View source for Alicia Ferguson

{{short description|Australian soccer player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox football biography
|           name      = Alicia Ferguson
|            fullname = Alicia Ann Ferguson
|               image = Alicia Ferguson 2.jpg
|             caption = Ferguson playing for [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]] in 2013
|          birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|10|31}}
|         birth_place = [[Brisbane]], Australia
|              height = {{convert|1.65|m|abbr=on}}
|            position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]], [[Midfielder]]
|         currentclub = 
|          clubnumber = 
| youthyears1 =   
| youthclubs1 =  Stratford United (Cairns)
| youthyears2 =   
| youthclubs2 =  Saints (Cairns)
| youthyears3 =    
| youthclubs3 =  [[Mt Gravatt Hawks FC|Mt Gravatt SC]]
| years1 =  1996–2007 
| years2 =  2008–2009
| years3 =  2012–2013
| clubs1 =  Queensland Sting 
| clubs2 =  [[Brisbane Roar W-League|Brisbane Roar]]
| clubs3 =  [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]]
| caps2  =  10 
| goals2 =  3 
| nationalyears1 =   1997–2007
| nationalteam1 =   [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.womensoccer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/australia_wwc_media_guide_2011-updated08jul11.pdf|title=Official Media Guide of Australia at the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011|date=8 July 2011|access-date=6 September 2014|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]|page=53}}</ref>
| nationalcaps1 =    66  
| nationalgoals1 =   6
|            pcupdate = 10 September 2014
|            ntupdate = 10 September 2014
}}

'''Alicia Ann "Eesh"<ref>{{cite news|title=The Women's Football Podcast: Episode 23|url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/10086|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=[[She Kicks (magazine)|She Kicks]]|date=9 June 2014}}</ref> Ferguson''' (born 31 October 1981) is an Australian [[Association football|soccer]] player who represented the [[Australia women's national soccer team]] at the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup|1999]] and [[2007 FIFA Women's World Cup|2007]] editions of the [[FIFA Women's World Cup]]. Ferguson debuted for Australia at the age of 15 years during the [[Australia women's national soccer team|Matildas]]' European tour in August 1997. Initially she played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] and scored four times in Australia's [[1998 OFC Women's Championship]] victory. After a period of injury she subsequently became one of Australia's most solid [[midfielder]]s. At club level Ferguson enjoyed success with Queensland Sting in the [[Women's National Soccer League]] and [[Brisbane Roar W-League|Brisbane Roar]] in the [[W-League (Australia)|W-League]]. In 2012–13 she played for [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]] of the English [[FA Women's Premier League]].

Since her playing retirement, Ferguson has worked as a football [[Pundit (expert)|pundit]] and [[columnist]]. She began her television career working for the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephanie Brantz and Alicia Ferguson Preview the Round 4 W League on ABC TV|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-10/stephanie-brantz-and-alicia-ferguson-preview-the/3657936|publisher=[[ABC Sport]]|access-date=10 September 2014|date=10 November 2011}}</ref> primarily on their W-League and Matildas coverage, then moved to [[ESPN (United States)|ESPN]] as a [[color commentator|studio commentator]] for the [[2011 FIFA Women's World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nwulu|first1=Mac|title=ESPN 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Commentators|url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2011/06/espn-2011-fifa-women%E2%80%99s-world-cup-commentators/|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=10 September 2014|date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111934/http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2011/06/espn-2011-fifa-women%E2%80%99s-world-cup-commentators/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Club career==
Ferguson played for Queensland Sting in the [[Women's National Soccer League]], but the league folded in 2004.

When the [[W-League (Australia)|W-League]] started in 2008, Ferguson made a comeback with [[Brisbane Roar FC W-League|Brisbane Roar]]. She had spent a year out of football but said: "It's that plain and simple, I missed playing."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ferguson primed for Westfield W-League|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/article/ferguson-primed-for-westfield-w-league/kwixmmk19tdg1ett00z6ynxj8|publisher=[[A-League]]|access-date=5 September 2014|date=24 October 2008}}</ref> She scored three goals in 10 appearances but missed the Roar's [[2008–09 W-League Grand Final|Grand Final]] victory after suffering an [[anterior cruciate ligament injury]] in the semi-final win over [[Sydney FC W-League|Sydney FC]].<ref name="twang">{{cite news|last1=Layland|first1=Chris|title=The twang of Aussie Women's Football - Alicia Ferguson|access-date=6 September 2014|publisher=The Football Sack|date=6 May 2011|url=http://www.thefootballsack.com/2011/05/twang-of-aussie-womens-football-alicia.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911013046/http://www.thefootballsack.com/2011/05/twang-of-aussie-womens-football-alicia.html|archive-date=11 September 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

