On July 14, 2016 the museum received the sad news that one of our longtime ‘Friends of the Hawks Museum’, Neil Ferguson had passed away aged 70. Neil Ferguson was one of a number of former players who actively supported the endeavours of the museum, regularly attending the museum annual functions when in Melbourne and always enquiring, ‘have I rejoined the ‘Friends’?’
At his wake, his sister, Patricia Hutchinson asked whether the club would be interested in any of Neil’s memorabilia that included guernseys, trophies and a large scrapbook recording his journey in football. Patricia, accompanied by her niece, Tiffany visited the Hawks Museum to present Neil’s collection.
Patricia was keen to let the museum know that their father also played for Hawthorn and had donated some of his memorabilia to the museum when it was at Glenferrie, namely the Damlow Medal that he introduced to the playing group back in 1948. To the delight of both Patricia and Tiffany they were shown the Damlow Medal on display in the main Trophy Cabinet.
Neil Ferguson was always very proud of his number 17 guernsey. He loved to quietly tell the story that he actually set up the number for Michael Tuck who went onto to wear it for 426 games. The guernsey presented to the museum is classic Hawthorn, pure wool, and the correct colour of gold and brown stripes with a white leatherette patch on the back and a black number 17. The scrapbook is a goldmine, with a number of glossy black and white photos of the likes of Don Scott, Phil Hay and a young Leigh Matthews. Another item of intrigue is an invitation that Neil Ferguson received to attend Peter Crimmins wedding.
In 2017 the Hawks Museum will present a tribute to Neil Ferguson with a selection of his memorabilia. We would like to also publically acknowledge the Ferguson family for their valued contribution to the telling of the story of Hawthorn.
Neil Ferguson’s playing record
Played 1964-1970
Games 82
Goals 50
East Fremantle, WA 1971-1975
Games 86
Goals 32
New Norfolk, Tasmania (coach) 1976
Claremont, WA 1977
Games 16
Goals nil
Neil Ferguson is one of 13 father and son combinations to play for Hawthorn. His father Tom played 38 games between 1946 - 1948 having previously played 14 games with Melbourne 1942 – 1943. Ferguson Snr in later years played an active role with Hawthorn’s Past Players and Official Association gaining lasting fame when he introduced the infamous Damlow Medal in 1948.
From a young age Neil Ferguson followed his father’s footsteps to Hawthorn. He first played with the Fourth 18, Under 17’s, and was a member of their victorious 1961 and 1962 Premierships.
Always a very keen Hawk fan from a young age, Neil Ferguson’s burning ambition was to play in the senior side. He was to make his debut at the age of 18 wearing guernsey number 17 against St Kilda at Glenferrie in Round 1, 1964 as ruckman and later in his career proved to be a handy forward, kicking 19 goals in 1968 and 21 goals in 1969.
The second half of his football career was spent in Western Australia, with five years at East Perth and a season with Claremont. He played in the first ruck in East Fremantle’s 1974 Premiership. This was followed by a brief coaching career in Tasmania with New Norfolk then returning to Western Australia for a final season of football this time with Claremont. In later years Ferguson returned to Hawthorn as manager of the Social Club in 1999.
Patricia Hutchinson, sister of Neil Ferguson and her niece Tiffany Hawkins presents Neil Ferguson’s No 17 guernsey to the Hawks Museum.
