Kettering Nomads FC
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An Interview with Craig Ferguson
Kettering's very own scooter-riding Hells Angel was born and bred in Kettering. A local boy at heart, Craig has in recent years resided in London, where he promotes the benefits of eating corned beef to under privileged children of Brixton.
Ferguson was a product of the Keith Massie Ise Lodge United youth academy, and was given his big break in grown up football when local billionaire Nathan Eady offered him the opportunity to spend £5 subs every week representing the biggest football club in Isham. It became clear very early on in his Nomads career that he would follow in the footsteps of his football hero Marcus Coles.
His impressive performances earned him a call up to the Woolie Old Boys squad in 2000/2001, where he was an integral member of the greatest Sunday league football side of the 21st century. After two very consistent seasons with Nomads, pushing for honours in the top flight, Ferguson sh*t on the club from a great height when he sold his soul (falling for Paul Smith's bullsh*t) and signed for UCL nobodies Thrapston Town FC.
Over the next six seasons he got his just desserts in winning no honours, and helping Thrapston to maintain the mid table mediocrity they'd achieved over the previous 30 years. In Ferguson's defence, he stayed loyal to Thrapston when manager at the time Paul Smith jumped ship when the going got tough. However, with news that his on/off lover Gary Massie was now first team captain, and with the 2009/2010 season well under way and the opportunity of winning silverware to add to his personal haul of Under 9 Sportsman of the Year & Under 13 Most Improved Player of the year at Ise Lodge YFC, Craig returned to the Nomads family. Over several slices of Fray Bentos' finest, Ferguson shares his thoughts and memories for us all to enjoy.....
Name: Craig Roger Ferguson
Birthplace: Kettering
Family: None. Still single (though I do offer a shoulder to cry on and company for any single ladies wanting to watch Dirty Dancing 2 on video!!!).
Nicknames: Ferg / Corned Beef Bottom / Nutkins.
Clubs: Nomads / Thrapston / Nomads.
Heroes: Rab C Nesbit / Gary Massie / Terry Nutkins
Best moment in football: Being compared to Marcus Coles means a lot. We have similar attributes with our pace and eye for goal, and a few years ago before my hair started to thin, people used to say I looked like him. Also working under a manager that knows what he's doing really helped my career. I have the former Woolie Old Boys manager to thank......Nathan Heads was a managerial genius.
Worst moment in football: It was the spring of 2001. I was in the shower after starring in yet another Woolie Old Boys win, when out of the blue, a team mate who will remain anonymous suggested my bottom looked like corned beef!!! From that day on I've not felt comfortable having a shower in public. Worst Injury: I have always been extremely vocal about not believing in injuries. However my theory appears to have been blown from the water as I recently suffered two nightmare incidents - first I cut my hand needing 21 stitches opening a can of corned beef, and then I grazed my knee falling off my moped going over the speed bumps on Deeble Road last Tuesday. Life after Nomads?: I like a game of rounders, so I may concentrate on that. I am also in early negotiations to try and follow in the footsteps of Gooch and Warne and become the latest face of 'The Hair Studio' as I battle against my thinning barnet. That moment came in early February 2010 when another (dubious) injury to Massie allowed Ferguson to take his place alongside former Thrapston FC manager & team mate Paul Smith, combining to become the slowest centre half partnership to wear the Nomads shirts in the history of the club. After six seasons in the footballing wilderness, Craig is back on the big stage and time will only tell whether the gamble on re-signing a player who has questionable loyalty will turn out to be another managerial masterstroke from old Midas himself Nathan Eady.
Biggest regret: Leaving my car overnight outside the Woolcomber pub. When I went to collect my Fiat Cinquecento the next morning, a fully decorated Christmas tree had been tied to the roof of the car! Immature, childish and if it had been someone else's car...very funny!!
When Craig cruised into Orlingbury Road on his Honda 50cc for his second stint as a Nomads player, fans of the club wondered how business tycoon Nathan Eady would integrate him into an already winning side. However with a back four as fragile as Kerry Katona's mental health, it was only a matter of time before injury to Massie, Smith or Evans meant that Ferguson would get another chance to grace the hallowed turf.
