BIO
Identifying mystery player “H.W. Ferguson” was no easy task. Researchers Phil Robins and Dee Cox spent four full years trying to identify him before Chris Brown and Mark Giles were able to ascertain that in fact “H.W. Ferguson” was in fact two brothers – Walter George and Albert Ferguson.
Albert Ferguson was born to William and Emma (nee Brooks) Ferguson on 20 October 1876 in Long Plains (near Mallala). His brother Walter, who played for Norwood in 1898-99, was born four years later.
By the late 1800s the family was living in North Kensington. “B. Ferguson” was named in both the Minutes of the Norwood Football Club, and the SAFA player registrations for that season for Norwood. His address was recorded as “Ruthven Street, North Kensington”, (now Magill). End of season reports show that “B. Ferguson” kicked one goal for Norwood in 1900. However, it seems that this was his final season of League football at Norwood.
The confusion over “B. Ferguson” was resolved when “Bertie” Ferguson was identified as playing for Payneham Football Club, along with his brother W.G. Ferguson. Family tree research soon established that “Bertie” was in fact “Albert” Ferguson. A Sands Directory entry in the 1908 edition includes a middle initial of “J”, but this initial did not appear in war service records or anywhere else.
Norwood entered Round 1 of 1900 with some big holes to fill from the 1899 team and so Ferguson had opportunity from the outset. Peters (1899 Captain and a first class centreman) was ordered to take six months off – effectively the whole season - for medical reasons. Renfrey (a quality backman) had been residing in Broken Hill for some months. Halliday had a leg injury. Murphy and Gallagher were described as ‘uncertain’ and Gosse was in Brisbane where he was stroking the SA Rowing eight. Interestingly, a newspaper report in The Evening Journal outlined the ‘pecking order’ for players who were officer bearers. “The officers of the team will be elected on Saturday, and in all probability, following precedent of past years, will consist of W. Plunkett, Captain, promoted from Vice-Captain; J. H. Gosse, Vice Captain, promoted from Practice Captain; and O. L'Estage; Practice Captain, promoted from Selection Committee.”
There is no real information in match reports of the day about the prowess or otherwise of Bertie Ferguson as a footballer. However, two weeks after his final game for Norwood, Bertie and his brother Walter were both named in the best players for the Payneham Football Club vs Brougham Place.
The Minutes of the Norwood Football Club Committee on May 9, 1906, record that correspondence was received from Mr A. Ferguson offering a “Gold Medal for best placed man during (the) coming season”. The following year, on March 18 1907, The Minutes recorded that Mr Ferguson awarded the prize for best wingman to H.M. Miller.
After his one season at Norwood, Bertie continued playing football at the Payneham Football Club until at least 1903. Although he was only 5ft 4 inches tall, Bertie is described as being “one of the best” players and, with Payneham team mates, was known to also turn out for the College Town Football Club in the same season.
Like his brother Walter, “Bertie” Ferguson was also a quarryman. It is not known whether Bertie was working at the Waterfall Gully quarry the day his brother Walter was killed, because their employer Messrs. John Dunstan & Sons Limited owned other nearby quarries as well. What is known is that in 1916 when Bertie joined up for World War 2, he listed his occupation as Quarryman.
At the age of 39, Bertie Ferguson joined the 43rd Infantry Battalion, AIF., commencing on 1 February 1916. His nominated next of kin was his wife Mary Margaret, and together they had three children. On 25 November 1916 he embarked overseas. After little more than six months since leaving Australian shores, he was wounded at Calais when he suffered severe gunshot wounds to both legs. He spent some months recovering in hospital in England before returning home. Berties Ferguson passed away from Liver cancer in 1948 and a memorial is erected at the North Brighton Cemetery.
* Our thanks to Peter Herbert, Historian of the Payneham Football Club, for his assistance.
C Brown, M Giles, D Cox, G Adams, P Robins, P Herbert, March 2026