The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 14 "If he bites you, bite him back!"

"Ferguson's football journey was very bumpy. Although he became famous as a teenager in the High Bay area, he only played in amateur teams at the beginning. From amateur teams to professional clubs, every step of his leap was very difficult. It was not until that game against Rangers that he suddenly amazed the entire football world."

--Inscription

Under the guidance of his father, Ferguson fell in love with football. The small open space in front of his home, the open space in the Gaowan factory area, the intersection of the narrow street in the community, and the school playground were all paradises for him and his friends to play football happily. Ferguson happily learned various skills, ran around happily, attacked tirelessly, fought bravely, and shot hard. Even if he was knocked to the ground by his opponent, even if his knees were rubbed by the rough dirt on the court, and he was covered in coal dust like a little mud ghost, it could not stop his enthusiasm.

Ferguson had two hernia surgeries in primary school and was later diagnosed with kidney problems. Doctors advised him to avoid playing football, but Ferguson did not give up. At the age of 7, Ferguson joined the community's "High Bay Pirates" and participated in local under-12 age group competitions. He later joined the weekend Bible school's Boy Scout football team and won the Glasgow Regional Cup.

Ferguson won his first "official competition" in the Boy Scouts football team, and coach Jenny bought him two large ice creams as a reward. Ferguson still remembered the joy many years later: "We not only won the championship, but also won delicious ice cream, which is a rare prize. We ate while walking, with sneakers hanging around our necks, and kept discussing the details of the game. There were laughter all the way, which was the most enjoyable experience of my childhood."

Ferguson received formal football training at the age of 13 and became the main player of the school team of High Bay Middle School. He led the team to win inter-school competitions such as the Whitefield Cup and the Castle Cup, as well as the Glasgow Regional Secondary School League Championship, and unprecedentedly reached the Shield Cup final of the Scottish Secondary School League.

The opponent of that game, St. Pat's School, was very strong, with 6 members of the Scottish Junior Team. The two teams had a huge difference in strength, and the result was no surprise. Gaowan Middle School lost 4-0. Although Gaowan Middle School played very tenaciously at the beginning, the two sides were still 10-0 with 0 minutes left. But in the last 10 minutes, the situation suddenly changed. The goalkeeper of Gaowan Middle School broke his finger and left the field, and the whole team collapsed.

Coach Simington was very angry. He could not accept the team's defeat due to an unexpected incident. "After the game, the coach was very angry. He scolded us one by one. Several of our friends cried because of him." Ferguson later recalled, "He could not accept this kind of defeat. He asked us to be prepared to face any difficulties, but we did not do so. I began to understand the role of fighting spirit in the game. When playing football, you must never admit defeat and never give in."

Ferguson said: "My father never praised others, but he always said that Mr. Simington was a 'good man' and told me to listen to him."

Ferguson later joined the Glasgow High School team and played for the most successful amateur team in Scotland, Drum Hall. Ferguson's masterpiece for Drum Hall was against Moss Park, where he scored 9 goals. As his skills continued to improve, Ferguson was selected for the Scottish High School United team. Ferguson has been working hard to join a professional club, but unfortunately he failed.

After graduation, Ferguson first worked as an apprentice in a shipyard and then joined the amateur team Queen's Park. Queen's Park is known as the largest amateur football club in Scotland, with four levels of teams and one of the few standard stadiums in Scotland where formal football matches can be held.

Ferguson was 16 years old this year. He started to play football and work as an apprentice in a shipyard. One month before his 17th birthday, Ferguson got his first appearance in an away game against Stranraer. Ferguson remembered that it was almost a nightmare. He was thrown onto the field by the coach and arranged to play as a right winger, but he had never played in this position before and had no idea what to do. The opponent's left back McKnight was very fierce, like a small tank. After a collision, both fell to the ground, but McKnight actually rushed over and bit Ferguson.

Ferguson was stunned.

During the halftime break, the coach yelled at him. Ferguson said: "The coach scolded me like crazy. He said that no one in the team hides from the opponent. Every player should be a fighter. He said I was too unreasonable and a soft egg."

"He bit me..." Ferguson defended himself with his head down.

"Bite you?" the coach shouted, "Asshole! Can't you punch him or bite him back?!"

this is okay too? !

Ferguson suddenly woke up from his dream, and realized that the tricks he used when he was a child fighting with thugs on the street could also be used - why the hell didn't he say it earlier? !

At the beginning of the second half, teammate Hastie "specially" ran to the right half and kicked opponent McKnight, even if it cost him a yellow card, he wanted to help Ferguson vent his anger. Ferguson had changed his attitude at this time, and he started looking for trouble with McKnight, and he would use ruthless force when he got entangled. McKnight found that he couldn't beat this guy in a real fight, so he had to dodge and kick him.

Ferguson said, "The boss took good care of us. The spirit of 'all for one, one for all' in our team is unquestionable. My teammates worked so hard but they didn't earn a penny more. They were just venting their anger for me. I was deeply moved by their spirit of justice."

The game eventually turned into a full-scale fight, with both sides fighting in a group and almost everyone was injured.

A reporter from the Scottish Sunday Mail commented: "Ferguson is a good prospect. He has some good skills, but he is a little slow and has no sense of position. He doesn't seem to be able to play in this position."

Ferguson didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I'm not slow, but I was injured by the opponent's tackle and couldn't speed up. I have never played in that position myself, so I really don't have any experience."

