This week is part 5 of 9.
I’m looking at players that from each of the 9 in a row seasons, that may not have got the recognition they deserve.
SEASON 1992/93
This has gone down as the greatest season in recent times for Rangers. Winning the fifth treble in the club’s history, and coming within a game of the first Champions League final.
Transfer business was fairly quiet that summer, with only two all too familiar faces returning, Trevor Steven from Marseille, and Dave McPherson from Hearts.
This undoubtedly was the hardest season to pick out a player from, with the club going a quite staggering 44 matches unbeaten in ALL competitions. Every player played their part. The player I have chosen actually was coming in for some stick going into this season, and had to answer questions of his form and fitness.
IAN FERGUSON
APPEARANCES – 43
GOALS – 5
How best to describe Ian Ferguson. In his younger days, I think it would be fair to say he was a box to box midfielder chipping in with a few important goals, a hard man who loved to go into battle in the centre of the park (or in the players’ lounge just ask Di Canio). By season 92/93 a combination of injuries and illness had taken its toll on the player, with many fans suggesting it was time to move on.
Born in the shadows of Parkhead, Ferguson started his career at Clyde before sealing a move to St Mirren, singing for the Paisley side ironically in the blue room at Ibrox, after a Scotland youth game. It was at the Saints that Ferguson really made a name for himself. Ferguson’s habit of scoring important goals was starting to catch the eye, as well as his all-round game, scoring goals in 1-0 wins over Falkirk and Aberdeen in the league, and in every round of the Scottish Cup bar one, including an extra-time winner to seal the Cup over Dundee Utd at Hampden.
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Nine months later and Souness made his move bringing the midfielder to Ibrox, for a still St Mirren record £850,000. Ferguson was to play a key role under Souness, again showing his goal scoring ability, with goals against Celtic and notably Aberdeen in the 1988 League Cup final.
Injury then started to take effect and many questioned whether the midfielder could recapture the form of old. It is season 92/93 that Ferguson would once again show his worth.
Ferguson played centre midfield with Stuart McCall for the majority of the campaign. Together the tough-tackling, no-nonsense duo kept it simple and provided the team with energy and grit, helping shut down attacking threats. In his new deeper role that wasn’t as many goals, he did, however, score the crucial winner away to CSKA in the Champions League group stages.
Ferguson would play under 3 Rangers managers and win a record 10 titles, including being part of the Advocaat treble-winning side of 1999, a sheer testament to how he looked after himself on and off the park. I only wish we had one of him now in the centre of the park.
Please let me know your thoughts.
@steven_harrigan
@rangersnewsuk