ALAN BALL REMEMBERED

[Jeff Jones]

I saw Bally play at probably his worst time at Everton.

The first time was the Charity Shield at Stamford Bridge in 1970. We won 2-1.

The Championship winning side side in 1969/70 was magical and I was so looking forward to watching Everton in The 1970/71 season while I was on a long honeymoom/working holiday in Britain.

I was based in London and travelled the length and breadth watching us. We had a horrible season but a match that stands out
is the Derby at Goodison. We were all over them but drew 0-0. (Colin Harvey missed one early which was Clemence's best save ever.

Bally said in the Echo that we should have beaten them 5-0, and he was right. He went on to say that we would eventually turn our superiority into goals. He was a better footballer than a prophet.

I saw all of the early games in 1971/2 and we were crap. In the last home match I saw in September, we beat Arsenal 2-1 and I think Bally scored, but the previous 18 months had been a disaster.

When, back in Melbourne a couple of months later that I heard Alan had been sold to Arsenal - no transfer request = I think I was maybe at my lowest point in all my time as an Evertonian.

It's all history now, and that's what we are all about, isn't it? I hope I live long enough to see us get back to the great days.

At least I saw them, and I'm gratetful for that.

 

[royalblue66]

Always remember 5th round FA cup against the s+++e at GP, 60 k at Goodison and there was a large screen at the pit
Was on the Gwladys st Bally scored at the Gwladys st end beat them 1 nil,one of the loudest roars I have ever heard
At Goodison, happy days

 

[steken1]

As good as Tim Cahill was for the blues not fit to lace Bally's boots - he was the greatest midfielder to wear the EFC shirt imo!

Course mate, who is though??

We're talking about love for the club!

 

[allezlesbleus]

Always remember 5th round FA cup against the s+++e at GP, 60 k at Goodison and there was a large screen at the pit
Was on the Gwladys st Bally scored at the Gwladys st end beat them 1 nil,one of the loudest roars I have ever heard
At Goodison, happy days

I wonder how many on here were at either game? My dad went but never took me. Came back literally delirious on the adrenaline of that game. Still the highest attendance for FA cup game taking the two crowds together I think. Hardly any film of the goal around but I have seen a grainy 5 second clip a long time ago.

 

[Cork Evertonian]

I saw Bally play at probably his worst time at Everton.

The first time was the Charity Shield at Stamford Bridge in 1970. We won 2-1.

The Championship winning side side in 1969/70 was magical and I was so looking forward to watching Everton in The 1970/71 season while I was on a long honeymoom/working holiday in Britain.

I was based in London and travelled the length and breadth watching us. We had a horrible season but a match that stands out
is the Derby at Goodison. We were all over them but drew 0-0. (Colin Harvey missed one early which was Clemence's best save ever.

Bally said in the Echo that we should have beaten them 5-0, and he was right. He went on to say that we would eventually turn our superiority into goals. He was a better footballer than a prophet.

I saw all of the early games in 1971/2 and we were crap. In the last home match I saw in September, we beat Arsenal 2-1 and I think Bally scored, but the previous 18 months had been a disaster.

When, back in Melbourne a couple of months later that I heard Alan had been sold to Arsenal - no transfer request = I think I was maybe at my lowest point in all my time as an Evertonian.

It's all history now, and that's what we are all about, isn't it? I hope I live long enough to see us get back to the great days.

At least I saw them, and I'm gratetful for that.

Great post.Everton had a great team from the early 60's up until the 1970 title win.Many great players wore the royal blue shirt during that time.Yet everyone that saw Everton during that era rated Alan Ball as the greatest player that played for Everton during that period.He was the man that made the holy trinity tick.My god that's really something when one takes into account what great players Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey were.The club shot itself in the foot when they sold Bally to Arsenal.

 

[hullefc]

Always remember 5th round FA cup against the s+++e at GP, 60 k at Goodison and there was a large screen at the pit
Was on the Gwladys st Bally scored at the Gwladys st end beat them 1 nil,one of the loudest roars I have ever heard
At Goodison, happy days

Me dad took me to see the game at Anfield and we were in the Kremlin Road and the screen ripped. At the end of the game danced all the way over the park to Goodison on cloud 9.

I went to the 1971 away game at Derby County on Dec 18th. and we lost 2-0. Bally had a go at a few of the players on the pitch, something he was prone to do, can't remember who, but heard that it carried on in the dressing room and Labone had to step in. Don't know whether it was Lyons or Kenyon, but one of them got Bally by the throat. The rumour was it was the final straw for Catterick and he got in touch with Arsenal. I think Bally got frustrated by our slump in form.

