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IN A QUESTION that won’t seem to go away, even though he has represented Ireland at competitive level, Brighton and Republic of Ireland sensation Evan Ferguson has laughed off suggestions that he could be in line for an International switch to England.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, the question arose. It has been brought up before that his mother Sarah is from England. But a smiling Ferguson replied, “Obviously my ma is English so that’s where the tie comes in. But I have seen a few saying, ‘will he, will he?’ But I can tell you now, it’s a no.”
Pressed by the interviewer, “- I don’t think your dad would let that happen?” he added, “I wouldn’t be allowed back.”
Ferguson’s father famously began his career with Home Farm before moving to Coventry. He made six appearances for Ireland including at the FIFA World Youth Championship finals in Nigeria in 1999.
He went on to have loan spells from Coventry with Colchester United, Hartlepool United and Northampton Town.
He returned to Ireland to play for Longford Town, Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers before finishing his career with Sporting Fingal.
While at Longford he had a successful spell, winning the FAI Cup in 2003 and 2004, and the League of Ireland Cup in 2004. He was forced to retire in 2009 with a hip injury.
Two goals against Southampton on Sunday has been another step on the road in his development as a top class striker in the Premier League, and brings his tally of league goals to six this season, with ten in all competitions since he made the breakthrough in January.
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Good lad
Ah they’ll claim him anyway when he scores the winner in a European Cup final. Sure they love to claim the Irish as their own.
@Rafa C: as do we in fairness
@Rafa C: hmmmm, Obama, well known Irishman, Biden blah blah blah. No.other country touches us when it comes to claiming others as our own.
@Tipper Irie: that’s cause they actually have Irish ties…stick on Sky news or BBC news & they’re claiming everyone from Cillian Murphy to U2!
Class Act on and off the pitch well done Evan Ferguson
Why won’t the question of him switching to England go away? Hasn’t he already played a competitive game for us against France recently and therefore can’t switch allegiance or am I missing something?
@Dave Murray: I found this on goal.com:
First, it is now possible for a player to change national team even if they have played competitively at senior level, provided:
the player held the nationality of their new association at the time of their first official appearance for their first national team.
the player played in no more than three competitive senior games before the age of 21.
the player has not played in the final stage of an official tournament such as the World Cup, European Championship, Copa America etc.
at least three years have passed since the player’s last senior appearance for their previous national team.
Seems like a nice lad.
@ tipper.. All of those situations you mentioned are completely different.. Cuz the people you mentioned are themselves claiming to be irish in some shape or form..
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