Born: 2 October 1884

Born in: Cleland, Lanarkshire

Died: 1962

Other clubs: Cleland Rangers, Third Lanark (1906-12), Whishaw Thistle (1915), Third Lanark (2 / 1915)

Signed from: Third Lanark

Joined Liverpool: 13.05.1912

Debut: 04 Sep 1912

Final appearance: 13 Mar 1915

Debut goal: 19 Oct 1912

Last goal: 31 Jan 1914

Contract until: 20.08.1915

League: Apps / Goals: 92 / 1

All Competitions: Apps / Goals: 103 / 2

Player Profile

Ferguson, Third Lanark's captain, was obtained by Liverpool in May 1912. The Athletic News claimed he was as "strong as a lion, and active as a mouse. Although taking the game as serious as a judge he is a very human sort of fellow in the pavilion." The Liverpool Echo commented on Liverpool's capture of Ferguson at the time: "Liverpool made a good stroke when they signed Bob Ferguson. The 3rd Lanark supporters are deeply sorry to lose their favoured centre half, who is described in Scotland in the following eulogy: "There has never been a more likable player. Honest Bob would be the correct title for him for he was always playing the game to the delight of his friends. He was the sort of man a club manager likes to have under him - dependable, keen for his club's interests and never likely to get himself or the team into disrepute. Mr. Watson has made a catch and he knows it."

Ferguson was a stalwart of Liverpool's defence said to be "a typical Scottish half-back, neat and clever", who fed his forwards "beautifully" as well as being "the tallest man in the team (5 ft. 10½ in. - 179 cm.), and not so slow as he appears."  Ferguson made his debut on the opening day of the 1912/13 season and was the club's only ever-present that year and missed just two League games the following season when he no doubt enjoyed playing alongside his former Third Lanark teammate Thomas Fairfoul in the half-back line. The 1914/15 season was completed despite the outbreak of war but Ferguson lost his place in the side to future legend Donald Mackinlay with a third of the season gone and only briefly threatened to reclaim it from the clutches of his compatriot.