Premiership Tribute To Alan Ball
Everton Mark the Death of 1966 England World Cup Winner
All Premiership and Football League clubs paid tribute to the England World Cup winning hero, Alan Ball, who passed away during the week.
The passing of Alan Ball, the England World Cup winning hero was marked fittingly by all Premiership and Football League clubs prior to this weekend’s games. One minute’s sustained applause was a most appropriate mark of respect for a player who showed such a love and enthusiasm for the game.
Alan Ball passed away during the week, aged 61 years. He suffered a heart-attack while trying to put out a bonfire in his back garden. Ball was the youngest member of the famous England team which won the World Cup in England in 1966. He was aged twenty and had only just made it into Alf Ramsey’s team prior to the start of the tournament. In total he appeared 72 times for England but the World Cup win was certainly the pinnacle of his international career.
The most poignant scenes of remembrance were at Goodison Park where Ball had played during his career. In a midfield partnership with Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey, they had enabled Everton to win the 1st Division title in 1970 – the only other winner’s medal of his career. Before yesterday’s match, the Everton players wore training shirts with Ball’s face on the front and his number ‘8’ on the back. Then Ball’s son and two daughters laid a floral tribute with their father’s number ‘8’ at the centre. His two old team-mates, Harvey and Kendall, brought out a presentation case containing a pair of Ball’s famous white boots while Bobby Charlton another member of the World Cup team represented Manchester United on the pitch.
The minute’s applause was respected impeccably around grounds the length and breadth of the country.
Alan Ball’s career had started at Blackpool but in August, 1966 after his performances in the World Cup he was transferred to Everton for a then record fee of £110,000. There his play as a hard-working, dynamic midfield player brought Everton success in winning the Football League Championship title in 1970. The next season, Everton reached the FA Cup semi-final but lost to Liverpool. In December, 1971 he signed for Arsenalfor another record fee of £220,000.
It was a difficult time at Highbury where their ‘double’ winning side was breaking up and when it became obvious that Ball was surplus to requirements he signed for Southampton and helped them gain promotion back to the 1st Division.
After leaving Southampton he went to play in the North American Football League for Philadelphia Fury as player-coach in May 1978 and then joined the Vancouver Whitecaps a year later, helping them to the NASL Championship.
He returned to England as player/manager of his first club, Blackpool, but only remained there for a year. He then played at Southampton and in the Far East before finishing his career at Bristol Rovers.
In management he did not reach the same high levels he had experienced as a player but he did bring success to Portsmouth taking them into the 1st Division. However, they only lasted one season in the top flight and during the next season Ball lost his job. He also managed Exeter City, Southampton and Manchester City before returning to Portsmouth. In the first season he saved Portsmouth from what had seemed certain relegation with a crucial final day of the season victory but the termination of his contract saw him retire in December, 1999.
Although out of football he still loved the game and attended matches regularly, including Southampton’s game last weekend.
Alan Ball is the second member of that World Cup team to pass away. Captain, Bobby Moore died from cancer in 1993.
Alan Ball played with an infectious enthusiasm that transmitted itself to both team mates and spectators. He enjoyed the game and gave his whole heart to it in every match. He wasn’t paid the vast amounts that today’s players receive but he couldn’t have given any more to football even if he had been. He was worthy of the tribute afforded to him yesterday.
