World Cup winner Alan Ball dies

[davewilson]

England 1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball has died at the age of 61 after suffering a heart attack while tackling a fire in his garden.

At 21 he was the youngest member of Sir Alf Ramsey's victorious 1966 England teamFirefighters and officers were called to his home in Warsash, Hampshire when his body was discovered outside.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said Mr Ball had been trying to stop a bonfire that had got out of control when he collapsed and died.

The midfielder won 72 caps for his country in a ten-year England career and starred for both Everton and Arsenal. At 21 he was the youngest member of Sir Alf Ramsey's victorious 1966 England team.

Awarded an MBE for services to football in 2000, Ball is the second member of the side that beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to die after captain Bobby Moore lost his battle with cancer in 1993.

Born on May 12, 1945, Ball joined Blackpool in 1961, making his league debut for the club as a 17-year-old in 1962. He was first picked for England in May 1965, playing in a 1-1 draw against Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

In the 1966 World Cup Ramsey was supposed not to favour wingers, but Ball kept powering down the right wing in the final, tormenting the experienced German full back Karl-Heinz Schnellinger.

It was Ball, pushing himself to the limits in extra time, who crossed for Geoff Hurst to produce his famous shot that gave England a 3-2 lead.

A few moments later people were on the pitch and it really was all over as Hurst made it 4-2 and Ball followed captain Bobby Moore up the steps to the Royal Box to collect his winning medal from the Queen.

His heroics led to his move from Blackpool to Everton in August 1966 for a then record fee of £110,000.

Everton reached the FA Cup Final in 1968 only to lose to West Bromwich Albion, but in 1969-70 Everton went on to win the old First Division Championship.

But there was disappointment for Ball and England at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico when having reached the quarter finals, England lost 3-2 to West Germany in extra time having been 2-0 up.

Deepest Respects From GP Wizard



When they put on the shirt in those days it meant something.

[Ian]

A great player was Bally, recent England player who was the same, ie 110% was good old Scholesy

[davewilson]

I agree Ian...I cant understand why he will not play for England?
Politics in the game?

[Ian]

No, was'nt that Stig, was that he wanted to be with his kids more while they were growing up, can't knock a man for that can you, after all, I think he done more than his fair share for England, good driving force, went anywhere and always went in with nothing on his mind except to win the ball, hence his collection of yellow cards, great player, don't know why he was never even nominated for PFA player of the year.