ALAN BALL

Born:    5/12 1945   


Record: Year  Club           Games Goals 
        62-66 Blackpool        146  46 (total from 2 spells)
        66-71 Everton          208  66
        71-76 Arsenal          177  45
        76-80 Southampton      195  11 (total from 2 spells)
        80    Vancouver W.       ?   ?
        80-81 Blackpool          -   - (player manager)
        81-82 Southampton        -   -
        82    Eastern Athletic   ?   ? (in Hong Kong)
        83-84 Bristol Rovers    17   2
Total                          743 170
Managerial career:
        80-81 Blackpool      Div 3: 23/24 - Relegated. (Player/Manager)
        84-85 Portsmouth     Div 2:  4/22 - Missed prom. by goal diff.
        85-86 Portsmouth     Div 2:  4/22 - Missed prom. by 3 pts.
        86-87 Portsmouth     Div 2:  2/22 - Promoted.
        87-88 Portsmouth     Div 1: 19/21 - Relegated.
        88-89 Portsmouth     Div 2: 20/24 - Avoided rel. by 9 pts.
        89    Colchester     Div 4: 24/24 - Relegated. (Assistant manager)
        89-90 Stoke City     Div 2: 24/24 - Relegated.
        90-91 Stoke City     Div 3: 14/24
        91-92 Exeter City    Div 3: 20/24 - Avoided rel. by 2 pts.
        92-93 Exeter City    Div 2: 19/24 - Avoided rel. by 3 pts.
        93-94 Exeter City    Div 2: 22/24 - Relegated.
        94-95 Southampton    Prem:  10/22
        95-96 Man City       Prem:  18/20 - Relegated on goal diff.
        96-97 Man City       Div 1: 14/24
        97-98 Portsmouth     Div 1: 20/24 - Avoided rel. by 1 pt.
        98-99 Portsmouth     Div 1: 19/24 - Avoided rel. on goal diff.


N.B. Ball wasn't in charge for full seasons during some of these years.

Alan Ball was born on 12th May 1945 in Farnworth, near Bolton and was football mad from his earliest days. Growing into a talented player, he had trials with Wolves and Bolton but was rejected by both for being too small before eventually signing for Blackpool with the help of some persuasion by his father, Alan Ball senior. He made his debut against Liverpool at Anfield in 1962, aged 17 and became a first team regular within 12 months.

He suffered from a short temper, especially in his younger days and was often booked for aggressive tackling or arguing with the referee. He had a "good engine" as people would say these days, showing tireless running all over the pitch. Despite his small stature, he was courageous and never afraid to get stuck in. In summary, a "pocket battleship" who always gave 100%. Never lacking in self-confidence, he'd add letters to his name when signing autographs, e.g. "Alan J Ball WIN"

His career progressed rapidly and he made his England debut in 1965 against Yugoslavia. He went on to play in the World Cup in 1966 (as he occasionally is known to mention); his best game was the Final itself where he particularly excelled in extra time and set up the third goal for Geoff Hurst.

Ball felt his career was stagnating at Blackpool and so he moved to Everton for 112,000 pounds, a British record fee (there was interest from a number of other clubs including some in Italy too). Top scorer in his first two seasons with Everton, he was back at Wembley in 1968, losing to West Bromwich Albion in the F.A. Cup Final, although he made up for that disappointment with a League Championship in 1970.

He continued to be a regular with England, amassing a total of 72 caps and scoring 8 goals in the process. He was arguably England's best player in the 1970 World Cup Finals when England tried unsuccessfully to defend their world crown. Don Revie made him England captain but after 5 more appearances his international career ended when he broke a curfew.

Ball joined Arsenal in December 1971 for 220,000 pounds, another British record fee. He was a top scorer with the Gunners too before moving on to Southampton after 177 appearances. As captain, Ball led Southampton back to the first division in 1978. Two years later he left for a brief spell with Vancouver Whitecaps before becoming player-manager of his first club, Blackpool. However, things didn't work out (to say the least) and he returned to Southampton after a few months. He left again in 1982 for a brief spell in Hong Kong before ending his playing days at Bristol Rovers.

In August 1996, 13 months after accepting the job at Manchester City, Alan Ball turned in his resignation. In his short time as manager of the club in our hearts he got us relegated, sold some of our most experienced and promising players, and got us into a disasterous start of the new season. Clearly he was unfit for the job, and not many of the fans will look back twice! Hopefully we'll get a replacement both faster and better than the case was with Alan Ball!