He enjoyed an early experience of first team involvement when picked to play in Tom Forsyth's testimonial match in 1983, aged only 15.
He showed his early promise to a wide audience with his performances alongside fellow young midfielder Ian Durrant in the Scottish League Cup finals of 1986 (in which he was named man of the match)[5][6] and 1987.
His good performances earned him a move to Sunderland, with manager Terry Butcher (his former captain at Rangers) signing him in a part-exchange deal which saw John Colquhoun return to Hearts.
Ferguson next had a short spell in Australian soccer with Adelaide Force before returning to Scotland to play for a succession of lower league clubs, namely Ross County, Clydebank (scoring once against future club Hamilton),[10] Alloa Athletic, Hamilton Academical and finally Raith Rovers.
On 28 October 2010, Ferguson was named as assistant manager of Dumbarton, however it was announced on 3 November 2010 that he will be unable to fill that role due to media commitments.
[20] Ferguson's baby daughter Lauren died from a heart defect at seven weeks of age in 1993; her organs were removed by medical staff at Yorkhill Hospital without parental consent,[21] an issue which inquiries found had affected hundreds of families in the area at the time.