Alan Ball

[@louiebyrne716]

Can I just say at the age of 22 I look back on this video when I’m feeling upset or down and it gives me all the inspiration in the world. I love my grandad and I hope some day that I can make an impact as much as he did on my life to my grandchildren!

[@william_marshal]

Great speech by a great footballer, so sad he passed so early, always be remembered by anyone who was alive in '66 and watched that match, where England won the world cup.

[@grahamnodwell5693]

Alan Ball best of them all . What a player and them white boots Brilliant Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

[@philipmason3218]

No one has a single bad thing to say about Alan Ball, he was an absolute gentleman RIP, Little Curly Alan Ball.

[@frankhornby6873]

I absolutely love this man.....right from the day of his debut for EVERTON...Bally scored the winner against Fulham at craven cottage...he was an absolute Legend for us Evertonians!....we will never forget you Alan...you are engraved on the hearts every Evertonian that was blessed to see you play....also being a member of Everton's HOLY TRINITY.....BALL, HARVEY, KENDALL....💙💙💙...the engine room of that great team that won the league title back in 1970....I can still hear Goodison Park...chanting.."Who's the greatest of them all?..little curly ALAN BALL!"....I'll go to the grave with memories of ALAN BALL...💙

[@MrTerryb1956]

I've only just found this. Alan Ball what a man this had me in tears of laughter and tears of sadness knowing that we will never players like Alan ever again. Man Of The Match at 21 speaks volumes of not only Alan but his mentor his Dad. May you find glory in heaven has you did on here planet earth.

[@fontenoy9]

I’m pleased you found it. He was special.

[@Tigerland1962]

Love this man ,,, the best player of the 1966 final , what a great person, from Bolton my Grandads town ...

[@iaingore6854]

actually from farnworth near bolton BUT ALL 1966 SQUAD PLAYERS WERE HEROESVERY FEW STILL LIVING!!!!

[@tonymarshall4164]

He was my hero...whom I got to meet and sit down and talk to him about the game and the midfielders role in general . An inspiration to me and thousands of others....a truly great player who always gave 100%......But..above all a truly great man.

[@aidanstokes231]

I became a life long Everton supporter in 1970 when they came to play a pre season friendly in Dublin against Shamrock Rovers ! As a nine year old I couldnt believe how stylish and perfect they looked. Its a day locked in my memory. This is a classic speech from Alan Ball, part of the engine room of that team....... may he rest in peace !!!!!

[@flooberbloob]

I was at that game wearing my Everton away kit. Got to shake players hands as they got off the bus, including Bally’s. I was gutted when they sold him to Arsenal.

[@isaanman5399]

I am 64 yo a Scouser & Everton. I used to go to Bellefield to get autographs as a Kid & Bally was the best & nicest of all them for stopping & signing. I loved Alex Young as well because I was only about 6 yo & passing Goodison when I seen the coach outside the players lounge & I went to watch the players come out & get on it. I got a white Mallen steak of hair birth mark & Alex Young must have seen me & he came out & said let me rub your hair for luck & gave me a shilling. Brian Labone was pretty nice with us Kids as well but Gordon West never signed for anybody & just used to shout at us to get away from his car & don’t scratch it. We all thought he was a bit of a Tart.

[@rodinsthinker6822]

@@peterkent1582 ..... I have NO IDEA Peter what they should do. There must be something fundamentally missing at the club ...... its not for the want of throwing money at the 'problem' ......

[@twoblue7329]

Fantastic watch him at goodison since 1967 this speech is brilliant love it 💙

[@fontenoy9]

Thank you for your comment. Class player, fab speech.

[@paulgregory4091]

Alan Ball was one helleva player!He was the star of the 66 world cup final..Never forget him.A real northern lad who had no airs or graces.God bless him.

[@ancienttractorbuoy]

Second that.

[@garylucas7050]

One of the best speeches ever …r.I.p..

[@peterreid9769]

The great Alan Ball.

