[2] He retained the goalkeeper's shirt for the remainder of the season, playing eight games and keeping four clean sheets.
Hearts drew with Dundee United meaning the last game of the season with the two title challengers playing each other at Tynecastle would be a league decider.
Four times in the previous five seasons they had finished league runners-up including Hearts' triumph in 1960.
Alan Gordon had an excellent chance to clinch the title for Hearts in second half injury time but was denied by a Ferguson diving save pushing the ball past the post.
[4][5][6] Subsequently, Hearts were instrumental in pushing through a change to use goal difference to separate teams level on points.
Despite having to compete for the number one shirt with Peter Grotier and Mervyn Day, Ferguson still managed 276 appearances during his 13 years at West Ham.
The signing of Phil Parkes in February 1979 ultimately meant the end of his career at West Ham.