After relocating to England for work reasons, Ferguson made another playing comeback with [[Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.|Millwall Lionesses]] of the [[FA Women's Premier League Southern Division]]. She made her league debut in September 2012, assisting the first goal in a 2–0 home win over QPR.<ref>{{cite news|title=Whitter at the double|url=http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/article/whitter-at-the-double-402599.aspx|access-date=6 September 2014|publisher=[[Millwall F.C.]]|date=2 October 2012}}</ref>

==International career==
National team [[Coach (sports)|coach]] [[Greg Brown (footballer born 1962)|Greg Brown]] brought 15-year-old Ferguson on the Matildas' tour of Europe in August 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alicia Ferguson|url=http://australiansoccer.20m.com/pl_17.html|website=Australian Soccer|access-date=10 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911004116/http://australiansoccer.20m.com/pl_17.html|archive-date=11 September 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> She made her senior debut in the tour's second match; a 4–0 win over [[Hungary women's national football team|Hungary]] in [[Csákvár]]. In 1998 she accepted a residential scholarship on the [[Australian Institute of Sport Football Program]], ahead of the following year's World Cup in the United States. At 16 she was the youngest amongst that year's inaugural intake of female players. She relocated from Brisbane to Canberra to take up her place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alicia Ferguson|url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/matildas/alicia_ferguson.htm|publisher=[[Australian Sports Commission]]|access-date=7 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040129103423/http://www.ausport.gov.au/matildas/alicia_ferguson.htm|archive-date=29 January 2004}}</ref>

She was included in the squad for the [[1998 OFC Women's Championship]], which served as the qualifying tournament for the [[1999 FIFA Women's World Cup]]. She scored two goals in each of Australia's lopsided wins over [[American Samoa women's national football team|American Samoa]] and [[Fiji women's national football team|Fiji]]. She was not in the team which beat rivals [[New Zealand women's national football team|New Zealand]] 3–1 in the final to secure Australia's qualification.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Esamie|first1=Thomas|title=Matildas Internationals for 1998|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Matildas/1998A.html|website=Ozfootball.net|access-date=7 September 2014|year=1998}}</ref>

In a warm up match before the final tournament, against [[Canada women's national soccer team|Canada]] in [[Toronto]], Ferguson scored the Matildas' first goal in a 3–1 win.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canada vs Australia - 1999-06-09|url=http://www.canadasoccer.com/?gid=525&t=2014_match|publisher=[[Canadian Soccer Association]]|access-date=7 September 2014|date=9 June 1999}}</ref> At the World Cup Ferguson did not feature in the first two matches, a 1–1 draw with [[Ghana women's national football team|Ghana]] and a 3–1 defeat by [[Sweden women's national football team|Sweden]]. She started the third match against [[China women's national football team|China]], but was [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] in the second minute, for a late, high tackle on [[Bai Jie]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Penner|first1=Mike|title=China Doesn't Rest on Its Laurels|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-27-sp-50786-story.html|access-date=7 September 2014|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=27 June 1999}}</ref> Ferguson later admitted that she had been daunted by the occasion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alicia Ferguson Interview|url=http://matildas.footballaustralia.com.au/article/alicia-ferguson-interview/tryoi56h7jcl13puf4pp7dru8|access-date=7 September 2014|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]|date=23 September 2007}}</ref>

Twelve members of the Matildas controversially posed for a [[nude calendar]] in October 1999. At 17, Ferguson was the youngest participant. She remained happy with the final product and the original photograph was framed and proudly displayed at her parents' home in Brisbane.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Halloran|first1=Jessica|title=Flavour of the month again|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/flavour-of-the-month-again/2007/09/21/1189881771740.html?page=fullpage|access-date=7 September 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=22 September 2007}}</ref> Ferguson was selected to take part in the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2000 Sydney Olympics]] and was proud to walk out at the [[2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] in her home country.<ref name="twang" />

Ferguson dropped out of the national team in 2002 after a knee reconstruction operation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Matildas revamp|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2002/03/12/matildas-revamp|access-date=5 September 2014|publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service]]|date=12 March 2002}}</ref> She missed the [[2003 FIFA Women's World Cup]] and the [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2004 Athens Olympics]]. In 2005 incoming coach [[Tom Sermanni]] recalled Ferguson, who had changed from a forward into a defensive midfielder. She made an important late goal line clearance as Australia held the [[United States women's national soccer team|United States]] to a 0–0 draw in October 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Matildas hold US to 0-0 draw|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-1001-0-0-0&sID=12574&articleID=156775&news_task=DETAIL|publisher=[[Football Federation Samoa]]|access-date=10 September 2014|date=17 October 2005}}</ref>

