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Alan Ball (1945-2007) |
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Alan Ball
| Category: | Male Player |
| Year Inducted: | 2003 |
Profile by Robert Galvin, the author of Football's Greatest Heroes, the official book of the National Football Museum Hall of Fame:
It was rare for Alf Ramsey to single out individuals for praise, but after the most important match in England's history, he made a point of speaking to Alan Ball. 'Young man,' Ramsey said, only minutes after the whistle of the World Cup final in 1966, 'you will never play a better game in your life.'
Ramsey was not alone in his thinking. Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst were just two of the England players who nominated Ball, still only 21, as man of the match. Helmut Schoen, the West Germany manager, also praised his performance.
'If we had to pick a star,' Charlton said, 'it had to be Alan Ball, whose inexhaustible stamina was vital. His skill, control, footwork and devasting use of the ball in the final were a revelation, and he did it all against a world-class full-back in Karl-Heinz Schnellinger.'
Ball, who won 72 caps, was twice sold for record transfer fees. Soon after the World Cup, Everton paid Blackpool £110,000, a record sum between British clubs. Six years later, Everton made a good profit, selling him on to Arsenal for £220,000, another record.
Ball was the epitome of the type of fottballer Ramsey admired. Way back in 1952, Ramsey had written about the need for versatility. High in energy, Ball was prominent in a new generation of players who were capable of the multiple roles in attack and defence that Ramsey had in mind.
'It meant everything to me to play for my country,' he said. 'Alf had the same attitude, and I responded to that.' Briefly, during the Don Revie era, Ball was made England captain. 'It was such a proud moment,' he said.
Alan Ball died suddenly on 24 April 2007 and is greatly missed by the whole nation.