In our street all us Evertonians were in a state of shock and my dad said he was never going back again, something he reneged on.

 

[Azzurri]

Whenever there's an Everton performance that seems to be lacking in effort my Dad always tells me about the time Alan Ball had Joe Royle by the shirt/neck on field screaming at him seemingly to work harder. Anyone remember this?

 

[allezlesbleus]

Whenever there's an Everton performance that seems to be lacking in effort my Dad always tells me about the time Alan Ball had Joe Royle by the shirt/neck on field screaming at him seemingly to work harder. Anyone remember this?

Not this but I remember vividly him giving Tommy Wright the dressing down of a life time over a misplaced pass. He couldn't come to terms with others errors because he made so few but also rumour had it Wright liked a jar or two ( they probably all did) and I often heard my uncles and dad speculate on whether they began partying hard after their sublime championship season in 1970 and never really recovered. Ball I am sure , was not much of a party guy. He just wanted to WIN. Had no time for coming second and could not relate to anyone who did not give 300% for the cause. Made Rooney look laid back in his desire to win.

 

[Azzurri]

Not this but I remember vividly him giving Tommy Wright the dressing down of a life time over a misplaced pass. He couldn't come to terms with others errors because he made so few but also rumour had it Wright liked a jar or two ( they probably all did) and I often heard my uncles and dad speculate on whether they began partying hard after their sublime championship season in 1970 and never really recovered. Ball I am sure , was not much of a party guy. He just wanted to WIN. Had no time for coming second and could not relate to anyone who did not give 300% for the cause. Made Rooney look laid back in his desire to win.

The way to be, that is.

 

[LITLEJOE]

just spoke to my arl feller about bally, he was really good mates with alan and used to go to town with him on the ale he stayed in our house a few times when i was a kid.

bally chinned tommy smith in a club in town once after a derby match.

 

[allezlesbleus]

The way to be, that is.

Exactly. And that's why he had an instant rapport with fans. He had a touch that was sublime but actually worked as hard as we actually willed them to work. Just like that, no need for us to do anything. He was completely on fans wavelength and was ace . And he got the merseyside rivalry instantly. Not a good captain though because he just couldn't channel his frustration or coax people along. It was full on fury with everyone. Works on some, not on others.

 

[Bluerover]

My hero when I started following Everton aged 5 - the 69/70 side. My Ma bought me a full strip with round collar royal blue jersey, white shorts, white socks and she ironed on a number 8 on the jersey.

My 8 years older brother brought me to see Eveton play Rovers at Milltown in 1970 and I clearly remember a Rovers player coming off with blood spurting from a head injury, which prompted me to turn to my brother and say " Sure Alan Ball didn't do that?"

The day I came home from school to find we had sold him remains etched in my soul even now. I cried my eyes out and even threatened to follow the gooners for a while.

God rest you Bally.

 

[Jeff Jones]

Whenever there's an Everton performance that seems to be lacking in effort my Dad always tells me about the time Alan Ball had Joe Royle by the shirt/neck on field screaming at him seemingly to work harder. Anyone remember this?

I don't remember any incident with big Joe, but I did see him getting angry with teamates on the ground at Chelsea once.

I was in shock because I'd never seen anything like that before. Not at Everton and not anywhere.

I don't think I have since.

 

[degsy]

Not this but I remember vividly him giving Tommy Wright the dressing down of a life time over a misplaced pass. He couldn't come to terms with others errors because he made so few but also rumour had it Wright liked a jar or two ( they probably all did) and I often heard my uncles and dad speculate on whether they began partying hard after their sublime championship season in 1970 and never really recovered. Ball I am sure , was not much of a party guy. He just wanted to WIN. Had no time for coming second and could not relate to anyone who did not give 300% for the cause. Made Rooney look laid back in his desire to win.

After the World Cup in 1970 Tommy got on the plane with 2 cases of beer and drank his way home

 

[allezlesbleus]

After the World Cup in 1970 Tommy got on the plane with 2 cases of beer and drank his way home

blimey. Interesting point about the world cup in Mexico. I think it took a lot out of bally trying to be mr perpetual motion at that altitude. Such a shame we couldnt hang on in the semi in 1971. Getting to wembley on the back of an Alan Ball winning goal against that shower would have been great. A bad day at tschool that monday, matched only by the day he was transferred and the week of the Clive Thomas semis. Sigh. Our day will come again.