Alan Ball appreciation thread

[larbert toffee]

I worshiped him, I ran about in the white Hummel boots,was absolutely gutted when he moved.

I remember him coming back with Southampton as a player he must have been about 36/37, he got a standing ovation and although he wasn't running about much he never misplaced a pass and was still contributing to the game.

It was another part of my childhood away when he died,like many others was taken far too soon.

I really hope they recognise the holy trinity with a fitting statue at our new stadium.

 

[Paul w]

Loved Alan ball

 

[zippy00]

 

[bluelord49]

Alan Ball ...
There will never be anyone like him,they broke the mould the day he left us.
I totally loved him , the day in January 1966 he was playing for Blackpool and he ripped us to bits .The final whistle saw a good few Evertonians on the pitch myself included pleading with him....
Alan sign for us please which he did the following August.
He made his debut against Fulham away,scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win that had me on the pitch to celebrate with Bally after running half the length of the field to catch him.
A knife through the heart the day he went to Arsenal and even more so on his demise.
I shed a whole lot of tears on both occasions I,m unashamed to say.
Still hurts....Never to be forgotten so many happy moments
God Bless Alan Ball.

 

[trebilcock66]

I was 10 years old when he signed......The perfect age for hero-worshipping a player. I've written elsewhere on this site about the day he signed.......even at my tender age I just knew that great times were ahead.

I wasn't at his first derby game when he scored two. But I was in the crowd in 67 for the Saturday night 5th round cup tie against Liverpool. Probably my favourite game in which he played.

His importance to Everton can't be overstated. When we reached the semi final of the cup in 69 against Man City and he was injured and couldn't play, I knew we we'd find it hard to win.

His skills were sublime.....quick, tricky and light on his feet. He could pass beautifully.

In the famous England v Brazil game in Mexico in 1970, the closest England came to scoring was when Ball hit the bar with a curling shot from outside the area. He had his back to goal but somehow contorted his body sufficiently to get the shot away. Wonderful.

Perhaps his key attribute was his will to win. He was utterly driven and far quicker than colleagues to see opportunities. Howard had the same determination.

Anybody else remember his habit in pre match warm ups of balancing the ball on the back of his head?

And he loved Everton. We couldn't ask for more.

 

[bluelord49]

I tried to match Bally and his tricks and even put some into practise during amateur games.
i once scored a goal on Abersoch beach against some lads from Manchester who where on the same camp site as us 6 a side.
Using Alan Ball,s (Rabona) style kick...

 

[Joey66]

Who's the greatest of them all little curly Allan Ball - that chant was so true full , never have Iseen a better box to box midfielder in a Blue Shirt, with the other duo the midfield was sublime!
You would turn up at a game knowing it could be a win and also how many we would win by, not always the case
, but he never had many off days, this guy would cry if he lost a game of tiddlywinks, he could put it about as well - he had everything Mr Perpetual motion with class!
He was the greatest midfielder, goal scorer, passer of the ball in that era one pass sticks in my mind I was in the park end and Bally was tearing forwards towards the opposition box he audaciously scissor kicked one foot behind the other a through ball to split the defence as Moggsy rode in to score!
Today's value he would be up there with Messi!
Sir Bobby Robson while at Ipswich well beaten 3-0 adorned the midfield, and Bally, stating the ball fizzed around as his team chased shadows stated thank goodness we don,t have to play a team like this every week!
That season we came. Third winning the league the season after!

 

[BlueStorm]

Greatest Everton player I ever had the priviledge to watch.

Lucky enough to meet him a couple of times - what an inspirational man.

 

[JonS]

One of the greatest of all time

 

[Chewbacca]

My idol when I was a kid and I was one of those that cried when we sold him.

 

[bluelord49]

Joey the scissor kick you refer to was the one i described as the Rabona kick and Bally did that when playing for Blackpool against us .... as mentioned in my post he well ripped us that day.

 

[allezlesbleus]

Alan Ball ...
There will never be anyone like him,they broke the mould the day he left us.
I totally loved him , the day in January 1966 he was playing for Blackpool and he ripped us to bits .The final whistle saw a good few Evertonians on the pitch myself included pleading with him....
Alan sign for us please which he did the following August.
He made his debut against Fulham away,scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win that had me on the pitch to celebrate with Bally after running half the length of the field to catch him.
A knife through the heart the day he went to Arsenal and even more so on his demise.
I shed a whole lot of tears on both occasions I,m unashamed to say.
Still hurts....Never to be forgotten so many happy moments
God Bless Alan Ball.

 

[Caolam]

My favourite Everton player

 

[royalblue66]

Went to the ground with a mate to get cup tie tickets,walking back to the car,on Goodison road and met the Man Himself,got talking and it started raining and he got in the car with us and talked and talked, he loved Everton and I loved him,great Man and great player,never seen a an Everton player sincethat comes anywhere near him.
R I P Bally.

 

[allezlesbleus]

The complete footballer. Pace, skill, dribbles, control, tackles, passing, goal scoring, big game mentality, fearless, committed, unparalleled will to win. A bit of snide but so graceful. Brilliant individually AND made others tick. A great story too because he had been rejected by a few clubs as a kid because too small so he was living proof that if you work hard enough you wil get your reward. Embodiment of all my dad said about being an Everton fan...Evertonians never give up, it's never over until it's over and never trust a .....red!!! He loved scoring against them haha.
A poor captain though because he could not understand mere mortals around him who made mistakes. And he loved playing for Everton!!!!

I cried all the way into school and all the way home and most of the next few days. I consider myself blessed I ever saw him in the RBJ.