Alan
Ball MBE R.I.P.
Everton
and England Legend Alan Ball has died of a heart attack at his
home in Hampshire overnight. Bally was part of that fantastic
Everton side that swept all before them when winning the Championship
in 1970. He joined up with Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall to
mastermind Everton's success with one of Everton's greatest midfields
in the Club's history.
Bally's
crowning glory came for his Country when in 1966 his man of the
match performance helped England lift the Jules Rimet Trophy in
defeating West Germany 4-2 (aet) at Wembley.
Alan
suffered heartache himself back in 2004 when his wife of many
years Lesley passed away after losing her long battle with cancer.
In Alan's own words he recalls a time when Lesley was in hospital
fighting the disease. Bally was invited back to Goodison to be
named in Everton's Greatest Ever Eleven, and also to be presented
onto the pitch prior to the match against Bolton. Bally the family
man wanted to be by his wife's side, but Lesley turned to him
and said, 'It's Everton, you must go with your people.'
So
the ginger haired 5 foot nothing giant of a man left the Blues
against his wishes for Arsenal in 1971. In his six seasons Bally
made 249 appearances scoring 78 times for the Blues. He went on
to win 72 Caps for his country, and he will always be remembered
as one of the Greatest Players ever to pull on the Royal Blue
of Everton FC.
Moyesy
says:
"I am totally stunned by the death of Alan Ball. I have
been with Alan recently and found him, as always, great company.
He seemed in the best of health, which makes this news is even
sadder. He was a great person to be around and he always spoke
very highly of everybody at Everton. He was very proud of the
time he had at Everton and he regarded that time as being very
special. He will be missed by everybody at the club."
Howard
Kendall says: "It
was a massive shock and it is a sad loss."I would meet with
Alan regularly on the after dinner speaking circuit. He
was always bubbly, on and off the field and he was undoubtedly
the best player I ever played with. When things were going wrong
on the pitch he was the one who put them right. He was never down.
The World Cup was where he really made his name and the final
really typified the way he played. I was with him a couple of
weeks ago when he was the guest speaker at an event and he was
singing the praises of the Everton fans," continued Kendall.
In
turn they would always give him a tremendous reception."
Blue
Bill says: "Bally
way my idol. If I was to draw up my favourite all-time Everton
team he would be one of the first names on the list. Alan was
also my friend. I had known him for nearly 40 years since the
days when I was in Coronation Street and we lived close to each
other. I really am totally devastated by the news of his passing.
Both as an individual and as part of the famous midfield triumvirate
of Harvey-Kendall-Ball, he will always be remembered as one of
our Club's greatest-ever footballers. In terms of talent, commitment
and 200 per cent focus - game after game - there was no-one to
touch him. I
know that football fans the world over will mourn his passing
but Evertonians of my generation will have broken hearts today
- the feeling is as overwhelming as that."
Graeme
Sharp says: "It is absolutely unbelievable, I am
absolutely devastated as will everyone connected with Everton
Football Club. I was only in his company a fortnight ago at an
Everton function and he was his usual self, always on the go,
laughing and joking. That night he got up and addressed the Evertonian
crowd and as usual they were in absolute awe of him. He commanded
respect. He was a true footballing genius in every sense of the
word. Few others have done what Alan Ball have achieved in football
and he will sadly missed by all."
Keith
Wyness says: "Having seen Alan Ball several weeks
ago at the Barcelona dinner everyone was struck by his enthusiasm
and vitality. He told us the story of how he was called the water
carrier by Alf Ramsey and that was an apt description for a man
with boundless energy and enthusiasm and energy. He
always had time for everyone in the game and he was truly a national
treasure."
Lawrie
McMenemy says: "He
was a fabulous footballer and a great man. He has tragedies in
his life recently but he typically got up and battled on. He was
about to move up to be near Mick Channon and the horses and it
was the start of another change in his life and this is very sad
news for anybody who ever knew him. There are only 11 lads who
have won the World Cup and it is like a family welded together.
He was the youngest of the team and he never lost that infectious
attitude to everything he did. He was the best one touch player
I ever saw. We used to do some one touch in training and he would
look up at me with those cheeky eyes and say 'half a touch will
do for me'.
When
he started as a young player he got into the England team very
early and he would call himself a scrapper. It was him and Nobby
Stiles in there as the workers. But he developed from being that
scrapper to one of the best, most delicate footballers with great
vision."
*
Everton
Football Club have announced that their will be a minutes applause
prior to their match with Manchester United this weekend. Hopefully
this will be the start of many tributes to one of Everton's Greatest
Players.
