Willie Ferguson

William Copeland Ferguson (13 February 1901 – 31 August 1960) was a Scottish footballer and manager best known for his time at Chelsea and Dumfries side Queen of the South. His position was usually as a left winger.

Early years

Ferguson was born in Muirkirk, Ayrshire to Daniel Ferguson, a coal miner, and Barbara, née Brown.

Chelsea

Ferguson signed for London club Chelsea. Between then and his departure in 1933 he made 294 first team appearances scoring 11 goals.

The club were relegated in 1923–24 and in four of the next five seasons were to narrowly miss out on promotion, finishing 5th, 3rd, 4th and 3rd. They finally reached the First Division again in 1929–30, ahead of the club's debut season in Scottish Football's top division. They had been promoted as runners up to Hibernian the season before. He was part of the 16 player squad for the 11 game 1936 overseas tour and the Algiers invitational tournament. Queens returned with the trophy after beating Racing de Santander in the final

Other players at the club during this time included Willie Savage, Willie Culbert, Joe Tulip and Irish international Laurie Cumming. Phil Watson in 1938 was another player signed by Ferguson.

A popular figure at the club it was a surprise when he announced his resignation in the summer of 1938. Ferguson wanted to focus on his confectionery and tobacconist business recently acquired from ex Queens goalkeeper George Woods. All of Ferguson's time at Queens was spent in Scotland's top division (excluding war time interruption Queens spent only one season out of the top division between 1933 and 1959).

He was succeeded as manager on 2 July 1938 by Jimmy McKinnell Sr, the day on which Ferguson's contracted was terminated after his resignation.

Later years

Willie Ferguson owned the tobacconist shop on Great King St in Dumfries, where he died of a massive pulmonary embolism in 1960. His son Chris ran the business until the early 1990s.