Alan Ball

[jackpot]

The youngest member of the 1966 World Cup winning team has died of a heart attack.

[sexy beast]

Wow that is very very sad R.I.P

[Dean]

yep....RIP the legend that was Alan Ball

[Mackem Stu]

R.I.P

 

Alan Ball, the youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died following a heart attack.

 

 

 

Hampshire Police have confirmed that Ball was found collapsed in his garden attempting to fight a bonfire.

 

The 61-year-old had a distinguished career as both a player and manager, but he will always be remembered most fondly for his part in England's World Cup win.

 

Whilst Geoff Hurst's hat-trick took the plaudits - many singled out Ball's all-action performance against West Germany as one the main catalysts behind the victory.

 

During a playing career that spanned 21 years, Ball played for nine clubs - including spells in North America and Asia.

 

Ball began his career with Blackpool - a club he would play for twice - after being rejected by Wolves and Bolton as a teenager.

 

Ball shone with The Tangerines and earned a place in the World Cup squad in 1966 at the age of 21 after making his debut for England the year before. His performances for Sir Alf Ramsey's side saw a host of clubs battle for his signature - before Everton paid £110,000 for him in August 1966.

 

In 1971 Arsenal paid a club record £220,000 for Ball and he flourished at Highbury - before leaving in 1976 when he joined Southampton.

 

Ball spent two years on the South Coast before joining the newly launched North American Soccer League - where he enjoyed spells with Philadelphia Fury and Vancouver Whitecaps.

 

Ball was then handed his first managerial job as he returned to Bloomfield Road to become Blackpool player-manager in 1980 - but his love affair with his first club ended just 12 months later when he was fired.

 

After leaving Blackpool he returned to Southampton as a player alongside fellow greats Mick Channon and Kevin Keegan, before he transferred to Hong Kong for a brief stint with Eastern AA.

 

His playing days ended with Bristol Rovers - who he joined in early 1983 - after playing some 975 competitive games and earning 72 caps for his country.

 

Ball got back on the managerial merry-go-round in 1984 when he joined Portsmouth for a hugely successful stint. He guided Pompey to the top-flight in 1987, but following relegation he departed in 1989.

 

He then took up assistant managerial roles at Colchester and then Stoke - where he was appointed boss after Mick Mills was fired. But Ball was not to last long in the Potteries as he left in 1991.

 

Ball then joined Exeter and enjoyed a three-year stint with The Grecians - during which time he also spent time as England coach under Graham Taylor.

 

In 1994, Ball was appointed manager of another of his former clubs - Southampton - and he guided Saints to tenth place in the Premiership. His success at The Dell attracted the interest of Manchester City and he was lured away in July 1995.

 

However, after suffering relegation, Ball quit City just three games into the following season.

 

He returned to Portsmouth in 1998 and helped them avoid relegation - but he was to leave in 1999 and retire from professional football. Upon his retirement, he was the last of the 1966 winning squad to be involved in the game.

 

Up until his death, Ball was working actively as a football pundit and was part of Sky Sports' coverage of the opening of the new Wembley Stadium when England Under 21s played Italy earlier this year.

[Panudate]

Just read about it in the paper on the train home from work, A football legend, RIP

[bangkoknick]

Heard about it on my way into work earlier today, very sad and died at no age atall. Took the edge off of last nights great come back victory by Man U.

 

Apparently he lost his wife a few months ago, so maybe now they will be together again.

 

Peace.

[sexy beast]

Just watched the funeral service & Frank McKlintock was a speaker, he relived some past memories & was very emotional

[stuarty]

A great football player and a great man

rip

alan ball