World Cup winner Alan Ball dies at 61

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:29 am

He was man of the match when England won in 66
His midfield partner in 1966 Sir Bobby Charlton said: "He was probably the best player that day and if it had not been for his impact the result could have been totally different.

I watched that match and he never stopped running, and was all of the time shouting encouragment at his team mates.
I remember him as a bubbly little guy with red hair and a loud voice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6590715.stm

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rev. green · Post by **rev. green** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:37 pm

R.I.P. Alan

One of my favourite City managers, the fondest memory I have of him is when he was telling Lomas to keep the ball in the corner as he thought City was safe when they had already gone down.

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:54 pm

Rev..take a look at this.... one of his last discussion just before he died was about Man Utd..V Milan match.
From the above BBC article.

His son Jimmy Ball said: "I was talking to him last night just after the football and he was in great form. We were talking about (Paul) Scholes' pass.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 582631.stm

United desperately needed inspiration, and a moment of genius from Scholes provided it as they drew level after 59 minutes.

Scholes instinctively lifted the ball into the path of Rooney, whose finish was half-stopped by Dida but rolled in.

rev. green · Post by **rev. green** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:59 pm

sinikettu wrote:Rev..take a look at this.... one of his last discussion just before he died was about Man Utd..V Milan match.
From the above BBC article.

His son Jimmy Ball said: "I was talking to him last night just after the football and he was in great form. We were talking about (Paul) Scholes' pass.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 582631.stm

United desperately needed inspiration, and a moment of genius from Scholes provided it as they drew level after 59 minutes.

Scholes instinctively lifted the ball into the path of Rooney, whose finish was half-stopped by Dida but rolled in.

Yep he was a good North West character Alan Ball. Won the world cup and relegated City. You can't ask more from a man. United fans wil show their respect this weekend I reckon. Minutes silence at Goodison.

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:07 pm

rev. green wrote:
sinikettu wrote:Rev..take a look at this.... one of his last discussion just before he died was about Man Utd..V Milan match.
From the above BBC article.

His son Jimmy Ball said: "I was talking to him last night just after the football and he was in great form. We were talking about (Paul) Scholes' pass.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 582631.stm

United desperately needed inspiration, and a moment of genius from Scholes provided it as they drew level after 59 minutes.

Scholes instinctively lifted the ball into the path of Rooney, whose finish was half-stopped by Dida but rolled in.
Yep he was a good North West character Alan Ball. Won the world cup and relegated City. You can't ask more from a man.

Also said to be a bit of a big head, including thinking he could coach Bob Wilson on goalkeeping and was supposed to be instrumental in the disintegration and demise of the championship winning '70 side which contained the holy trinity of Kendall, Harvey & Ball.

Only heresay for me as I wasn't born then... I only knew him as a rather unsuccessful manager, still 61 is a bit too young to go.

MagicJ · Post by **MagicJ** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:26 pm

Sorry for bringing this up Reverend but i'm sure he'll also be fondly remembered for this:

City's final match of the 1973/74 season was against arch-rivals Manchester United, who needed to win to stand a chance of avoiding relegation. Former United player Denis Law scored with a backheel to give City a 1-0 win and confirm the relegation of their rivals.

He did seem a bit frail in the last few interviews i saw of him.

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