Alan Ball appreciation thread

[Irish nsno]

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.

For such a small man, what a player, what an engine truly the greatest player Everton ever had.Sadly still missed.

 

[dholliday]

Billy Whitehurst, the undisputed hardest player in the game (the [Poor language removed] brutally took out Paul Bracewell once), known for his blunt no-nonsense opinions, on Alan Ball: "he was great...a great man...he had an aura about him"




Whitehurst isn't the only one who recognised that aura, is likely why so many older Evertonians hold Alan Ball in such high-esteem...not just his world-class ability but also that there was something other about him.

 

[Groucho]

FYI folks;

 

[bluelord49]

God Bless You Bally.
Never to be forgotten.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

Hard to explain his importance to me as an Evertonian. When I first started going to Goodison Alex Young was probably the star , but I was too young to fully appreciate his mastery of the game . Consequently it was Alan Ball who became my first Everton idol. For me he epitomised a team of greats. Hugely talented , a pleasure to watch,yet always approachable. He would never have left Everton by choice ,a decision I never forgave Catterick for, whatever the reasons.
Who's the greatest of em all? Little curly Alan Ball! That's who!!

 

[Runcornblue52]

Daily Mail did Bally 10 year anniversary tribute today via his old mate Mick Channon .

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Mick-Channon-speaks-old-friend-Alan-Ball.html

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece about the close friendship between Bally & Mick Channon. The Bally photo when playing for Blackpool took me back to nipper days when he was the Cock of the Walk of course in a very good way.

 

[roy vernon]

It is impossible to explain to anybody who wasn't there just how good he was, don't take my word for it, ask any blue and I do mean any blue, who watched us in the late 60's and early 70's just how good he was. R.I.P. Bally, never forgotten.

 

[Runcornblue52]

It is impossible to explain to anybody who wasn't there just how good he was, don't take my word for it, ask any blue and I do mean any blue, who watched us in the late 60's and early 70's just how good he was. R.I.P. Bally, never forgotten.

Grown men cried when they heard that Catterick had sold him .....Only one Alan Ball !.RIP

 

[Joey66]

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....​

Totally world class best box to box midfielder I have ever seen in a blue shirt he had everything in his locker today's value up there price wise with Messi!

 

[roy vernon]

Totally world class best box to box midfielder I have ever seen in a blue shirt he had everything in his locker today's value up there price wise with Messi!

Too right Joey, I think you are of a similar age to me, perhaps a little younger, but, old enough to remember the glory days.

If I take the blue specs off I think I was privelidged to see many fabulous players in Royal Blue but only 3 of them were undisputedly world class. Alan Ball, Ramon Wilson and Neville Southall and of those 3 Bally, for me, was by far the greatest.

I have had loads of favourites down the years, Joe Royle , Alex Young, Roy Vernon, Howard Kendall, the list goes on. My own all time favourite (after Bally of course) was Johnny Morrissey but I believe only the three I mentioned above were truly, beyond dispute, world class players.

 

[Runcornblue52]

Too right Joey, I think you are of a similar age to me, perhaps a little younger, but, old enough to remember the glory days.

If I take the blue specs off I think I was privelidged to see many fabulous players in Royal Blue but only 3 of them were undisputedly world class. Alan Ball, Ramon Wilson and Neville Southall and of those 3 Bally, for me, was by far the greatest.

I have had loads of favourites down the years, Joe Royle , Alex Young, Roy Vernon, Howard Kendall, the list goes on. My own all time favourite (after Bally of course) was Johnny Morrissey but I believe only the three I mentioned above were truly, beyond dispute, world class players.

AKA Alehouse........scored the winner in the final game of !969/70.......Owls 0 Champions 1

 

[roy vernon]

AKA Alehouse........scored the winner in the final game of !969/70.......Owls 0 Champions 1

Ale house is right. The toughest player ever to walk on a pitch, in my opinion. His name, along with that of Tommy Hutchinson of Chelsea, were the only names in Jack Charlton's infamous "little black book". Moggsy went right over the top on big Jack in a particularly nasty Everton v Leeds game in the 60's. while Jack was lying on the turf in a great deal of pain, apparently a broken ankle, Moggsy stood over him and asked, "are you all right big man?" Moggsy was well able to take care of himself.

 

[royalblue66]

Best Everton player ever player I have ever seen. R I P Bally.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Absolute travesty that you don't hear more about real legends like Ball due to the media's obsession with football post 1992. In Dean and Ball we've probably had two of the greatest English players of all time play for us yet I bet there's not a kid under 20 outside of Everton who would know it. When pundits are going round asking if Lukaku is the best striker in Everton's history you really do despair.