Alan Ball appreciation thread

[summerisle]

 

[Paul w]

I still remember crying when he left. My first hero.

Same mate I remember the day he left like it was yesterday.

 

[Toffeelover]

Blue legend, no more needs to be said. Privilege to watch him play and part of the best midfield ever to play for Everton and in the UK.

 

[ultra]

He was my idol - I can still see the picture of him that I stuck on my bedroom wall. It was a still pic of him labelled "Ball of Fire".
Over 40 years later I can still recall the devastation I felt when I heard on the transistor radio that he had been sold to Arsenal when he was aged 26, still in his prime. Christmas was ruined for me that year. The Catt was a brilliant manager for us, but I never forgave him for selling Bally.

 

[Dan Tanner]

Alan Ball visiting the Salisbury on Marsh Lane in Bootle in the 90's, clock the young Everton fan in total awe at him!

 

[donny]

Greatest Everton player I ever had the priviledge to watch.

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

could not have put it better myself also met him. I used to get into the ground early just to see him cross the pitch with his little match bag, what a player best I've ever seen in a blue shirt never forget some of the skills he displayed week in week out.Legend

 

[whiteshadow]

I was too young to see him play.

Was he better than Kanchelskis or just a different type of player?

To me, Southall and Kanchelskis have been the best players I've ever seen for us.

 

[Caolam]

He is my Everton idol, I have a photograph of my school team were I am wearing those Alan Ball white boots with the turn table studs.

 

[Azzurri]

Thank God my Dad isn't on Grandoldteam. He'd spend 99% of his day posting in this thread.

 

[Groucho]

I was too young to see him play.

Was he better than Kanchelskis or just a different type of player?

To me, Southall and Kanchelskis have been the best players I've ever seen for us.

Both great players mate, and in Southall you've seen a bona fide legend, but I think Ball was more of a central player.

He was before my time so I could be wrong.

 

[Setter]

Alan Ball, one of my all time favourite players. I was 17 when we signed him so was fortunate to see all of his Everton career. Who can forget his goal against Liverpool in the 1967 FA Cup tie? 65,000 at Goodison and 40,000 at Anfield. So sad that he left us so young.

 

[Deulofeumygod]

When I was little my grandma showed me her most prized possession - one of ball's shirts he wore and gave to her after a match. Still have it in the loft at my parents.

Would loved to have seen him play. True blue legend and what a head of hair.

 

[degsy]

Simply just the best Everton player I ever saw...and that includes Young.

 

[Dan Tanner]

Alan Ball visiting the Salisbury on Marsh Lane in Bootle in the 90's, clock the young Everton fan in total awe at him!

What gets me is how can a young obviously besotted with everton Jamie carragher end up over the park. The lads hanging on ballys every word, could never have made that switch

 

[Irish nsno]

Occasionally over the last few weeks on a Saturday, to distract from the (lack of) transfer activity, we've had a thread discussing a former player. We've had Neville Southall and Bob Latchford to name but two, so today I thought we'd have a look at little curly Alan Ball.

To younger fans, this player is often mentioned as having been the originator of 'once Everton has touched you, nothing will be the same', but have they ever actually seen footage of him? Do they know how good he was? Indeed, he was before my time too. I hope he's not in danger of simply becoming an inspirational quote on a wall - this is a man who was one of our greatest players, winning the league here, and also being a World Cup winner.

The older generation (of which I'm rapidly becoming a part of, having seen the '80's side and witnessed success) need to inform younger blues of our greats, so who better to have a look at today that Alan Ball?

Above is footage of a game vs Newcastle, in which Ball play a large part. Take it away blues....​

Best Everton player ever.