James Alan Ball Jr., MBE (12 May 1945 – 25 April 2007) was an English professional footballer and football club manager. He was the youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team and was made Man of the Match in the final following his performance. He played for various clubs, scoring more than 180 league goals in a career spanning 22 years, and is widely regarded as one of the finest English footballers of the post-war generation. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Qualifying countries The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from July 11 to July 30. ...

Club career

Born in Farnworth, Lancashire, the son of Alan Ball, Sr., a footballer and manager, Ball was a tireless, marauding midfield player who could operate centrally or on the right flank. He came to prominence at Blackpool after falling foul of his headmaster over missing games for his school team due to a youth contract he had acquired with Wolverhampton Wanderers. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Alan Ball senior (1925-1982), was an English footballer and manager. ... Blackpool Football Club are an English football club from the Lancashire seaside resort of Blackpool, who will next season be playing in The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, after winning the 2006-07 League One play-off final. ... In the UK and elsewhere, a head teacher is the most senior teacher in a school. ... Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. are an English football club playing at Molineux Stadium. ...

After he left school, Wolves decided not to take Ball on, and he started training with Bolton Wanderers but they too decided not to give him a professional deal, saying he was too small. Bolton Wanderers Football Club (also known as The Trotters) are an English professional football club based in Horwich, in the Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, North West England. ...

Blackpool

Blackpool signed him after Ball's father called in a favour with the coach, an old friend with whom he used to play. Ball was given a trial in September 1961 and was immediately signed up as an apprentice. He turned professional in May 1962, making his league debut on 18 August 1962 against Liverpool at Anfield in a 2-1 victory. is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anfield is a football stadium in the district of Anfield, in Liverpool, England. ...

Everton

Ball's performances in the 1966 World Cup winning England team attracted the attention of a number of clubs bigger than Blackpool, Ball eventually being sold to Everton for a then record fee of £110,000 in August 1966. At Everton, Ball settled into what became regarded as his generation's best midfield trio alongside Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall (still affectionately referred to as "The Holy Trinity"). Everton reached the 1968 FA Cup Final, but lost to West Bromwich Albion and were knocked out by Manchester City in the semi-finals the following year. Ball was instrumental in the team which won his first and only major domestic honour in the game as Everton took the 1969-70 Football League Championship title, seeing off a late challenge from Leeds United. Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... James Colin Harvey (born November 16, 1944 in Liverpool) is an English footballer. ... Howard Kendall is an English football manager and former player. ... The 1968 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Everton at Wembley. ... West Bromwich Albion Football Club (also known as West Brom, The Baggies, Albion, The Albion, The Throstles or W.B.A.) is an English professional football club based in West Bromwich, West Midlands. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short, the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League. ... Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire. ...

Back at club level, Everton again capitulated in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1971, with Ball's opening goal overhauled by two strikes from Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who went on to lose the final to "double"-chasing Arsenal. Ball later picked up his 50th England cap in a match against Northern Ireland and on December 22 1971, Arsenal paid a record fee of £220,000 to take Ball to Highbury. Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. ... Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside, who play in the Premier League; they are historically the most successful club in the history of English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... First international Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest win Ireland (IFA) 7 - 0 Wales (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 1 February 1930) Biggest defeat Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1958) Best result Quarterfinals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none... Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in North London, the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006. ...

Arsenal

Ball was 26 years of age and at his peak for both form and fitness when he joined Arsenal; he made his debut against Nottingham Forest on December 27, 1971. However, Arsenal could not defend their League title in 1971-72 and also lost their grasp on the FA Cup when Leeds United beat them 1-0 in the centenary final at Wembley. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... // First Division Brian Clough, 37, won the first major trophy of his managerial career by guiding Derby County to their first ever league championship. ... “Leeds United Football Club” redirects here. ... The 1972 FA Cup Final took place on 6 May 1972 at Wembley Stadium. ...

