Ferguson attended Coleraine Academical Institution for Boys, where he started playing badminton aged 11.[2] He was left-handed and his first club was First Coleraine. He was coached by George Henderson during his early career.[2]
Later Ferguson was a member of the Alpha Badminton Club in Lisburn[3] and in 1978 received the Milk Marketing Board sports award for Ulster school leavers.[4] He represented at Ulster provincial level[5] and all-Ireland at international level,[6] making his senior international debut in February 1981.[7]
Ferguson was a teacher in Coleraine by profession[1] and was a doubles specialist with partners including George Stephens,[8] Clifford McIlwaine and Rikki Keag in men's doubles and Ann Stephens[9] and Holly Lane in mixed doubles.[10]
Ferguson represented the Northern Irish team[11] at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia,[12] where he competed in the four events.[13]
He went to a second Commonwealth Games after being selected for the 1986 Northern Irish team[14] at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland,[15] where he competed in the three events.[16] he then went to a third Commonwealth Games after being selected for the 1990 Northern Irish team[17] at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand,[18][19]
He was a three-time Irish champion at the Irish National Badminton Championships, winning the men's doubles in 1991[20] and the mixed doubles in 1987 and 1991.[21]