Leave
Your Own Tribute or Memory of Bally With Bluekipper
Fans
Tributes
*
Bally! What a legend. We are proud to say we met you on many occasions,
and you always had time for us all. Say hello to Labby and we
are sure the two of you will recount many tales of your times
in the Royal Blue of Everton. Football is minus an absolute Legend
today and all Blues are proud to say, you were one of us. Rest
in Peace Alan. All at Bluekipper.com
*
Another great Evertonian gone to that that great Goodison in the
sky rest in peace mate i have still got my white boots R.I.P.
MUCKER COL THE BLUE
*
Who's
the greatest of them all......LITTLE CURLY ALAN BALL. God bless
Alan..... you leave hundreds of everlasting memories to all BLUES.
Blueernie. Southport.
*
I
grew up in Liverpool in the 60’s and alan ball was my hero and
I have never forgotten the devastation I felt just after xmas
71 I think when we sold my beloved hero to arsenal(just got my
white boots days earlier).today I’m feeling the same and at 45
I don’t mind admitting that I’m in tears at the loss of for me
the greatest evertonian In my life time.its said bally was in
tears when it sunk in he was leaving his beloved everton. Good
night and god bless alan and r.i.p John Boden
*
"Once
Everton has touched you nothing will be the same" Alan Ball.
A class quote from a class Blue. R.I.P Alan Ozzer
*
I can remember being devastated as a kid when I heard we had sold
Bally to the Arse. I feel the same now. I have always argued that
he was one of the greatest midfield players ever to play the game.
The best player in a world cup final at 21, all those goals for
us and at 38 still putting in man of the match performances for
Southampton. Red hair, white boots who could ever forget him.
He will live in my memory forever!!!!! rhodris-dad
Rhyl
*
WITH BRIAN LABONE BEING DEAD EXACTLY A YEAR,DO YOU THINK GOD GAVE
HIM FIRST CHOICE OF ANY PLAYER FOR HIS TEAM UP THERE SO HE PICKED
BALLY.WHAT A PLAYER HE HAD EVERYTHING,COULD EVEN TRAP A BALL WITH
HIS ASS.A SAD DAY FOR EVERY EVERTONIAN. PHILL MCFERRAN
*
rip bally, true blue legend. Give emlyn a good kicking from me
will you. Thanks for the memories, even the missed penalties.
Paddy Mckenna now of the hebrides supportes club
*
Sad news about bally , he will be missed by all evertonians and
football supporters throughout the land. a true blue legend RIP
BALLY Alan Kirkby
*
Quite simply the best player i have seen at goodison park in my
lifetime.......rest in peace "bally"...and thanks for
the memories............oakesy
*
I am proud to say Alan Ball made me an Evertonian, I cried all
the way to school the day he signed for Arsenal, God Bless you
Alan Kevin Woods
*
Met Bally a few times - a great Blue Boy - for me watching Everton
since 1959 Bally was always the greatest - stirred up memories
of when one man could totally dominate a game - what a winner
- let's see some Bally spirit on Saturday - well in Bally and
thanks for great great memories. George Mc Kane
*
Really really sad day . I was gutted when I read Alan had been
transferred in 1972. he was my idol during his time with the blues
and a real gentleman off the field . first name on my greatest
Everton team. Barry
* Yes the
World Cup but Bally became a proper player when Catterick signed
him for us. I was standing behind the goal at Craven Cottage in
August 1966 when he belted in the winner (the last time we won
at Fulham!) on his debut for us and decided there and then that
he was the man. I can see him now in those white boots picking
the ball up and racing towards the Gladys Street end with the
opposition chasing after him. The sendings off, the winning cup
goals against the kopites, his 4 goals against West Brom in a
league match and wishing that he had saved one for the 68 final,
all great memories. I read his book only a short while ago and
the poor fella had been through an awful lot over recent years
but he always seemed so positive whenever you saw him interviewed.
Ball, Kendall, Harvey – never seen anything better in blue shirts
and probably never will. RIP. Bazza
*
People always remember were they were when they heard Kennedy
had been assasinated or when Lennon had been shot, I will always
remember being on a bus in Garston and hearing Alan Ball had been
sold, I was devastated. R. I. P Bally. Billy
*
How sad it is to hear of the sudden death of Alan Ball. I never
saw Alan play but have heard from family and friends what a truly
great player he was. For many of my older Evertonian friends,
he was the best they have seen. I did have the honour of meeting
Alan myself, at a club function and was impressed by his stories
and burning passion for Everton, years after he left the club.
His loss hurts all Evertonians and football fans all over the
world today. We will miss you immensely Bally. Hope he and Labby
are sharing a drink now! Glenn from Ormskirk
*
A very VERY sad day to see one third of the holy trinity gone
before his time. A great footballer and a great man. R.I.P. you
will be greatly missed . Brian and family Belfast.