[@MrCubababy]

Bally, my all time hero, I remember when I was about 8or 9 having my Everton shirt on and wouldn't have any other number than 8. Now just turned 60 and hearing him talking about those great days reminds me of the good times at Goodison Park. Such a down to earth guy and one of the best players that have ever graced a football pitch. God bless you, Bally, you were the best.xx

[@MrGranfield]

This is the most inspirational speech I have ever heard.

[@ianbentley7276]

agreed, it was magnificent, and superbly delivered.

[@reds005]

What a man. Pompey will always love Bally! RIP to a real legend.

[@daveroberts4086]

One ☝️ of the Greatest Alan Ball 🏀 and he Loved the Game. I Remember him at Blackpool he was so Special. RIP king Alan Ball.

[@limeyjoe1931957]

What a speech great player for Everton and England to young to die at 61years old.RIP

[@johnnythunders7963]

Alan Ball Is Pompey!!!!!!!!!!!! Alan Ball Is a Pompey Fan And A Pompey Legend!!!!!! Alan Balls Blue Army💙💙💙 Alan Ball is mr Portsmouth!!!! Alan Is he’s one of the greatest Pompey managers that ever lived! Alan Ball is A Portsmouth Legend. We Love You Alan! Alan will always be a blue💙 R.I.P Alan Ball.

[@hussienalshammari4022]

Alan ball the legend. Still remember his days in southampton in the 80 s unbelievable player with good passing the ball

[@kailashpatel1706]

he was still playing at that time...i found some old footage and stunned to see him playing ipswich for southampton

[@jodolphin3087]

Wow the memories with my old Dad! The excitement of approaching The Old Lady knowing we were going to see the Holy Trinity, and this mini Lion of a man in his white boots literally running his heart out for our beloved club. Sitting on the ball goading the opposition, probing, demanding the ball and boy did he know what to do with it! No one who was there will ever forget the winning goal he scored in the famous quarter final against the reds when there was 60000 at Goodison and 45000 watching on the screens at Anfield Ive never known a feeling or a noise like it. My God what glorious times he gave us. I really don't do the hero thing, but this is my all time hero because he understood what the club meant to us, he personified everything that we would want from those who pull on the royal blue jersey. Thanks for the glorious memories Bally, we will never forget you, truly the greatest of them all !!!!!

[@frankhornby6873]

Jo Dolphin ....a great tribute to a truly GREAT MAN.....💙

[@stormytempest3907]

can't beet that comment! Perfect summing up!⚽

[@ysgol3]

The best English footballer from about 1970 to 75, no question.

[@nicholasbeech932]

Unfortunately I am too young to have seen him play but goodness me what a man and a complete hero of mine -in ‘66 he ran his blood to water - I remember crying when he passed just like I did when Bobby Moore died

[@fontenoy9]

Class footballer and a really nice man. I met him on several occasions and he was so friendly.

[@roywinstanley9402]

The Greatest player ever to grace Goodison park.i remember my mam buying me a pair of footy boots and me then using my Dad,s white gloss paint from the garage to paint them white,my mam wasn't to happy about that lol. No player is greater than the club,but Bally came very close.RIP Alan.

[@mickykedian7753]

What a speech, what a player, what a man

[@MrTerryb1956]

I second that

[@unchattytwit]

Brilliant - class.

[@dongorgon4168]

That was a bit special. Wow. Mr Ball RIP. England legend and Arsenal (I know, Everton, Southampton etc too) hero. Some real life lessons there, proper old school. Great man.

[@Lord_Hillcrest]

Just watched this again . The love for his father made my eyes well up .

[@mccartney2]

My childhood hero...the clockwork orange...... gone but never forgotten!

[@rowaddyvash]

Yes, mine too.

[@tramlad2]

What an oustanding player he was, a brilliant guy, so passionate about his football, and a great guy, so sadly missed. Every club he played for or managed he left a legend at them all.

