Former Wigan and Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard was a larger-than-life character on the pitch who always seemed to enjoy life, rather than fear it. As he explained: “I’m not afraid of nothing. Except one man.”
Bullard’s brief exchange with that man came during the 1-1 draw between Wigan Athletic and Everton at the Brick Community Stadium in 2006.
The man that Bullard was referring to was legendary Everton and Scotland hardman Duncan Ferguson.
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The Scot had been brought on in that match for current Arsenal manager, and then Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta with 17 minutes of the game left.
Seven minutes later Ferguson was given his marching orders having been red carded for seemingly punching Wigan defender Paul Scharner in the chest. With the red mist having descended on Ferguson, Bullard for some reason felt it wise to talk to the big Scot.
Bullard remembers the incident well.
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“His (Ferguson’s) eyes had gone," Bullard told Sky Sports.
“He’d just got pure madness in his eyes. He just wants to fight. Moyes brought him, he’s chucked a right hook and then looked at me, wants a tear up with me.
“I’ve looked over at (Everton’s) McFadden to say ‘sort your mate out, like, help me out here.’ And he’s like, ‘I’m nothing to do with this.’ So, Dunc gets a red card and as he’s 30 yards away, I say, ‘see you in the tunnel, Dunc.’ As the final whistle went, I remember thinking I hope he’s not waiting.
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“Two weeks after I saw at Goodwood Races. He came over and gave me a bottle of Champagne and says, ‘How you doing, Jim? Come and join me.’ So, I was with him all day. He’s a great lad.”
That red card was Ferguson’s eighth in the Premier League. At that time, it put him level with Patrick Vieira when it came to Premier League sending offs.
Ferguson would go onto receive a seven-match suspension for that red card. However, Bullard’s memory of it has lasted an awfully lot longer.
Topics: Everton, Wigan Athletic, Premier League, Football
Mark Sanderson