During the [[2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup]] Ferguson stood in as [[Captain (association football)|captain]] of the Matildas.<ref>{{cite news|title=Matildas reach Asian Cup semi-finals|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-07-25/matildas-reach-asian-cup-semi-finals/1809746|access-date=10 September 2014|publisher=[[ABC Sport]]|date=25 July 2006}}</ref> Her goal in a 5–0 win over [[Thailand women's national football team|Thailand]] resulted in a celebratory [[jig]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Matildas maul Thailand 5-0 in Asian Cup|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Matildas-maul-Thailand-50-in-Asian-Cup/2006/07/24/1153593264346.html|access-date=10 September 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=24 July 2006}}</ref> Australia lost the final to [[China women's national football team|China]] in a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shootout]], despite Ferguson converting her kick. Second place secured qualification for the [[2007 FIFA Women's World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|title=China beat brave Matildas in shootout|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/china-beat-brave-matildas-in-shootout/2006/07/30/1154198004824.html|access-date=10 September 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=30 July 2006}}</ref>

After being named in the squad, Ferguson said that the 2007 team were better and more experienced than the team she had played in at the 1999 tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Socceroos' success spurs Ferguson|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/womensworldcup/china2007/news/newsid=598082/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911013112/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/womensworldcup/china2007/news/newsid=598082/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2014|publisher=[[FIFA]]|access-date=10 September 2014|date=18 September 2007}}</ref> She hoped to emulate the male Australia team, who had reached the knockout stage of their [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. She also hoped that success in the tournament would lead to the reformation of a national domestic league.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hughes|first1=Rob|title=Soccer: Aussies march on at Women's World Cup; technology, too|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/sports/18iht-soccer.1.7548393.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=10 September 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=18 September 2007}}</ref> Ferguson featured in all three group games, but did not take part in the 3–2 quarter-final defeat to [[Brazil women's national football team|Brazil]].

===International goals===
:''Results list Australia's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition !! Scored
|-
| 2 || 9 October 1998 || [[Mount Smart Stadium]], [[Auckland]] || {{fbw|ASM}} || align="center" | 21–0 || [[1998 OFC Women's Championship]] || align="center" | 2
|-
| 4 || 15 October 1998 || [[Mount Smart Stadium]], [[Auckland]] || {{fbw|FIJ}} || align="center" | 17–0 || [[1998 OFC Women's Championship]] || align="center" | 2
|- 
| 5 || 9 June 1999 ||  [[Centennial Park Stadium]], [[Toronto]] || {{fbw|CAN}} || align="center" | 3–1 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]] || align="center" | 1
|-
| 6 || 24 July 2006 || [[Marden Sports Complex]], [[Adelaide]] || {{fbw|THA}} || align="center" | 5–0 || [[2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup]] || align="center" | 1
|-
|}

==Honours==
===Club===
;Queensland Sting
*[[Women's National Soccer League]] (4): 1996–97, 2000, 2002, 2004
*Australian National Women's Football Tournament (1): 2005

;Brisbane Roar
*[[W-League (Australia)|W-League]] (1): [[2008–09 W-League|2008–09]]

===International===
;Australia
*[[OFC Women's Championship]] (1): [[1998 OFC Women's Championship|1998]]

==Non-playing career==
In 2013 Ferguson started working for [[television production]] company [[Tinopolis|Sunset + Vine]], who supplied the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]]'s coverage of [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013]] and [[BT Sport]]'s [[FA WSL]] coverage.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ferguson|first1=Alicia|title=New Beginnings|url=http://thewfblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/new-beginnings/|website=Women's Football Podcast|access-date=10 September 2014|date=9 July 2013}}</ref> During her second spell in the national team Ferguson held jobs with both the [[Australian Cricket Academy]] and the [[Australian Institute of Sport]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Halloran|first1=Jessica|title=Matildas show off super skills at cup|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/matildas-show-off-super-skills-at-cup/2007/09/21/1189881778296.html|access-date=6 September 2014|publisher=[[The Age]]|date=22 September 2007|location=Chengdu, China}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FIFA player|6|Alicia Ferguson}}
* {{AOC profile|alicia-ferguson}}
* {{Olympics.com|alicia-ferguson}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{Australia squad 1998 OFC Women's Championship}}
{{Australia Squad 1999 Women's World Cup}}
{{Australia women's football squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Australia squad 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2007 Women's World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Alicia}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportswomen from Queensland]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate women's soccer players]]
[[Category:Australian women's soccer players]]
[[Category:Australia women's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Brisbane Roar FC (women) players]]
[[Category:Millwall Lionesses L.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Expatriate women's footballers in England]]
[[Category:FA Women's National League players]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Women's World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 FIFA Women's World Cup players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Australia]]
[[Category:Australian people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Australian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport soccer players]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Brisbane]]
[[Category:Women's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Women's association football forwards]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportswomen]]