[@lildevil2380]

The amount of old age Everton fans that say he was the best player they seen play says enough for me to know he was a legend

[@holdyourplums4204]

I'm a lifelong Liverpool supporter mate & Alan Ball was one of the best players that this country has ever produced.

[@darrenplumpton1801]

SUPERB PLAYER. Even better when he joined Arsenal.

[@darrenplumpton1801]

The Man Of The Match for the 1966 World Cup Final. And very much deserved. He was BRILLIANT , MAGNIFICENT and AWESOME as a player and captain of Arsenal,England and Everton. A GREAT GUY. One of the very,very,VERY best. R I P Alan.

[@McKamikazeHighlander]

And according to most players on the 66 World Cup-winning squad, they considered him the best playing on the team. When Geoff Hurst scored his 3rd goal in the final, Ball was waiting in the box for a tap-in. Best player of his day, by far

[@ianclarke5404]

Little curly Alan Ball The best of them all

[@georgec9631]

Fantastic speech. I recall watching the 66 Final on the telly and roaring him on....and I'm a Scot. Great player.

[@johnhealy2001]

How can 7 people not like this fabulous video brilliant

[@fontenoy9]

Surprised me! Doesn’t matter to me who he played for or managed, he was a master of his craft.

[@melvyns1975]

Probably his dad one of them.."You've not made it yet son" 🤣

[@robertwilliams3730]

When I was a kid and football first came into my life, Alan Ball was the player who was my role model. Like him I was a red head but unlike him my football skills had a limit! Man of the match in the 1966 World Cup final at the age of nineteen. A player who, in today's game of press, press press, would have been made to measure. 😊

[@hartley339]

He played on Bromwich St, old Wanderers training ground, Brazil trained there as well... Its now a housing estate. Rip Alan.. A son of Bolton.

[@patagualianmostly7437]

I must hold my hands up and admit.... I did not know much about Alan Ball...apart from him being a member of the 1966 World Cup Winning team of course. ..so this was an absolute revelation...and I was amazed. What an articulate and professional speaker. But it was not the lucidity of what he said, it was his obvious passion and love...for his father, his family...and for those who had faith in him...and of course, the game itself. Absolutely riveting stuff. Thank you, Alan....Football is enriched by people like you. You were one of a dying breed. May you R.I.P.

[@ianbentley7276]

nicely articulated.

[@twoblue7329]

Absolutely loved at Everton the main man 💙💙💙 double gutted when he left

[@fontenoy9]

Bally was respected and loved at every club he played for.

[@kevinmassey7675]

Brilliant Alan Ball legend.........Compare this to today........." ah , I'm speechless , don't know what to say " proper role model with real integrity

[@stwads]

When I was a kid we went to Blackpool for our holidays & my dad took me to watch Blackpool against Preston. Two ex Busby babes Nobby Lawton & Alex Dawson played for Preston. The only Blackpool player I recall was a very young Alan Ball. Even then he was by far head & shoulders above every other player on the pitch!

[@thelimey351]

I'm an Arsenal supporter, I sit in the North Bank now at Ashburton Grove - but it all started with a certain record transfer on 22nd December 1971. RIP Alan Ball. 👏

[@colinprunty6136]

Inspirational speech from one of the all time greats RIP

[@earlefclarke2622]

Who's the best of them all ?little curly Alan Ball nilsatis nisi optimum 💙

[@MARKETMAN6789]

A great role model ,great speech ,

[@tomthumb3706]

Fantastic player who give everything and more different times when we won the World Cup I thought it was something we would do again in my lifetime but in my youth most kids would out every night on the village green in my blackpool council estate playing football but now there are to many distractions RIP Alan.

[@Shaytime6]

Love the guy.

[@anthonyvaughan4853]

A LEGEND AFTER THE 1966 WORLD CUP !!!

