It has been a sombre drive to work. The loss of Alan Ball, at the age of 61, is a shock.
Ball shot to prominence as a teenager at Blackpool and shortly after the 1966 World Cup made a £100,000 move to Everton. His part in that World Cup triumph was pivotal, the wide midfielder in Alf Ramsey’s ‘wingless wonders’.
At Everton Ball won a League Championship medal before Arsenal, the reigning double holders, swooped with a record £220,000 fee in December 1971.
The excitement at the time was immense. I remember well the train journey to Nottingham for his debut and the constant chanting of ‘Alan Alan Alan Ball, Alan Ball, Alan Ball’.
His early days at Highbury came close to adding to his medal haul. The 1972 Cup Final slipped from his grasp, and in 1972-73 the Gunners pushed Liverpool all the way in the League before coming up second best.
The break up of the double side saw Ball survive to lead a young pack of promising midfielders. Trevor Ross would go on to make the opposite journey to Ball with a move to Goodison. Richie Powling and Jon Matthews didn’t quite make it, but the talent that was the fledgling Liam Brady blossomed alongside his experienced colleague.
The mid seventies were a tough time for Arsenal and Ball’s form suffered so it was no surprise that he was allowed to move on to Southampton, and more success, in December 1976.
Ball managed seven clubs and enjoyed promotion with Portsmouth. He will be remembered as a World Cup winner, a fiery character with one of the best first touches in football.
Alan Ball R.I.P.