The three generations of Peterborough United turnstile operators

Harriet Heywood

BBC Information, Peterborough

Emma Baugh/BBC Michael Ferguson, his son, Ollie, Peterborough United mascot Peter Burrow and grandson Oscar, are stood in front of the pitch all with an arm around each other, wearing the club's branded T-shirts. Oscar, who is smiling at the camera, wears a white top with a blue and white scarf. He has brown hair, brown eyes and facial hair. Michael wears a blue top and scarf with black square framed glasses and a white shirt. He is smiling at the camera and has grey hair and grey facial hair. His son Ollie wears a black coat, blue top, blue and white scarf and circle framed glasses. He is smiling and has brown hair and facial hair. — Michael Ferguson stated whereas his youngsters “do not thoughts having a pop again at me”, he reminded them “I am not dad, I am your boss, you have to do what I say”

The title Ferguson has lengthy been synonymous with Peterborough United.

Supervisor Darren first took on the function in 2007 and is now in his fourth spell in control of the League One membership – however one other household of Fergusons has an affiliation with the membership stretching again even additional.

When 16-year-old Oscar checked tickets on the turnstiles for the goalless draw towards Leyton Orient earlier this month he turned the third technology of his household to take action.

His grandad Michael, 65, began out in 1992 and, at varied factors through the years, has been joined by all 5 of his sons and two of his daughters-in-law.

“It is develop into a little bit of a household affair,” he stated.

‘Totally different world now’

The old school turnstiles at Peterborough are nonetheless manned as we speak

Emma Baugh/BBC A very narrow outdoor turnstile, covered by a roof. Part of it has been painted blue, but parts of the paint have come away to reveal the dark wood underneath. The turnstile is a small blue gate. — The old school turnstiles at Peterborough are nonetheless manned as we speak

Michael turned a fan of the membership after transferring from Portsmouth aged eight.

He recurrently took his sons to look at Posh, however with their transfer up the divisions got here a rise in ticket costs.

He took a place as a steward, hoping he may have a free ticket and use his earnings to pay for the remainder of the household, however the membership had different concepts.

“My commerce is as an accountant. Once they discovered, I used to be promoted virtually in minutes to managing the turnstiles and dealing with the money,” he stated.

Michael Ferguson stated it was “roughly a special world” to when he first took up the place of chief turnstile operator

Emma Baugh/BBC Michael Ferguson is smiling at the camera while stood inside the Weston Homes Stadium. The pitch behind him is empty, as are the blue seats in the stands. Michael has grey facial hair and grey hair as well as black square framed glasses. He has a blue and white scarf wrapped around his neck. — Michael Ferguson stated it was “roughly a special world” to when he first took up the place of chief turnstile operator

His “grand function of chief turnstile operator” meant taking cost of the money collected from the gates.

A lot of those that dealt with the cash have been financial institution tellers, financial institution managers or store staff.

“As time progressed, we acquired to the stage the place increasingly have been getting tickets upfront for faster entry,” he stated.

“Then because the web acquired stronger, we began to maneuver on to print-at-home tickets… now we’ve smartphones and are utterly cashless.

“It has made it a lot simpler. It is kind of a special world now.”

The prospect of three generations working on the Weston Houses Stadium was one thing Michael had joked about – but in addition hoped to see by way of

Emma Baugh/BBC Michael, Ollie and Oscar, are stood in a line. Each one is standing in a different turnstile doorway. The building is outside and red bricked with blue doors, which have been opened. The spaces in which they are stood is where they go to check tickets as fans come into the stadium. — The prospect of three generations working on the Weston Houses Stadium was one thing Michael had joked about – but in addition hoped to see by way of

Regardless of the developments in expertise, the turnstile operation itself, nonetheless, has largely remained the identical.

“Folks nonetheless come within the quaint method. They present a ticket, it’s scanned and also you press your foot down on a pedal to allow them to in,” stated Michael.

“Some new ones haven’t got an actual individual and that’s our distinctive promoting level… [without it] you lose that private contact.”

‘Uncle Alex Ferguson’

Michael has been unable to withstand telling just a little white lie through the years that he’s associated to Darren and his well-known father, Sir Alex of Manchester United fame.

Nevertheless, the joke backfired when he got here face-to-face with Sir Alex at a pleasant match.

“I by no means thought it could catch me out,” stated Michael, who had even advised his sons and associates he was associated to the well-known footballing household.

Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough United performed towards his father’s Manchester United staff in a pleasant on the then London Highway stadium in August 2007

Getty Images Darren Ferguson, dressed in a white shirt, shakes hands with his father, Sir Alex Ferguson, following a game between Peterborough United and Manchester United in August 2007, with a cameraman filming the moment stood nearby — Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough United performed towards his father’s Manchester United staff in a pleasant on the then London Highway stadium in August 2007

“In these days I additionally labored within the tunnels and I might pay the referee.

“He [Sir Alex] was there – I confirmed him my title badge and advised him I had an issue, as a result of for years I’ve advised individuals you might be my uncle.

“I don’t know what his reply was, however he was attributable to meet a few of the followers and he got here and met my sons. That was day.”

Michael defined it was necessary to verify operators have been comfy within the small areas

Emma Baugh/BBC Outdoor view of the turnstile building. It is red bricked with a sign over the door directing ticket-holders though the turnstiles. There is a sign on the wall reading 'Home fans only'. There are five thin blue doors for fans to push through to enter the stadium. — Michael defined it was necessary to verify operators have been comfy within the small areas

Michael’s son Ollie, 38, who has clocked up 23 seasons working along with his dad, stated house followers have been typically welcoming on the turnstiles, however the trickier away followers may be enjoyable.

Michael added: “We’re at all times on the lookout for turnstile workers, so it turned a type of issues… it has at all times been a part of our lives and actually good enjoyable.”

Peterborough United have had Fergusons on the membership – in a method or one other – for the reason that Nineteen Nineties

Emma Baugh/BBC The football pitch is empty and the words 'The Posh' can be seen on the seats in the opposite stand. — Peterborough United have had Fergusons on the membership – in a method or one other – for the reason that Nineteen Nineties

Praising the turnstile household, head of ticketing and techniques at Peterborough United, Chris Brewer, stated: “They embody the membership’s ethos of being a family-run soccer membership and it is a prime instance that it is a generational sport.”

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