in January 1998 for an Irish League record transfer fee of £55,000. He was released by Linfield in May 2009, after which he signed for Lisburn Distillery
where he finished his career.
Ferguson amassed over 1,000 domestic appearances and scored a total of 563 goals
in Irish football, placing him 2nd behind Jimmy Jones (646) on the list of all-time goalscorers in Irish Football. He had also been capped 5 times by Northern Ireland
.
, which took his career total to 476, making him the third highest scorer in the history of the local game, behind only Jimmy Jones and Joe Bambrick
.
On the 2nd February 2008, during the CIS Cup Final, Ferguson came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining with Linfield trailing 2–1 to Crusaders. He scored twice in the last five minutes to turn around the match. Linfield won 3–2. These were his 500th and 501st goals in Irish Football, and his 250th and 251st for Linfield.
On 9 February 2008 he became the all-time top goalscorer in the Irish Cup with two strikes against Bangor.
Ferguson scored his 277th goal in his 500th game for Linfield in a 4–1 win over Coleraine on 13 December 2008.
On 28 August 2010, he played his 1,000th senior match in Northern Ireland - in Lisburn Distillery's 2–1 win over Newry City
. Ferguson made his final career appearance on 30 April 2011, playing for Lisburn Distillery in their 4–3 home win over Cliftonville
.
, Ferguson was first called into the Full Northern Ireland
squad late in 1998. He made his debut against Canada
on 7 April 1999 but did not play again until 2001. In all, he won five caps, but was barred from further appearances after his arrest for allegedly assaulting a bouncer in a Prague nightclub after a World Cup Qualifier against the Czech Republic
. Ferguson also represented the Irish League four times, scoring twice.
Glenavon
Linfield
Lisburn Distillery
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
footballer. He played for Ards
Ards F.C.
Ards F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1900, is from Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Dixon Park in Ballyclare, which it shares with Ballyclare Comrades...
and Glenavon
Glenavon F.C.
Glenavon F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
before joining Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
in January 1998 for an Irish League record transfer fee of £55,000. He was released by Linfield in May 2009, after which he signed for Lisburn Distillery
Lisburn Distillery F.C.
Lisburn Distillery is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1880, originated in west Belfast, where it was based at Grosvenor Park at Distillery Street off the Grosvenor Road until 1971...
where he finished his career.
Ferguson amassed over 1,000 domestic appearances and scored a total of 563 goals
Goal (sport)
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports. It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs....
in Irish football, placing him 2nd behind Jimmy Jones (646) on the list of all-time goalscorers in Irish Football. He had also been capped 5 times by Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Records
On 1 December 2006, he scored his 226th goal for LinfieldLinfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
, which took his career total to 476, making him the third highest scorer in the history of the local game, behind only Jimmy Jones and Joe Bambrick
Joe Bambrick
Joe Bambrick, , was a former footballer who at club level played for Chelsea, Walsall, Glentoran, and Linfield.-Biography:Bambrick scored 12 goals in 11 games for Ireland, including six in one game against Wales....
.
On the 2nd February 2008, during the CIS Cup Final, Ferguson came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining with Linfield trailing 2–1 to Crusaders. He scored twice in the last five minutes to turn around the match. Linfield won 3–2. These were his 500th and 501st goals in Irish Football, and his 250th and 251st for Linfield.
On 9 February 2008 he became the all-time top goalscorer in the Irish Cup with two strikes against Bangor.
Ferguson scored his 277th goal in his 500th game for Linfield in a 4–1 win over Coleraine on 13 December 2008.
On 28 August 2010, he played his 1,000th senior match in Northern Ireland - in Lisburn Distillery's 2–1 win over Newry City
Newry City F.C.
Newry City is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1923, is based in Newry, County Down and plays its home matches at The Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
. Ferguson made his final career appearance on 30 April 2011, playing for Lisburn Distillery in their 4–3 home win over Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
.
International career
Having been previously capped for Northern Ireland BNorthern Ireland B national football team
Northern Ireland B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the Northern Ireland national football team. Primarily seen as a stepping-stone between the Under-21 and Full international teams, the matches are also used to give a run-out for fringe players and to honour Irish...
, Ferguson was first called into the Full Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
squad late in 1998. He made his debut against Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
on 7 April 1999 but did not play again until 2001. In all, he won five caps, but was barred from further appearances after his arrest for allegedly assaulting a bouncer in a Prague nightclub after a World Cup Qualifier against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
. Ferguson also represented the Irish League four times, scoring twice.
Club honours
In his 21-year career Ferguson won 30 winner's medals.Glenavon
- Irish Cup Winner (1): 1996–97
- Gold Cup Winner (2): 1990–91, 1997–98
- Floodlit Cup Winner (1): 1996–97
- Co. Antrim Shield Winner (2): 1990–91, 1995–96
- Mid Ulster Cup Winner (1): 1990–91
- Charity Shield Winner (1): 1992 (shared)
Linfield
- Irish Premier League Champion (6): 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Irish Cup Winner (4): 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- League Cup Winner (4): 1998–99, 1999–00, 2005–06, 2007–08
- Co. Antrim Shield Winner (5): 1997–98, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
- Charity Shield Winner (1): 2000
- Setanta Cup Winner (1): 2005
Lisburn Distillery
- League Cup Winner (1): 2010–11
Personal Awards & Achievements
- Irish League Topscorer (2) 1994-95 (27 goals), 2003–04 (25 goals)
- Ulster Footballer of the Year (3) 2001, 2004, 2006
- Northern Ireland Football Writers' Player of the Year (3) 2001, 2004, 2006
- Northern Ireland PFA Player of the Year (1) 1994