Ferguson then scored a header against the Arlo team, helping the team win 4-2. Ferguson's outstanding performance won him a chance to play and gradually became a main player in the team. Ferguson quickly adapted to the fierce confrontation on the court. Although he was the youngest in the team, he was a ruthless person and played very fiercely and wildly.

"Ferguson is known for his bad temper. He will not be polite to you. If he is unhappy, he will elbow someone or just punch or kick them. We all know not to provoke him easily, not even in training matches. Opponents in the game also know that this is a hot pepper. He is very fierce in confrontation. Even if he is beaten black and blue, he will not admit defeat. He will do whatever it takes to beat his opponent." Teammate Hastie still has a very deep impression of Ferguson many years later.

Queens Park goalkeeper Pinkerton said, "We are much older than him, but this boy is really talented." Nicknamed "Stonewall", Pinkerton often practiced shooting with Ferguson. "He may not have the most training time in the team, but he is definitely the most diligent. He has to squeeze out time to work in the shipyard, so he needs efficiency. He is very dedicated and serious in training. He is very fast and his shots are very powerful. I compete with him in training, and his various shots force me to go all out."

Pinkerton has a particularly deep memory of Ferguson's aggressiveness and ferocity. "Ferguson was full of passion on the field, running non-stop like an enraged wild boar. His movements were very rough and he could easily get a red card. He was still too young and thin at the time, but no one dared to provoke him easily, and many times people avoided him. Ferguson was the kind of ruthless person who would bite a piece of your flesh off even if you knocked him down."

In his first season at Queen's Park, Ferguson made eight appearances and scored three goals. In his second season, he made 8 appearances and scored 3 goals. Teammate Robin Wood praised him highly: "Ferguson has improved rapidly. His style of play is very tough and he never backs down. He is like a fighter, and a loud fighter. You can hear him yelling from about a mile away, and his standard High Bay accent will shake your soul. When you hear his voice, you think: 'Oh, no, God! Alex is here!'"

Ferguson was very confident and would not blindly obey. He would speak out loudly if he thought the coach was wrong, and sometimes even "instruct" his teammates directly. Tommy Malcolm, director of the Scottish Football Museum, was once an opponent of Ferguson. He remembered that he had to be very careful when facing Ferguson and beware of Ferguson's fierce elbows. In addition, he was impressed by Ferguson's love of giving orders and directing other players. He was surprised that Ferguson dared to act like this even though he was not very old at the time.

Ferguson's efforts paid off. In the following season, he played 31 games and scored 20 goals, winning more attention from fans and the media. Newcastle in England began to contact him, and the local team St. Johnstone Rock Club took the lead and signed Ferguson in 1960, allowing him to finally become a professional player.

Ferguson played only ten minutes in his first season, but his appearances increased in the second season, but the team was unfortunately relegated. Ferguson stayed and continued to fight, helping the team to get promoted again. When St. Johnstone was promoted, Ferguson was thrown on the bench again and was almost sold.

This experience made Ferguson further realize the reality of the football profession.

He also suffered a serious injury during the season when his opponent Steward hit him hard and broke his cheekbone and nose bone. Ferguson's face was covered in blood and he fainted on the spot. Ferguson later said: "At that moment, I felt my head exploded and I fainted on the spot. When I woke up, I found that my whole head was wrapped tightly and I was in a concussion state. The first thing I thought was that I might not be able to play football anymore. I didn't even consider being disfigured."

Ferguson summed it up with a quote: "If you make your living by the sword, be prepared to die by the sword."

Ferguson returned to the team after recovering from his injury, but he completely lost the chance to play. He now understands the cruelty of football competition.

At this time, Ferguson received a job offer from Canada, although it was just a fitter, but the salary was good. Ferguson was shaken. Compared with becoming a substitute and not getting a chance to play, he might not get a contract extension, and the salary was pitifully low. It would be better to go to Canada to make money as a craftsman.

The match against Rangers was approaching, and the frustrated Ferguson thought he would not get a chance to play, so he asked his brother's girlfriend to pretend to be his mother and call coach Brown, lying that Ferguson had a cold and could not participate in the game.

Brown saw through his ruse and telegraphed Ferguson's home, "Have Ferguson call me back immediately. You are out of luck."

The whole family was stunned. After learning the truth, Ferguson's father was very angry and said, "Call the coach and apologize immediately, otherwise you will never enter this house again!"

Ferguson's mother, who always doted on him, stared at him, so angry that she almost burst into flames.

Ferguson had to call Brown and said, "Boss, this is Ferguson. I'm sorry for what happened before."

"How dare you let someone pretend to be your mother to deceive me? You are such a liar. You must report to the team at 12 o'clock tomorrow, otherwise you will be in big trouble." Brown said angrily on the other end of the phone.

Ferguson was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat and went back to report. The coach did not immediately pursue Ferguson's deception, but instead made him start as a striker because of the serious injuries.

Just like that, Ferguson entered the game with excitement and nervousness.

Ferguson's performance on the field that day can only be explained by miracles. He charged fearlessly, headed and kicked the ball continuously, and finally performed a hat trick! It was thanks to Ferguson's amazing performance that his team defeated Rangers.

Ferguson was the first away player to score a hat-trick at Rangers' home ground. A guy on the bench of a relegation team, an unknown striker, actually scored 3 goals easily against the defense of a league giant. This news directly shocked the Scottish football world. All the reporters found it unbelievable and indescribable.

Ferguson became a hero of the club and a focal figure in Scottish football.