Alan Ball - Appreciation

[Pilks]

He was my ultimate hero as a kid. When I first went to Goodison in 1969, my second time there I was at the corner flag with some other kids, and he came to take a corner and said to us 'Shall I test him then lads?' Every single one of us went away saying 'Alan Ball spoke to ME!'

When he was sold to Arsenal, I made an abortive and token attempt to support Arsenal 'as well'. Didn't last nore than a couple of weeks, but it was that much of a shock.

Would have loved to have seen him manage us someday, just to say he had done. Wouldn't even have cared if it had been a disaster. The man was one of the best ambassadors for Everton I've ever known.

I think this says it all about the man...

 

[larbert toffee]

Alan Ball was also my hero as a lad closely followed by Joe Royle, I especially liked Bally's tenacity and enterprise as an all action goalscoring midfielder who must have been a manager's dream, I still don't understand why we sold him, he had years left in him as a player just as he went on to prove.

I always remember two things that stand out watching him back at Everton with Southampton, first of all he got a terrific reception and even then despite being about 36/37 he went on to have an outstanding game, he couldn't tear about the park like he used to, he'd adapted his style and the Saints seem to use him as the glue that held their midfield together, everything went through him and still having quick feet and a sharp football brain he made so many short, sharp passes not once missing his intended target.

Bally was taken from us far too early, the love we had for him then was mutual and I'm sure we would have seen him at Goodison as a regular even now, I would have loved to hear his after dinner stories and what a tale he had to tell and I'm sure he would have been hilarious.

They say you shouldn't meet your heroes but I'm sure Bally wouldn't have been a disappointment.

Bally just cemented my love for Everton and him and big Joe gave me great memories that never fade..

 

[parkendkev]

One of only a few players I would have loved to see play live for us, especially how revered he was by my late Dad and older brothers.

 

[Tommy.]

Before my time but my dad idolised him, along with Latchford and Hickson.
Fun fact, his lad Jimmy trained me once and is now a youth couch at Forest Green Rovers. Lovely bloke.

 

[Goat]

*clears throat

Don't understand it me, jibbed us off for Arsenal first chance he got.

*moonwalks out of thread.

 

[Country Mac]

*clears throat

Don't understand it me, jibbed us off for Arsenal first chance he got.

*moonwalks out of thread.

Just look at the Arteta thread for the double standards.

 

[PSB1]

*clears throat

Don't understand it me, got kicked out to Arsenal first chance Catterick and Moores got.

*moonwalks out of thread.

There now. That's better.

 

[larbert toffee]

*clears throat

Don't understand it me, jibbed us off for Arsenal first chance he got.

*moonwalks out of thread.

Alan Ball's own words:- I never wanted to leave Goodison and was gutted when Catterick sold me. I felt like I'd been used and dumped to make a quick profit, and that Catterick — who was always a cold, ruthless man — had broken up a great side too quickly. I had six good years at Arsenal before joining Southampton. I carried on playing for England until 1975 and also played in the US, which I loved. I hung up my boots in 1983 after 20 years at the top — not a bad record is it?

 

[Cork Evertonian]

*clears throat

Don't understand it me, jibbed us off for Arsenal first chance he got.

*moonwalks out of thread.

That post is so wrong, on so many levels.For your sake, i hope you're on the wind up.If you are serious then open up a book, and brush up on your Everton history.

 

[catcherintherye]

That post is so wrong, on so many levels.For your sake, i hope you're on the wind up.If you are serious then open up a book, and brush up on your Everton history.

Think it's a wind up mate.

Ball sobbed when he left Everton.

 

[Blue Sky]

This is my favourite photo of any Everton player , it says everything about how much Ball put into a game .

 

[Aberblue]

He scored the first Everton goal I saw live. My favourite ever player.

 

[degsy]

I appreciated him

 

[Joey66]

The best ever box to box midfielder ever Bally -

on his debut scored 1-0 away win at Fulham -

 

[TangerineToffee]

The best ever box to box midfielder ever Bally -

on his debut scored 1-0 away win at Fulham -


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World Cup winner and man of that match at 21 tells you how special he was and was going to be. Legend in many different coloured shirts.