Back in the 90s, Duncan Ferguson was football's most terrifying hardman.
The Everton legend was the first footballer jailed for an on-field offence, but that's just the half of it.
From headbutting policemen to hospitalising burglars, this is the mental tale of Big Dunc...
The Everton legend was the first footballer jailed for an on-field offence, but that's just the half of it.
From headbutting policemen to hospitalising burglars, this is the mental tale of Big Dunc...
1990: Dundee United sign Duncan Ferguson, a 6ft 4in striker who is particularly good with his head.
Perhaps too good: after a night of heavy boozing he gets into an spat with a policeman at a Dundee taxi rank.
Dunc settles the dispute by headbutting the copper.
Perhaps too good: after a night of heavy boozing he gets into an spat with a policeman at a Dundee taxi rank.
Dunc settles the dispute by headbutting the copper.
1993: He's back at the taxi rank when a postman who supports hated rivals St Johnstone starts goading him.
The bloke is already on crutches with a broken leg, but that doesn't stop Duncan punching and kicking him.
Dunc defends the damage as "Fat lips, no big deal".
The bloke is already on crutches with a broken leg, but that doesn't stop Duncan punching and kicking him.
Dunc defends the damage as "Fat lips, no big deal".
1993: “I can’t keep him out of trouble," laments United gaffer Jim McLean after the latest scrap.
So when Rangers offer a British record £4mil for the 22-year-old, McLean accepts.
But Ferguson only manages a few games in Glasgow before trouble strikes again...
So when Rangers offer a British record £4mil for the 22-year-old, McLean accepts.
But Ferguson only manages a few games in Glasgow before trouble strikes again...
1993: Dunc strolls into a pub in the coastal resort of Anstruther wearing sunglasses, a "woman's earring" and a flower behind his ear.
When 2 local fisherman take the piss, he knocks them off their barstools.
He's convicted of assault, but denies having a flower behind his ear.
When 2 local fisherman take the piss, he knocks them off their barstools.
He's convicted of assault, but denies having a flower behind his ear.
1994: After tussling for the ball with Raith Rovers' Jock McStay, Big Dunc spins round and delivers his signature move: another headbutt.
McStay hits the deck, but the ref doesn't even book Ferguson.
But it's all on camera, and the police charge him with assault yet again...
McStay hits the deck, but the ref doesn't even book Ferguson.
But it's all on camera, and the police charge him with assault yet again...
1994: He's sentenced to 44 days in the slammer for the headbutt, making him the first British footballer to be jailed for an on-field incident.
He spends it at Glasgow prison HMP Bairlinie, where half the inmates are Celtic fans who want to kill him.
He spends it at Glasgow prison HMP Bairlinie, where half the inmates are Celtic fans who want to kill him.
1994: Rangers give up, sending him on loan to Everton, who are bottom of the league.
He fails to score in his first 4 games, and rumours spread of all-night parties in his hotel room.
The Goodison faithful start to doubt their new signing, and it's about to get worse...
He fails to score in his first 4 games, and rumours spread of all-night parties in his hotel room.
The Goodison faithful start to doubt their new signing, and it's about to get worse...
1994: Two nights before his first Merseyside derby, Ferguson heads out "on the lash" and necks five bottles of wine.
He's driving back to his hotel with a girl when the police pull him over.
He spends the night in the slammer before returning to his hotel to shag the girl.
He's driving back to his hotel with a girl when the police pull him over.
He spends the night in the slammer before returning to his hotel to shag the girl.
Manager Joe Royle is furious, but he decides to play his boozy striker against Liverpool anyway.
After a quiet first half, Duncan "goes to war", scoring a header and assisting another in a 2-0 win.
He parties with fans in the city centre until the early hours.
After a quiet first half, Duncan "goes to war", scoring a header and assisting another in a 2-0 win.
He parties with fans in the city centre until the early hours.
1995: That season, Ferguson becomes an Everton legend as they avoid relegation and win the FA Cup.
In seven Merseyside derbies in the 1990s, he never loses once.
He's famed for his headers and hot temper, which earns him a record eight red cards in the Premier League.
In seven Merseyside derbies in the 1990s, he never loses once.
He's famed for his headers and hot temper, which earns him a record eight red cards in the Premier League.
2001: But not everyone's aware of his violent streak.
When the 6ft 4in striker catches 2 burglars trying to steal his CD collection, he beats one "until he stopped moving".
He ends up giving him CPR and the bloke spends 3 days in hospital, followed by a year in jail.
When the 6ft 4in striker catches 2 burglars trying to steal his CD collection, he beats one "until he stopped moving".
He ends up giving him CPR and the bloke spends 3 days in hospital, followed by a year in jail.
2003: And it happens again two years later when petty criminal Carl Bishop tries to nab some booze from Ferguson's out-house.
Dunc breaks his jaw and knocks three of his teeth out, and Carl gets a five stretch in the slammer.
Dunc breaks his jaw and knocks three of his teeth out, and Carl gets a five stretch in the slammer.
But the old warhorse has mellowed in middle age:
Last week he was munching on a plant-based burger, and carping about carbon credits and polar ice caps after being appointed manager of eco-club Forest Green.
But there are still flashes of his old self...
Last week he was munching on a plant-based burger, and carping about carbon credits and polar ice caps after being appointed manager of eco-club Forest Green.
But there are still flashes of his old self...
He recently sent a video message to a work-shy schoolboy, telling him:
"Your teacher told me you've been fucking slacking off a wee bit.
"We cannae be having that. You'd better make sure you get the fucking results".
Rumour has it 'young Tom' got straight As.
"Your teacher told me you've been fucking slacking off a wee bit.
"We cannae be having that. You'd better make sure you get the fucking results".
Rumour has it 'young Tom' got straight As.
Next time Big Dunc opens a can of whoop ass on a lippy fisherman or a bungling burglar, read all about it in our free weekly email.
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