It was a first professional manager’s job for the 34 year-old and he had taken over a team that had lost their seven previous Division Three matches.
Ferguson’s first game was at title-chasing Lincoln City and the hosts won it 1-0 thanks to a Mark Stallard goal 15 minutes from time. Ferguson suffered two defeats and a draw before winning his fourth game in charge, 3-0 at home to his former club Wrexham.
Ferguson takes charge of Posh for the 500th time in a Championship fixture against Huddersfield at the Weston Homes Stadium tomorrow (November 2).
Here is the first team Darren Ferguson ever picked as Posh manager almost 15 years ago with details about what happened to the 14 players involved.
9. RICHARD BUTCHER
This popular midfielder passed away suddenly in January, 2011. Ferguson had released him from Posh in the summer of 2007 after just 51 appearances and five goals for the club. He went on to play for Notts County, Lincoln (for the second time) and Macclesfield.
10. GEORGE BOYD
Superstar who went on to play over 300 times for Posh, scoring 75 goals. Won three promotions with the club and went on to play Premier League football for Burnley and Hull and also international football for Scotland. Also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest before ending his career at Salford. Retired just last week at the age of 36.
11. AARON MCLEAN
Another forward player who became a Posh legend thanks to 85 goals in 206 appearances. Mclean won two promotions with Posh before winning a £1.1 million move to Hull who he represented in the Premier League. Also played for Ipswich, Birmingham. Bradford Barnet and Ebbsfleet, and had a second spell with Posh who he also later joined as a coach. Now working as a TV pundit.
12. GAVIN STRACHAN
Strachan came on as a substitute in Ferguson's first game as Posh manager and the pair went on to become great friends. Strachan became a highly respected coach and enjoyed success alongside Ferguson at Posh and Doncaster before leaving London Road to become first-team coach at Celtic where he remains. Strachan played 26 times for Posh, scoring three times. Ferguson released Strachan the player in January, 2008 and he joined Notts County before drifting into non league football.