A Raw Testament to Football's Last True Hardman
In an era of carefully curated social media presences and sanitised sports memoirs, Duncan Ferguson's autobiography arrives like a throwback to a different time—much like the man himself. Set for release in May 2025, "BIG DUNC: The Upfront Autobiography" promises to be as uncompromising as its author's playing style.
Ferguson's story reads like a Hollywood script that wouldn't be believable if it wasn't true. Ferguson's journey, from the tough streets of Stirling to becoming Everton's modern-day icon, is replete with incredible highs and notorious lows. The book fully embraces the controversial moments that shaped his career, particularly his three-month prison sentence for an on-field headbutt, which made him the only professional footballer to face jail time for a match-related offence.
What makes this autobiography particularly compelling is its timing. Written after Ferguson's ventures into management, including his stints as Everton's caretaker manager and his recent dramatic tenure at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the book offers a mature reflection on a life lived at full throttle. The narrative promises to be especially poignant given recent events, with Ferguson having just departed Inverness amid the club's entry into administration—adding another layer of complexity to his storied career.
The book's greatest strength appears to be its unflinching honesty. Ferguson confronts every aspect of his life, including his time in prison, his partying with African princes, his confrontations with burglars, and his journey from a "bad boy" in the Premier League to a respected coach and community figure. His evolution from street fighter to passionate caretaker manager who temporarily "solved Everton's identity crisis" offers a compelling arc of redemption.
For football fans, there's plenty of action to savor. Ferguson's record of 68 Premier League goals—the highest by any Scottish player in the competition's history—and his FA Cup triumph with Everton in 1995 provide the sporting backbone to this tale of triumph and tribulation. His joint record of eight Premier League red cards (shared with Patrick Vieira and Richard Dunne) speaks to the fierce competitive spirit that made him both feared and admired.
What elevates this autobiography above typical sports memoirs is its exploration of Ferguson's complexity. Here is a man who was both warrior and artist on the field, both troublemaker and community hero off it. His current work with underprivileged children in Merseyside adds a touching coda to a story of personal growth and redemption.
"BIG DUNC" promises to be more than just another football autobiography—it's a testament to a vanishing breed of footballer, one who played with his heart on his sleeve and his emotions unchecked. Ferguson's raw honesty and unvarnished storytelling style are refreshing in an era of media-trained athletes and corporate speak.
This book is a must-read for football fans, particularly those nostalgic for the game's more rugged era, but also for anyone interested in a story of redemption, passion, and the price of living life on your own terms. Ferguson's autobiography looks set to be as impactful as one of his famous headers—direct, powerful, and impossible to ignore.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Publisher: CenturyPublished: May 8, 2025Price: £22.00Hardback: 320 pagesISBN-10 : 1529939283ISBN-13 : 978-1529939286Dimensions: 156 x 240 (mm)