Ball had continued to play for Arsenal through all this time, as a near-constant member of the first team at first, including 50 appearances in 1972-73. However, Arsenal's Double-winning side was soon broken up and their replacements proved inadequate; Ball remained one of the few quality players in the Arsenal side, and was made club captain in 1974. However with Ball out for part of the season, Arsenal only finished 16th in 1974-75, and then 17th in 1975-76. Bertie Mee resigned as Arsenal manager in the summer of 1976 and it was clear new manager Terry Neill wanted to take the club in a new direction. Now aged 31, Ball continued to play for Arsenal until December 1976, when he was sold to Southampton for a fee of £60,000. In total he made 217 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 52 goals. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... // First Division David Mackay guided Derby County to their second league title in four years having overcome strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough in a title race which went right to the wire. ... // First Division Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. ... Bertie Mee OBE (25 December 1918 – October 22, 2001) was an English football player and manager, most famous for managing Arsenal to their first Double win in 1971. ... William John Terence Terry Neill (born May 8, 1942) is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager. ... Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. ...

Southampton and North America

Ball's move to Southampton completed a coincidental symmetry to the three transfers in Ball's career - he had arrived at each club - Everton, Arsenal and Southampton - at the end of the calendar years of 1966, 1971 and 1976 respectively, when each were holders of the FA Cup. Yet Ball never won the Cup himself. He helped Southampton back to the First Division in 1978 and picked up a League Cup runners-up medal in 1979 after they were beaten 3-2 by Nottingham Forest. Sphere symmetry group o. ... From the 1992-1993 to the 2003-2004 season, the Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League and the second-highest division in the overall English football league system. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Ball then went to play in the fledgling North American Soccer League, joining Philadelphia Fury as player-coach in May 1978 and joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in June 1979. He made a huge impact with the Whitecaps and helped lead them to the NASL Championship. North American Soccer League or (NASL) was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. ... The Philadelphia Fury were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the NASL. They played from 1978 to 1980. ... The Whitecaps (officially Whitecaps F.C.) are a Canadian professional soccer team, which currently plays in the USL First Division (formerly the A-League) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), the largest system of national soccer leagues in North America. ...

Return to Blackpool

Ball, in his days as Blackpool's player-manager, at his Bloomfield Road desk.

He returned to England in February 1980, as player-manager of his first club, Blackpool. However, the return lasted until only February the following year. Ball's appointment was well received by the Blackpool supporters, and he returned with enthusiasm, a desire to bring back the good times to the club, and still had enough energy to take the field occasionally. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Blackpool Football Club are an English football club from the Lancashire seaside resort of Blackpool, who will next season be playing in The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, after winning the 2006-07 League One play-off final. ... Bloomfield Road is the home of English football club Blackpool Football Club. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the anthem of the United Kingdom is God Save the Queen. See also Proposed English National Anthems. ...

The year that followed saw Blackpool's recent ill-fortune slump even further. The club slid towards relegation, and only some determined performances (including four wins out of their final six games) ensured an 18th-placed finish and survival. During the close season, Ball brought in several new faces and was also prepared to gamble on youngsters. One of his most unpopular moves amongst the fans was the sale of Tony Kellow, a huge favourite at Bloomfield Road.^[1] The 1980-81 season began in similar fashion, with Blackpool struggling near the foot of the table. The optimism that had been in place during pre-season turned to anger as the team's performances failed to match up to Ball's promises.^[1] Tony Kellow was a professional footballer, most notably with Exeter City Football Club. ... Bloomfield Road is the home of English football club Blackpool Football Club. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it more accessible to a general audience, this article may require cleanup. ...

After an FA Cup first-round win over Fylde Coast neighbours Fleetwood Town on November 22, Ball publicly criticised the fans for allegedly not wanting the team to succeed as much as he did.^[1] Eventually it all became too much for manager and club, and not long after a defeat at Brentford on February 28, 1981, Ball's contract was terminated with immediate effect and the mutual love affair had ended in ruins.^[1] This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Fylde is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Brentford Football Club are an English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

Return to Southampton

In March 1981, Ball was tempted back to Southampton to play alongside fellow veterans and former England team-mates Mick Channon and Kevin Keegan. Michael Roger Mick Channon (born 28 November 1948 in Orcheston, Wiltshire, United Kingdom) is a sportsman who enjoyed a career as a feared football goalscorer with Southampton and England in the 1970s and later became a hugely successful racehorse trainer. ... Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE (born February 14, 1951 in Armthorpe, South Yorkshire, England)[1] is a former English football coach and one of the all-time greatest players. ...

