World Cup winner Alan Ball dies at 61

World Cup winner Ball dies at 61 
 
Ball was awarded the MBE
World Cup winner Alan Ball has died of a heart attack at the age of 61.
Ball was the youngest member of the England side that won the World Cup in 1966 and went on to win 72 caps.

The industrious midfielder started his career at Blackpool and went on to play for Everton, Arsenal and Southampton before a spell in the United States.

Ball, who collapsed outside his home after tackling a bonfire, also managed seven clubs, including Portsmouth, Southampton and Manchester City.

Ball, who was awarded an MBE in 2000, is the second member of the side that beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to die. Captain Bobby Moore died of cancer in 1993.

God Bless you Alan and my thoughts go to your family.
I met him a few years ago at a sportsman dinner and I have to admit he was worth every penny, what a life !!
Thanks for the memories, a very sad day.
To the Ball family YNWA
 

I've only ever seen videos of him playing, doing all the flicks 'n tricks, sitting on the ball in the corner & wearing those white boots.  Things that are a common feature in today's football.

Take it easy upstairs Bally

Tbh not an England 'fan', and didn't know who he was until I read this, but nonetheless, RIP, and best wishes to his family.

Thanks for starting off the topic mrtommo....61? For a man so young he achieved so much....sad day...RIP Bally.

I echo your thoughts MrTommo. Sad day for football. My sympathy goes out to the Ball family.

RIP Alan.

YNWA

I think he was the 1st player to have white boots! Very flash, and I mean VERY flash in those days., Although he played for the BS still saddened by this news, 61 is no age. very sad.

Sad day, RIP Alan ball

very sad day, for all who love the game....Bally was a one off and he certainly set a precedent, for all great midfield players in the game today...my deepest sympathy to all those who held him near..

I saw Alan Ball play many times, I was there when we won the world cup, and i have talked to him a few times, loved his football, never stopped talking about it, even if he did play for the wrong team.
Great man, great player, sadly missed.
RIP,  I'm sure you will have a lot to say to Bill and Bob up there.

I was saddened to here of this, 61 is so young. Alan Ball was one of the great characters of football and a winner through and through. News like this puts a lot of other things into perspective and my thoughts are with Alan's family. RIP Bally

RIP Mr.Ball

Yeah bloody shame about Alan Ball, RIP

I saw Alan Ball play many times, I was there when we won the world cup, and i have talked to him a few times, loved his football, never stopped talking about it, even if he did play for the wrong team.
Great man, great player, sadly missed.
RIP,  I'm sure you will have a lot to say to Bill and Bob up there.

Excellent comments.  He did play for a couple of wrong un's but always had a lot of good things to say about us and Shanks.

I think he was the 1st player to have white boots! Very flash, and I mean VERY flash in those days., Although he played for the BS still saddened by this news, 61 is no age. very sad.

He was - £2000 a year he got for wearing them white boots.

A great loss and so young. 

Condolensces to his friends and family.

Didnt see bally play but its still sad news. Huge loss to the game RIP

regards from scotland

headlines in the paper up here today was

he liked nothing better than beating the scots
then having a good drink with them

btw one guy on the celtic forum last night said he had already been text a joke about it!!!!!!!!!!!

and surprise surprise it came all the way from a man so-sh*te-d fan