Alan Ball appreciation thread

[Big Neville Southall]

I like the way he draws defenders in to make a tackle sees which way they move then quickly jolts the other way. He reminds of me when I play, only he is great at it and I am absolute garbage at it.

 

[Bluebonic]

He used to trap the ball with his arse against the reds and the Germans and the scots particularly! He used to watch the flight of the ball, then do a sort of half squat to trap it! How the reds loved him )) i can still remmeber the way my stomach lurched when my RS mate told me at school that we had sold him to Arsenal. Horrendous day that was!

 

[Major Gowen]

Major G, is the tribute DVD you mention to do with the Ball Of Fire show you saw, or is it one that is out about Alan Ball and already available?

It predates it, bcb, and was designed to raise money for Ronnie Goodlass' charity. I don't have my copy at hand, as Gowan Snr snatched it the minute I walked through the door, but will have a look when I see him on Sunday.

 

[leslad]

The following tribute is short but perfect - just like the man himself:

He had such exceptional close control of the ball, especially when running at defenders. I'd never seen much of his play before, so I really enjoyed this, thanks

 

[Blue Sky]

1969/70 season 3 games to go , 2 to win the league, at home v Chelsea , any nerves , Bally scored I think after 13 ? maybe 30 seconds , I was in the Park End with my Dad (57,000) , 90 secs later Howard made it 2-0 , at 5-0 we took our foot off the gas ended 5-2.
Three days later v West Brom (58,000) , Park End again , Bally was captain as Labone was injured , 2-0 (Harvey , Whittle) , the streets coming home , never forget that night , Champions , Champions ringing in my ears , happy days.

 

[Joey66]

He used to trap the ball with his arse against the reds and the Germans and the scots particularly! He used to watch the flight of the ball, then do a sort of half squat to trap it! How the reds loved him )) i can still remember the way my stomach lurched when my RS mate told me at school that we had sold him to Arsenal. Horrendous day that was!

He used to sit on the ball and fold his arms and then move like lightning the most amazing thing I seen him do was that trick of switch feet they have a name for it now first time I had seen him do it - I was in the park end and he split the opposing defence with his left foot coming around the back of his right foot , placing a perfect ball for Moggsy and with his white boots toolol
in those days it was mind blowing how great Bally really was

 

[canuckblue]

It's players like Ball that make me wish my old man had never emigrated. At least then I'd have been able to see him play live and not have to rely on old videos.

 

[wilfjacko]

1969/70 season 3 games to go , 2 to win the league, at home v Chelsea , any nerves , Bally scored I think after 13 ? maybe 30 seconds , I was in the Park End with my Dad (57,000) , 90 secs later Howard made it 2-0 , at 5-0 we took our foot off the gas ended 5-2.
Three days later v West Brom (58,000) , Park End again , Bally was captain as Labone was injured , 2-0 (Harvey , Whittle) , the streets coming home , never forget that night , Champions , Champions ringing in my ears , happy days.

Hey blue, i was also in the park end that famous night, what an unforgettable night that was.
Great memories.

 

[Bluebonic]

Hey blue, i was also in the park end that famous night, what an unforgettable night that was.
Great memories.

I was in hospital, i had a high fever and was bad for about 7 weeks but the ward sisters feller was a mad blue and he used to give me the pink echo to read about the game and when we won the league my dad came into the ward with a big smile on his face and the programme from the last hime game, he has written inside it "the best of times". Just that, nothing else, i still have it now. Such a team, and such a star amongst a host of stars! Best of times indeed!

 

[Major Gowen]

A Bally tap-in against the USSR,Wembley, 6 December 1967:

 

[JayKew1878]

In the mid 60s we were playing Real Zaragoza in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. They were doing every foul under the sun to maintain a goal lead from the first leg. And then against the run of play early in the second half they scored another.

It really seemed to have no affect on Ball he just kept testing and testing them and probing and probing them despite the terrible treatment he received.

Then one foul on on him was one too many for a little blue and he ran onto the pitch to remonstrate ith a real defender but was closely followed by a contingent of law offices lol. Looking to throw him out at the least. He honestly only seemed to be about 12 but the love and affection for the team was just as strong whatever your age then as it is now

Alan was not going to have this little kid in any trouble and didn't even talk to the police. He just picked the boy up and carried him in his arms to the Bullens Road Paddock as it was then.

That incident has remained with me for a very long time and I've been trying to find pictures of it in the next morning papers the next day as I recall seeing them.

Pictures or not it just showed that on that night he showed a considerable amount of skill and determination to go the whole nine yards to look after his team and also a need to demonstrate that he was doing his best for the fans as well as the team EDIT to say we got a late equalizer but ts always been the case that we were always unlucky in many games that mattered

Alex Young quite rightly held sway in my effections for a long time and it took me almost forever to realise that his place in my heat had been usurped by Alan. Having said that most players would be honored to be considered the second best EFC player I had ever seen.

I'm feeling the years now but to see both of them in the Royal Blue marauding opposition defences is quite sme consolation.


Rest In Peace and thank you both.

 

[rbm]

The club's history is long and largely glorious and is studded with heroes but four really stand out.

Dean. Say no more.
Lawton. Only the War stopped him becoming much greater
Alex Young. Pure footballing class.
Alan Ball. If Dean is THE Everton forward Bally is THE midfielder. The benchmark for every midfielder who ever plays here.

 

[Major Gowen]

Alan Ball in "501 Arsenal Goals"

(Or, what we lost by selling him prematurely...)

 

[Major Gowen]

A small example of the place Bally retains in the hearts of Evertonians lucky enough to have seen him.

I went last Saturday night to The Atkinson in Southport to see Ball of Fire, a dramatisation of his life and career from an unashamedly Everton perspective. When I booked the tickets, I was worried about the turn out, and hoped for the best. Rarely can a concern have been more misplaced.

To my delight, the place was packed with fellow-elderly Blues - a few in 1966 Cup Final replica shirts - almost all of whom greeted the name "Emlyn Hughes" with exactly the love and affection we used to all those years ago.

Cheers, little fella, you were magnificent.

Sorry, but couldn't resist this:

 

[Bluebonic]

Sorry, but couldn't resist this:

He exemplified everything i hated about Liverpool!