Football hardliner Duncan Ferguson is to publish an autobiography detailing his time in prison and his battle with alcoholism. The former Rangers and Everton striker will tell all about his extraordinary life and career in the upcoming book, titled ‘Big Dunc’.
Publisher Century won a 13-way auction for the rights to the life story of the former Rangers and Everton striker, who is now manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
They said the book would reveal “the truth about his time in prison, his parties with African princes and Liverpool gangsters, his battles with burglars, how he made and lost a fortune and how football turned his life around.”
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Ferguson was the first and only British professional player to be jailed for an on-field offence after he head-butted Raith Rovers defender John McStay during a match at Ibrox in 1994.
The following year, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for assault at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He spent 44 days in the city’s Barlinnie Prison before being released.
Ferguson, 52, said: “I’ve been thinking about writing this book for over 20 years. Now is finally the right time. Anyone who knows me knows that I say things straight. So this book will be true.”
“I was brutally honest about both the good and the bad times. I got up to quite a bit of mischief and I think readers will enjoy the colorful stories – there are plenty of them!”
A description of the book, which will be published in May 2025, states: “In Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography, Duncan reveals the whole story for the first time: the truth about his experiences in prison, his battle with alcoholism, his partying with African princes and Liverpool gangsters, his battles with burglars, his bankruptcy and how he turned his life around through his beloved Everton FC.”
“The book sheds light on one of football’s most charismatic, but also most notorious and enigmatic tough guys. Duncan is now coach and manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
“He is a pillar of the Merseyside community, helping affected children who have had similarly difficult childhoods to his. Duncan’s book takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of humour, drama and redemption. Fasten your seatbelts.”
Born in Stirling, Ferguson began his career at Dundee United before moving to Rangers in 1993. He joined Everton in 1994 and won an FA Cup medal the following year as they beat Manchester United 1-0.
Although his career was cut short by injuries, he was a cult hero on Merseyside. Ben Brusey, publishing director of Century, said: “From prison to heroics on the pitch, the stories are breathtaking. We are thrilled to be publishing Duncan, who is a giant in every sense of the word.”
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