He left Southampton in October 1982 to play for Hong Kong side Eastern Athletic, before joining Bristol Rovers in January 1983, where he ended his playing days. He played 975 competitive matches in his 21-year career. Eastern AA (Chinese:東方) is a football team in Hong Kong Second Division League. ... For details of the current season, see Bristol Rovers F.C. season 2007-08 Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football team, based in Bristol. ...

International career

1966 World Cup

Despite being in a struggling Blackpool team, Ball's industry, stamina and distribution were noticed by England manager Alf Ramsey, who gave him his international debut on May 9, 1965 in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia in Belgrade, three days before his twentieth birthday. Ramsey was preparing for the World Cup a year later, which England was to host, and was developing a system whereby England could deploy midfielders with a defensive and industrious bent, something which was not wholly guaranteed from conventional wide men. As a result, Ball became a useful tool for Ramsey to use - able to play conventionally wide or in the centre but still in possession of the energy to help out his defence when required. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... First international  Czechoslovakia 7 - 0 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, Macedonians and Slovenes (Antwerp, Belgium; 28 August 1920) Last International  Netherlands 2 - 0 Yugoslavia (Amsterdam, Netherlands; 25 March 1992) Biggest win Yugoslavia 10 - 1 India  (Helsinki, Finland; 15 July 1952) Yugoslavia 9 - 0 Zaire  (Gelsenkirchen, Germany; 18 June 1974) Biggest defeat... Location of Belgrade within Serbia Coordinates: Country Serbia District City of Belgrade Municipalities 17 Government  - Mayor Nenad Bogdanović (DS) (since 2004)  - Ruling parties DS/DSS/G17+ Area  - City 3,222. ...

Ball was the youngest member of the squad of 22 selected by Ramsey for the tournament, aged only 21. Though England as a team emerged collectively heroic from the tournament, Ball was one of many players regarded as an individual success, especially as he was one of the more inexperienced charges with no proven record at the very highest level. Indeed, he, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters emerged with enormous credit and eternal acclaim from the competition - and all of them were still only in single figures for caps won by the time they were named in the team for the final against West Germany. Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst, MBE (born December 8, 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire) is a footballer enshrined in the games history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. ... Martin Stanford Peters MBE, (born November 8, 1943 in Plaistow, London) was a football player and hero of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup. ...

The 100,000 crowd at Wembley witnessed a magnificent personal performance from Ball. Full of running, he continued to work and sprint and track back while team-mates and opponents alike were out on their feet. With fewer than 15 minutes to go, he won a corner on the right which he promptly took. Hurst hit a shot from the edge of the area which deflected into the air and down on to the instep of Peters, who rifled England 2-1 ahead. The Germans equalised with seconds to go, meaning that the game went into extra time. Somehow, this instilled extra bounce into Ball's play and the image of his continuous running round the Wembley pitch, socks round his ankles, is one of the most enduring of the occasion. It was his chase and low cross which set up Hurst's massively controversial second goal, and England's third; he was also sprinting upfield, unmarked and screaming for a pass, as Hurst took the ball forward to smash his historic hat-trick goal with the last kick of the game. Wembley Stadium was a football stadium located in Wembley, London. ... Grays Fig. ... In sports, a hat-trick (more often rendered in North America as hat trick, without the hyphen) is associated with achieving something in a group of three. ...

1970 World Cup

By now, Ball was one of the first names on Ramsey's England teamsheet and he was in the squad which travelled as defending champions to the altitude of Mexico for the 1970 World Cup. Ball famously hit the crossbar with a shot as England lost one of their group games 1-0 to Brazil, one of six strikingly prominent incidents from a fabulous game (the others being Jairzinho's goal; Jeff Astle's miss; Gordon Banks' save from Pelé; Bobby Moore's impeccable tackle on Jairzinho; and the sight of Pelé and Moore's mutual smiles of respect at the end as they exchanged shirts). England won their other group games and progressed to another showdown with West Germany in the quarter finals, but the heat sapped Ball's natural industry. England lost a 2-0 lead and their reign as world champions ended with a 3-2 reverse. Altitude is the elevation of an object from a known level or datum. ... The 1970 Football World Cup was held in Mexico, from May 31 to June 21. ... Jairzinho, birth name Jair Ventura Filho, (born December 25, 1944) was a member of the Brazilian national team that won the 1970 World Cup. ... The Astle Gates at The Hawthorns Jeffrey (Jeff) Astle (13 May 1942 – 19 January 2002) was an English footballer. ... Gordon Banks OBE (born December 30, 1937) is a former English footballer, elected in a poll by the IFFHS as the second best goalkeeper of the 20th Century. ... Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23rd 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player and widely considered as the greatest in history. ... Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore, OBE (born Barking, England, April 12, 1941 - died London, February 24, 1993) was an English footballer. ...