*
“Once A Blue Always A Blue” That was Bally. It’s a privilege
to have seen him play. He was my first real Everton hero BALL/HARVEY/KENDALL
that was a dream combination from any era 1969-70 when we won
the Championship was my first full season at Goodison Me Dad (now
sadly passed away) and me hardly missed a game. The West Brom
game when we clinched it was my first night game. The old lady
was going mad saying I would’nt be up for school next day blah
blah blah. But the old fella was’nt having any of it I had to
be there as part of my Everton education. I pestered him for ages
for a pair of white boots. (no JJB in them days it was black or
fuck all till Bally came along.) Thanks for the skill, the class
the after dinner talks, the piss takin you often did out of other
players not fit to lace yer boots, the ability, the courage, strength,
the charisma, the laughs, your dislike of the shite, and for being
a Blue. R.I.P Bally Chris B (the original Wirral Blue)
*
A real shock, always remember when Bally was warming up juggling
the ball as he did someone ran on from the St End knelt at his
feet and worshipped him, all the crowd was cheering and Bally
just kept juggling the ball. He may have been small but he was
massive to all who witnessed those six seasons. RIP. Colin
Fitz
*
One of my earliest Everton memories was an 8-0 thrashing of Southampton.
Joe Royle scored 4, Davie Johnson scored three, but the only goal
I can still visualise was Alan Ball’s. I cried a river when he
left, and I shall shed a tear for him now. Nil satis nisi optimum
and you were the best!! Martin Doherty
*
I’m devastated and had tears in my eyes as I heard it on TalkSport
and FiveLive this morning as I drove into work. He was my first
football idol and as they say…you never forget your first! As
a young lad on my stool at the Paddock Wall at the age of 8 in
that wonderful 1969-70 season, it was Ball that I cheered the
loudest. I remember my dad buying me an Alan Ball poster and souvenir
booklet of him from one of the souvenir sellers on the pitch-side
that you had in those days, and they were prized possessions for
many a year. I remember the shock when he was sold to Arsenal,
the disappointment when his England career ended prematurely in
my view. I remember always having a soft spot for him wherever
he went…because unlike Rooney, he was always a Blue to me. Even
during the last World Cup, I was amazed how articulate and observant
he was about England’s problems when doing a pre-match interview
(so much better than the other studio pundits). I hope Lesley,
and the likes of Labby are there to greet him today wherever he’s
gone. One thing for certain, for us 40 and 50-somethings, Alan
Ball will go down as one of the all-time Everton greats – God
bless you Alan, and thank you for some priceless memories…COYB!
Paddock Boy
*
The only red and white loved by all blues- red hair white boots,
gentleman and evertonian. R.I.P bally. Pete S, Runcorn
*
Absolute hero. Everton legend. Simple as that. Lets hope the boys
can give him a good send off on Saturday. Chris Fisher
*
Alan Ball: It is exactly 1 year ago that I received a phone call
from Alan to go to Brian Labones funeral with him. Alan Ball,
Alan Kennedy and myself walked up the steps to the Liverpool Cathedral
to pay our respects to Brian. 1 Year on and I will be walking
up steps again to pay tribute, only this time I will be paying
my respects to Alan. I am so proud for my family and myself to
have had Alan as a friend. Jim Buckley
*
I’m a 54 year old, but today I cried like a baby on hearing the
tragic news of my all time hero. He was my God and like many others
at the time, I wore the white boots, the number 8 shirt had half
the shirt out and had hold of me cuffs. For 40 years I idolized
the great man. Pele, Eusebio, Cruyff, keep ‘em Bally was and will
always be my hero and inspiration till the day I join him. My
grandkids will know about him because I will tell them of the
greatest player I saw In a football shirt. This I can say, is
the saddest day of my life outside of my family. My condolences
to his family and to all his friends and connections at Everton.
Today is the day that football died, “the day the greatest of
them all, little ginger Alan Ball”, passed away. Ray Edgington
*
One of the Holy Trinity gone ??? Its the end of an era ... I just
cant take it in. Alan Ball was my hero - my idol , ...what a player
- what a midfield dynamo - he was poetry to watch and I feel priviledged
to have witnessed
the sight of one of the greatest players we will ever see. He
was a thorn in the side of the dark side as well and did we love
you for that !!!!! He didnt know the meaning of giving up , never
tried to hide .................. The day Catterick sold him to
Arsenal I really thought that my world had ended ...what made
it worse was that he sold him to a team who played in red !!!!!
I never forgave Catterick for that... RIP Alan Ball . We will
not see your like again Please - Everton football Club - please
have some form of memorial for him - we need to pay our respects
properly Kath - a true blue
*
What can you say about the passing of a true blue legend. I remember
the Bally days from 69/70 onwards and his midfield 'marriage'
to Howie and the White Pele was unbelievable. They were telepathic
on the pitch, absolute genius. Like many others I was shocked
when Bally left for the Arsenal, but always admired his play and
total commitment. RIP Bally, blue or red, you'll be missed. Anon
