Jock Ferguson

For the Western Australian politician, see Jock Ferguson (politician).

Jock Ferguson
Personal information
Date of birth (1887-09-17)September 17, 1887
Place of birth Dundee, Scotland
Date of death September 19, 1973(1973-09-19) (aged 86)
Place of death Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Full Back
Youth career
Dundee North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Arbroath
1910–1911 St Johnstone
1911–1912 Dundee 21 (0)
1912–1913 Leeds City 17 (0)
1913–1914 Gateshead
1914–1915 Clydebank 6 (0)
1915–1921 Bethlehem Steel
1921–1922 Philadelphia Field Club 22 (0)
1922–1923 J&P Coats 24 (0)
1923–1928 Bethlehem Steel 45 (0)
International career
1925 United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Ferguson (September 17, 1887 – September 19, 1973)[2] was a Scottish-American soccer full back. He began his career in Scotland before moving to England, then the United States. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1925. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Born in Dundee, Ferguson began his career with Scottish club Arbroath; he then played for St Johnstone and hometown club Dundee[3][4][5] before moving to English club Leeds City at the end of the 1911–12 season.[1] In early 1915, he moved to the United States, eventually signing with Bethlehem Steel. There is no clear information on when he signed with Bethlehem but his first game was an exhibition match against the University of Pennsylvania on April 12, 1915.[6] From that game on, Ferguson became a regular on the Bethlehem rosters. From 1915 to 1919, he played in five consecutive National Challenge Cup finals as Bethlehem Steel won four, losing only the 1917 title game to the Fall River Rovers.[7] In the first few years of Ferguson's time with Bethlehem, the team competed in various amateur Pennsylvania leagues. In 1917, they joined the professional National Association Football League, winning three consecutive league titles from 1919 to 1921. In 1921, the first American Soccer League replaced the NAFBL. Bethlehem's owners decided to move the team to Philadelphia, renaming the team the Philadelphia Field Club for the 1921–1922 ASL season. Ferguson spent that season in Philadelphia, winning the first ASL league title. In 1922, he moved to J&P Coats. He won the 1922–23 league title, giving him five league and four Challenge Cup titles. On September 8, 1923, he returned to Bethlehem, winning one last league title in the 1927.[8] However, by 1924, age and injuries had conspired to limit his playing time. While he continued to play sporadically, filling in when Bethlehem had injuries to its backline, until his retirement in 1928 at the age of forty-two, he spent most of his time as the team's trainer.[9] During his second stint with Bethlehem, he traded playing time with his younger brother, Davey Ferguson.[10] He died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania aged 86.

National team

Ferguson earned one cap with the U.S. national team in a 1–0 loss to Canada on June 27, 1925.[11]

He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ferguson: John (Jock), Leeds United F.C. History. Retrieved 23 March 2022
  2. ^ Jarred, Martin; MacDonald, Malcolm (1986). Leeds United : a complete record, 1919-1986. Derby: Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 0-907969-17-8. OCLC 20934819.
  3. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Mainly About Players. The Scottish Referee, 25 September 1911. Scan via London Hearts Supporters Club
  5. ^ John Ferguson Player Profile, Dee Archive. Retrieved 23 March 2022
  6. ^ "April 12, 1925 The Globe". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ U.S. Open Cup at RSSSF Archived 2011-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "September 10, 1923 The Globe". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "October 8, 1925 The Globe". Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "November 14, 1924 The Globe". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ U.S. International Results Archived 2010-01-13 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Jock Ferguson - 1950 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Jock Ferguson - 1950 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved 28 December 2023.