1974 World Cup

In a qualifier for the 1974 World Cup against Poland in Chorzow on 6 June 1973, Ball became only the second England player to be sent off in a full international, after grabbing Lesław Ćmikiewicz by the throat and kneeing him in the groin after a player scuffle. As a result, he missed the return game at Wembley Stadium which became one of the most notorious in English football history - a 1-1 draw in which England were kept out largely thanks to Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski. England failed to qualify for the World Cup as a result. Qualifying countries The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from June 13 to July 7. ... Motto: none Voivodship Silesian Municipal government Urząd Miasta Chorz w Mayor Marek Kopel Area 33,5 km Population  - city  - urban  - density 117 430 - 2856/km Founded City rights - - Latitude Longitude 50 18 N 57 E Area code +48 32 Car plates SH Twin towns - Municipal Website Chorz w... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Misconduct in football (soccer) is any conduct by a player which is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction (caution or dismissal) in accordance with Law 12 the Laws of the Game. ... LesÅ‚aw Ćmikiewicz (born August 25, 1948 in WrocÅ‚aw) is a retired Polish football player and a football manager. ... Wembley Stadium was a football stadium located in Wembley, London. ... Jan Tomaszewski (born January 9, 1948) is a retired Polish footballer, who was nicknamed Tomek. A goalkeeper, Tomaszewski is best remembered by some for his performance for Poland against England, in a qualifier for the 1974 World Cup, which England needed to win. ...

Captaincy and the End

Ramsey was sacked and Joe Mercer took over at a caretaker level, for whom Ball never appeared due to injury. However, Ball's relationship with his national side was enhanced and then soured beyond repair when Don Revie was appointed as Ramsey's permanent replacement. Ball was given the captaincy after the dropping of Emlyn Hughes and held it for six consecutive games, none of which England lost, and included a 5-1 defeat of Scotland in May 1975. Joe Mercer, OBE (August 9, 1914 - August 9, 1990) was an English football player and manager. ... Donald George Revie, OBE, (10 July 1927 - 26 May 1989), was a football player for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. ... Emlyn Walter Hughes, OBE (August 28, 1947 - November 9, 2004) was an English footballer who captained the much-decorated Liverpool F.C. side of the 1970s. ... First international Scotland 0 – 0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11 – 0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7 – 0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First...

Then suddenly, Ball was not called up at all, let alone retained as captain, when Revie announced his squad for a game against Switzerland three months later. Ball only found out when his wife took a call from a journalist asking for her reaction.^{[citation needed]} Aged 30, Ball's international career had ended suddenly and acrimoniously after 72 appearances and eight goals. This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Coaching and Managerial Career

Portsmouth

Ball resumed his managerial career in May 1984 with Portsmouth and was a huge success. They just missed out on promotion to the First Division in his first two seasons as manager, and he finally guided them to the top flight in 1987. However, they were relegated after just one season back among the elite, and Ball was sacked in January 1989 for failing to mount a serious promotion challenge. Portsmouth Football Club are an English football club based in the south coast city of Portsmouth. ...

Colchester and Stoke City

The following month he joined Colchester United as assistant to Jock Wallace and in October 1989 took up a similar post under Mick Mills at Stoke City. However, Mills was sacked two weeks later and Ball was promoted to the manager's seat. Despite spending a lot of money on new players, Stoke were relegated to the Third Division at the end of the season. He was sacked in February 1991 with Stoke on their way to recording their lowest ever final league position of 15th in the league's third tier. Colchester United Football Club is an English football team who play in the Championship. ... Jock Wallace (1935 - 1996) was a professional football (soccer) player and manager. ... Michael Mick Denis Mills (born January 4, 1949 in Godalming, Surrey) was a football full back who, by the end of his career, had achieved Ipswich Towns amount of appearances record and captained England at the World Cup. ... Stoke City Football Club is a football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. ... Until the 2004/05 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. ...

