Everton legend Duncan Ferguson has spoken about his hard-man reputation, admitting that while it was just his playing style, he is not the same off the pitch unless someone tries to break into his home. The former striker, who spent most of his career at Goodison Park, referenced two separate burglary incidents at his homes in 2001 and 2003.
Ferguson on His Reputation
Ferguson, who started his career at Dundee United before joining Everton from Rangers, is tied for the most red cards in Premier League history with eight. He lifted the FA Cup with Everton in 1995 and scored 72 goals in 273 appearances in all competitions. He ended his playing career at Goodison Park in 2006, having spent two years at Newcastle United from 1998 to 2000.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Ferguson said: "I can't get away from that. That was just how I played football. But I'm not like that off the pitch, unless you are breaking into my house!"
He added: "Other than that, I've been all right! I have been in Liverpool since I was 22 and if you are a wrong' un, you'll get found out."
Burglary Incidents
In January 2001, two individuals, Michael Pratt and Barry Dawson, broke into Ferguson's Rufford residence in the early hours while his family was sleeping. Recalling the incident on the BBC podcast Tony Bellew Is Angry, Ferguson said: "I'm lying on the couch. I heard something. I put my trainers on. I had no top on, I was ripped back then and I could see two shadows coming through the conservatory. I was quite calm."
He continued: "I got a grip of one of them and that was when I got angry… I unloaded. I really did. I really followed in to the point where I thought I'd killed him, I really did. I had to try and resuscitate him then. So you go from a point of unloading on the fella to helping him. It happened in a matter of seconds."
Pratt and Dawson pleaded guilty and were jailed for 15 months. Dawson spent three days in hospital after suffering injuries. The pair had attempted to steal bottles of champagne, a framed picture and CDs.
Second Attempted Burglary
Despite putting the house up for sale after the incident, Ferguson faced a second attempted burglary at his £2million Formby home two years later. Carl Bishop spent two days in hospital after attempting to steal alcohol from Ferguson's outbuilding. Ferguson confronted him, leaving him with a broken jaw and three missing teeth.
The ex-Everton star sustained a knee injury in the scuffle. Bishop was sentenced to four years in prison for trespassing with intent to steal, plus 12 months for failing to return to prison while on licence.
