A FORMER Morton player who spent five years at Cappielow and who played a crucial role in attracting the legendary Allan McGraw to the club has died aged 86.
Jackie Ferguson, whose death was announced on July 12, joined Morton in 1958 from Annbank United and made his debut at outside-right in a 5-2 win against Montrose in October of that year.
He would go on to feature for Morton for five seasons, combining his football career with National Service in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).
It was there that he met and played alongside Allan McGraw, whom he recommended to new Morton boss Hal Stewart in 1961.
Stewart signed the future Morton legend, promising to fly him home from Germany for matches, generally accompanied by Jackie and Jimmy Mallon, who also served in Germany.
Ferguson made 72 appearances for Morton, generally as an outside or inside-right; he scored 12 goals for the club.
He was one of four Morton players who played for the BAOR League and Cup winners, 1st Cameronians, in a Cappielow challenge match in April 1962, scoring against his club.
In 1962 he moved from Morton to Clyde, with centre-forward John McLaughlin moving in the opposite direction.
Ferguson subsequently joined Airdrieonians in 1963, where he scored 43 goals in 161 appearances. After a brief move south, where he played for Southend United and Cambridge City (on loan), he returned to Scotland, signing for his local club, Ayr United in 1968.
His three seasons at Somerset Park saw him score 22 goals in 96 appearances, with his finest moment coming in a 2-1 win at home to Rangers in September 1969, with an incredible 25,225 people watching on.
His playing career ended with a return to Ayrshire junior football in the early 1970s.
A Morton spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with Jackie’s family and friends at this very sad time."