Exeter City

In July 1991 he was appointed as manager of Third Division Exeter City. Although Exeter struggled (their form hardly helped by a tight budget), Ball managed to keep them in the Third Division (the new Division Two from the creation of the Premier League in 1992). Between February and August 1992 he also worked as a coach of the England team under Graham Taylor. Exeter City Football Club are an English football club, based in Exeter, who have played in the Football League for most of its history, but now play in the Blue Square Premier League. ... The original FA Premier League logo, used until 2007 The Premier League (officially known as the Barclays Premier League for sponsorship reasons, colloquially known as The Premiership), is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top echelon of the English football league system (above The Football League). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Graham Taylor may refer to one of the following individuals: Graham Taylor (football manager) (born 1944) Graham Taylor (author) (born 1961), British novelist and part-time priest Graham Taylor (clergyman) (1851–1938), American clergyman and reformer in Chicago Graham Taylor (The Dude) (born 1987) This human name article is a...

Southampton

In January 1994, Ball left Exeter to take over the reins at Southampton, replacing the unpopular Ian Branfoot. Ian Branfoot managed Fulham Football Club for two seasons in the early 1990s. ...

At the time of his appointment, Southampton seemed doomed to relegation, having spent virtually the whole season to that point in the drop zone. Ball's first task as manager was to re-establish Matthew Le Tissier's role in the team and to ensure that the other players recognised that he was the club's greatest asset. Le Tissier responded by scoring 6 goals in Ball's first 4 games in charge, including a hat-trick on 14 February 1994 in a 4-2 victory over Liverpool. In the second half of the 1993-94 season, Le Tissier played 16 games under Ball's management, scoring 15 times. Matthew Matt Le Tissier (born October 14, 1968) is a retired footballer who played for Southampton and England. ... In sports, a hat-trick (more often rendered in North America as hat trick, without the hyphen) is associated with achieving something in a group of three. ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside, who play in the Premier League; they are historically the most successful club in the history of English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. ...

After 3 defeats over the Easter period, the Saints remained in the relegation zone. In the final 6 games Saints scored 15 goals (8 from Le Tissier) and gained 10 points which were sufficient to confirm safety on the final day of the season.

At the start of the following season, 1994-95, Ball signed goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar and centre-back Kevin Moore, but more significantly signed Le Tissier on a new 3 year deal. Despite not winning any of their first 4 games (including a 5-1 defeat at Newcastle), the Saints, assisted by 3 goals from loanee signing Ronnie Ekelund, then won 4 out of 5 games in September lifting them to 7th in the table. After this, they drifted away and only won 2 more games until mid-March, dropping into the relegation zone. On 22 March 1995, the Saints were at home to Newcastle and were trailing 1-0 with 4 minutes left. Suddenly, Ball managed to inspire the team to score 3 goals, including 2 in injury time, to snatch an amazing and priceless victory. Bruce David Grobbelaar (born October 6, 1957 in Durban, South Africa) was a football goalkeeper for Zimbabwe and a number of clubs, most notably Liverpool F.C. during their dominant 1980s period. ... Newcastle United Football Club (also known as The Magpies or The Toon) are an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne. ... Ronnie Michael Ekelund (born August 21, 1972 in Glostrup, Denmark) is a Danish football (soccer) player, who plays for the California Cougars in Major Indoor Soccer League. ... is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

This result inspired the Saints, who won 5 of their remaining 10 games, to finish the season on a high in 10th place.

Manchester City

Despite this success, Ball was tempted away in July 1995 to become Manchester City's manager under the ownership of former England team-mate Francis Lee. His departure from The Dell was rather acrimonious and for some years afterwards, Ball's return visits to The Dell were greeted by abuse from some sections of the Saints' fans. Manchester City Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Manchester. ... Francis Lee (born April 29, 1944 in Westhoughton, England) is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including many appearances for the England national team. ... The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of the Southampton football club. ...

