Duncan Ferguson recalls prison ordeal, death threats and enduring Everton devotion

In a candid interview, ex-Everton, Newcastle United and Dundee United forward Duncan Ferguson looks back on his rise from a lanky schoolboy to a Premier League striker and the violent incidents that resulted in a 44-day sentence at Barlinnie Prison when he was 22. He describes an initial, odd excitement about prison that quickly turned to terror as he faced threats of stabbing and a night in the notorious D Hall. The experience was softened by an outpouring of support from Everton fans, who sent him tens of thousands of letters, forging a lifelong attachment to the club.

Ferguson also discusses his later career, noting persistent injuries, a missed opportunity at Newcastle, admiration for Alan Shearer and Ruud Gullit, and the influence of manager Walter Smith. Though now working as a pundit, he says he still aspires to manage, lamenting recent job loss at Inverness Caledonian Thistle due to the club’s administration, and remains open to any football-related work.