Julie Ferguson

Julie Ferguson (born 10 February 1979) is a Scottish former international footballer. She finished her career with SWFL 2nd Division side Motherwell having previously played for Florida Atlantic, Celtic, Glasgow City and Hibernian Ladies. Ferguson amassed 67 appearances for the Scotland women's national football team.

Julie Ferguson
Ferguson (18) playing for Scotland in May 2009
Personal information
Full name Julie Ferguson[1]
Date of birth (1979-02-10) 10 February 1979[1]
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Right-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Maryhill Eagles 81 (101)
1998––2002 Glasgow City 40 (30)
2002–2003 Florida Atlantic Owls 26 (17)
2003–2004 Glasgow City 70 (42)
2004–2008 Hibernian Ladies 60 (45)
2008–2011 Celtic 61 (20)
2015–2016 Motherwell Ladies 11 (8)
International career‡
2003–2009 Scotland[2] 67 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:00, 19 June 2011 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:00, 19 June 2011 (UTC)

Club career

Following an unrivalled junior career at Maryhill Eagles, where Ferguson broke all goal-scoring records, Glasgow City came calling and Ferguson signed a 4-year deal running until 2002. During her initial spell with Glasgow Ferguson continued her goal-scoring exploits of her youth days, scoring 30 goals in 40 appearances.

In 2002 Ferguson moved to the NCAA Division 1 in the United States, signing for Florida Atlantic Owls, and Ferguson tore it up. The freshman was named to the Soccer America Team-of-the-Week for the week of 7 October. Ferguson became the first ever Lady Owl to be named to the Soccer America team after she recorded five goals and four assists in two conference wins for FAU. The Glasgow, Scotland native tied or broke five records for scoring the most goals in a game (4), most assists in a season (11), quickest goal (4 seconds) and most assists in a game (3). Ferguson ranked second in the nation in assists per game and 12th in the country in points per game.

Following a short stint back at Glasgow in 2003, Ferguson signed for Hibernian, the happiest period of her career, in October 2003.[3] She went on to become a key component of the side which won the Premier League in 2004 and 2006.[4]

Ferguson has epilepsy which was precipitated by a fractured eye socket sustained with Florida Atlantic Owls.[5] In a 2007 Cup semi-final, Ferguson recalls being accused of "cheating" after being carried off following a seizure. When Hibernian subsequently scored twice to win the game in stoppage time, piqued opposition players complained that Ferguson had faked the seizure to bring about the added time.[6] She suffered another seizure on the pitch while playing for Celtic in April 2009.[7] Ferguson has worked to raise awareness for those dealing with epilepsy, through charity Quarriers.

In April 2015, after a spell out of football, Ferguson returned to the game to sign for SWFL 2nd Division side Motherwell. She made her debut in a 0–5 win away to Claremont on 26 April 2015. Within two months, she had already hit double figures in terms of goals and formed part of the team which won the SWFL Second Division Cup, beating Rangers 2–6 in the Final.[8]

On 6 February 2017 it was rumoured Ferguson was considering another comeback, following her retirement in 2016. On 20 June 2017, Ferguson confirmed that she remains retired during an interview with BBC Radio Scotland.

International career

In November 2003 Ferguson started Scotland's 5–0 friendly defeat to England at Deepdale.[9]

References
  1. "Julie Ferguson". UEFA. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  2. "Julie Ferguson - Women's A Squad". The Scottish FA. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. Ginny Clark (29 October 2003). "Women's football: Hibees hit the heights". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  4. "Really good to win title - Julie". Women's Soccer Scene. 9 June 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  5. Quinn, Lesley. "The champion footballer who made beating epilepsy her goal" (doc). Epilepsy Scotland. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  6. "Epilepsy sufferers scared to leave their own homes". Herald. Glasgow. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  7. "Women's football star Julie Ferguson collapses during match". Daily Record. Glasgow. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  8. "Ladies team win League Cup". Motherwell fc. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  9. Ed Casey (14 November 2003). "Womens Football: A pasting in Preston; Professional touch shows up the Scots; ENGLAND WOMEN 5 SCOTLAND WOMEN 0". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
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