Ball's tenure at Maine Road was controversial, in that many observers and supporters felt he was appointed for his name and friendship with the chairman rather than for any credentials as a coach (and pointed out that previous manager Brian Horton, appointed by Lee's predecessor Peter Swales, had done no wrong). This opinion was rather questionable, as City had finished 16th and 17th under Horton, after finishing fifth, fifth and then ninth under Horton's predecessor Peter Reid. Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England. ... Brian Horton (born 1948) is the manager of Macclesfield Town and is one of the few managers in English football to have taken charge of teams in more than a thousand games. ... Peter Swales is a northwest businessman, and former Chairman of Manchester City F.C. from the 1970s until the early 1990s, when he was replaced by Francis Lee. ... Peter Reid (born June 20, 1956 in Whiston, Knowsley, Lancashire (Now Merseyside) is an English former professional football player, manager and pundit. ...

Ball gave Paul Walsh, who had scored 15 goals for City in 1994-95, and cash, to Portsmouth F.C. in exchange for Gerry Creaney, who scored 4 goals for City in 1995-96. In Ball's first 11 games as City manager, City drew 1 and lost 10, scoring 3 goals and conceding 21. City drew 2-2 with Liverpool on the final day of the season, but the other relegation-threatened teams fared better, and City were relegated after seven successive seasons of top flight football. The board kept faith with Ball, but he resigned three games into the Division One campaign. Paul Walsh (born October 1, 1962 in Plumstead, London) was a diminuitive and pacy centre forward who shot to fame in the 1980s after joining Liverpool. ... Portsmouth Football Club are an English football club based in the south coast city of Portsmouth. ... Gerry Creaney (born 13 April 1970) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a striker. ...

Back to Portsmouth

In February 1998, Ball returned to Portsmouth as manager but his contract was terminated on 9 December 1999 after the club endured a near-fatal financial crisis and came close to relegation from Division One. When he was appointed Pompey were several points adrift at the bottom of the table. In 1998 he masterminded a miraculous escape that saw two of his former sides (Stoke City and Manchester City) relegated after Pompey won 3-1 at Bradford City on the final day of the season. On his retirement, 54-year-old Ball was the last remaining England World Cup winner in management. His departure came just days after the club was rescued from financial oblivion by new owner Milan Mandaric. is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Bradford City Association Football Club is an English football club founded in 1903 from the Yorkshire city of Bradford who currently play in League Two, the fourth-tier of English football. ... Milan Mandaric is a Serbian business tycoon who has owned a string of successful businesses and football (soccer) clubs who currently owns English club Portsmouth F.C.. He was born in the former Yugoslavia, in Lika (now in Croatia) in 19?? and grew up in the Serbian city of Novi...

Honours

As a player

England First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in...

• World Cup: 1966

Everton The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the Football World Cup or the Soccer World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international football competition contested by the mens national football teams of the member nations of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA... GB World Cup Commemorative overprinted stamp The 1966 Football World Cup Final was the final match in the 1966 World Cup, contested by England and West Germany. ... Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. ...

• Football League Division 1 championship: 1969-70
• FA Cup finalist: 1968

Arsenal The Football League is an organisation representing 72 professional football clubs in England and Wales, and runs the oldest professional football league competition in the world. ... The 1969-70 season the 90th season of competitive football in England. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The 1968 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Everton at Wembley. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ...

• Football League Division 1 runner-up: 1972-73
• FA Cup finalist: 1972

Southampton The Football League is an organisation representing 72 professional football clubs in England and Wales, and runs the oldest professional football league competition in the world. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The 1972 FA Cup Final took place on 6 May 1972 at Wembley Stadium. ... Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. ...

• Football League Division 2 runner-up: 1977-78
• League Cup finalist: 1979

In 2000, he and four other members of the World Cup winning team were awarded the MBE for their services to football. Ball, along with Roger Hunt, Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson and George Cohen, had to wait more than three decades for official recognition of their achievements. From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. ... The 1977-1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football (soccer) in England, from August 1977 to July 1978: // Overview Wimbledon play their first season in the Football League, replacing Workington. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... Roger Hunt MBE (born Golborne, Lancashire 20th July 1938) was a footballer whose predatory instincts made him one of the English games most feared and respected strikers. ... Norbert Nobby Peter Stiles MBE (born Collyhurst, Manchester, 18 May 1942) is an English former football midfielder. ... Ramon (Ray) Wilson MBE (born Shirebrook, Derbyshire, 17th December 1934) was a footballer who played at left back. ... George Cohen MBE (born Kensington, London, 22 October 1939) was the right back for England in the side which won the 1966 World Cup. ... A decade is a set or a group of ten, commonly a period of 10 years in contemporary English, or a period of 10 days in the French revolutionary calendar. ...

In 2003 Ball was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his talents. The Hall of Fame is housed at The National Football Museum in Preston, England. ...

As a manager

Portsmouth Portsmouth Football Club are an English football club based in the south coast city of Portsmouth. ...

• Football League Division 2 runner-up: 1986-87

From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. ... // First Division The 1986-87 First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Atletico Bilbao. ...

Personal life

Ball went to school at Oswestry Boys High School in Shropshire. Ball's father, Alan Sr, died in a car crash in Cyprus in January 1982. Alan Ball senior (1925-1982), was an English footballer and manager. ...

Always a distinctive figure thanks to his diminutive stature, his high-pitched voice and flame-red hair, Ball released his autobiography, Playing Extra Time, in 2004 and received much critical acclaim.^{[citation needed]} Aside from his highs and lows in football, it also candidly detailed his private struggle as a family man after his wife and daughter were both diagnosed with cancer. His wife died on 16 May 2004, aged 57, after a three-year battle against ovarian cancer. He had remained in the family home in Warsash, and from mid-2005, Ball had had an ongoing relationship with childhood friend Valerie Beech, ex-wife of former Bolton player Harry Beech.^[2] The human voice consists of sound made by a human using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying and screaming. ... Cover of the first English edition of 1793 of Benjamin Franklins autobiography. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor (a kind of neoplasm) located on an ovary. ... Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, UK, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In May 2005, Ball, who had three grandchildren, put his World Cup winners' medal and commemorative tournament cap up for auction to raise money for his family. They were sold for £140,000. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Death

Alan Ball was pronounced dead in the early hours of April 25, 2007 at his home in Warsash, Hampshire, following a heart attack. He was 61. ^[3] He suffered the fatal heart attack while attempting to put out a blaze in his garden that had started when a bonfire - on which he had earlier been burning garden waste - became rekindled and spread to a nearby fence. ^[4] His funeral was held in Winchester Cathedral on Thursday, 3 May 2007.^[5] Ball is the second of the 1966 World Cup winning team to die, the first being captain Bobby Moore in 1993. The Alan Ball Memorial Cup, a match between two squads of former international players, in the shape of "England vs The World", was played at stadium:mk in Milton Keynes on July 29, with proceeds going towards the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service. ^[6]. is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Warsash is a village in southern Hampshire, UK, situated at the mouth of the River Hamble. ... Hampshire, sometimes historically Southamptonshire or Hamptonshire, (abbr. ... Acute myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), more commonly known as a heart attack, is a disease state that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted. ... For the AC/DC box set, see Bonfire (album) For the German band called Bonfire, see Bonfire (band) A bonfire (commonly mispronounced bombfire) is a large controlled outdoor fire made from bales of straw or wood. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close View along the nave of Winchester Cathedral to the west door A plan published in 1911 View of Winchester Cathedral Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, said to be the second longest, and with... Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore, OBE (born Barking, England, April 12, 1941 - died London, February 24, 1993) was an English footballer. ... , Milton Keynes is a large town in northern Buckinghamshire, in South East England, about 45 miles (75 km) north-west of London, and roughly halfway between London and Birmingham. ... Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore, OBE (born Barking, England, April 12, 1941 - died London, February 24, 1993) was an English footballer. ...

Notes

BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Independent is a British compact newspaper published by Tony OReillys Independent News & Media. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... MK News is a local Newspaper based in Milton Keynes. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

References

• Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X. 
• Obituary, The Daily Telegraph, 25 April 2007
• Obituary, BBC Sport, 25 April 2007
• Obituary, Lasting Tribute

This article concerns the British newspaper. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

External links

• Alan Ball career stats at Soccerbase
• Managerial statistics on Soccerbase
• English Fooball Hall of Fame profile
• Photos and biography at sporting-heroes.net
• Alan Ball profile on Arsenal-land