[@trueblue2124]

Bally - what a speech this was - -the only player I ever saw make fun of the referee in good humour - hiding the ball etc - he was so talented - - loved him at EFC - - the best player at goodison I ever saw - and 'he's right about Ray Wilson too - a world class left back - happy days - - thank you for sharing Norman - - -

[@fontenoy9]

I’m delighted at the response to this video clip. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice, a really nice man.

[@flynnterry9848]

Absolutely magic listening to Alan ball. And YES what a speech. Wonderful player . Terry evertonian. RIP Alan.

[@mccartney2]

wow ..what an awesome assured speaker and stand up comic Alan was!! never knew till I saw this!! This guy was my all time favorite footballer..... superb workrate, great vision and passer of the ball..... and did I mention his workrate??? haha The clockwork orange, what an apt nickname!!!! gone but never forgotten Mr Ball!!!!

[@paddyman33]

He is still the hardest working player I've ever seen,and Im nearly 60.Quality skillful class act too.Everything all rolled into one legendary man.

[@tomduggan51]

Norm, Thanks very much for this inspirational speech from Alan Ball-so much not just on the game but also on family loyalty. Always an engaging character and excellent wholehearted player wherever he went, including Saints. Died tragically so young RIP. Thanks and compliments on providing this.

[@malarki5]

One of the kindest men l have ever met! Would love to lay flowers at his graveside. RIP Bally.

[@Cultrix]

Absolute legend....RIP Sir Alan.

[@tomblair2398]

Best player everton ever had my idle never for get you alan.

[@stelun56]

Respect Alan. RIP legend

[@copleyvalleyguy]

I remember hearing about Alan Ball being this wonder kid playing for Blackpool. I watched him play Man U and he ran rings around them and scored even though they lost the match 2-1 l think he made a huge impression. Great player.

[@jrlyon8127]

Bally - my hero. Always has been; always will.

[@nrp0504]

Such a motivation to people of all ages. A proud man. I am so grateful for all he achieved for us at Portsmouth FC. Still have memories of him in 1987 after securing promotion to Division 1, on the Guildhall steps, with his son Jimmy in his arms sobbing his eyes out - But Bally was there beaming with Pride. As he said once "This is Portsmouth. People go to war from this City" - It was his rallying cry to a team struggling at the wrong end of the league table in 1998 - It was his way of saying "Don't think you have it hard. Don't feel sorry for yourself. Other people have served their country and city and never returned. So you go out there and give it 100%"

[@matthewsmith-rm6qc]

Great wee player, Souness made me look him up, he has great respect for him as a player.

[@JohnSmith-hk1lx]

So u did not know about Alan Ball...???

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

He was part of the 66 world cup team!

[@Pritch75]

The greatest of them all it’s little Alan Ball,what a legend how much would he be worth in today’s transfer market ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

[@gerardhenry5501]

I remember Alan ball playing he is a legend .

[@henrybyrd5402]

I am an East Londoner but for me Bally was MOM in 1966, regardless of Hurst's hat trick.

[@deletebilderberg]

Bally! Marvellous man

[@gilbertgiles]

stumbled on to the Tommy Lawrence street clip tonight, laughed and wept, then found this, from Alan Ball. All I can say is thanks for saving and posting things like this. God bless.

[@fredbyrne7140]

My grandad is Allan ball no joke never got to see him😓

[@brianhewson7779]

Will never forget Bally when he came to the Arsenal in 1971 a young Liam Brady had just broke into the team in 73 and those two together were brilliant.

[@Marlondurran]

Top man bless him...from a united fan

[@richardsmith561]

One of the eleven greatest footballers who played for England who were the BEST England team EVER...RIP Bally...

[@patrickcon1]

Brilliant!

[@michaelchannon7538]

This is one of those videos that completely represents who a man is. Once that water was done, he'd have a beer and be even funnier and engage with those around him. Rather than wait for you to finish talking in order for him to hold court, he'd actually listen and then relate to what had been said. Very few people were as revered but as grounded and he didn't know he was doing it. That was him. A natural at humanity. I miss him a great deal but still remember our chats. Fabulous.

[@christopherhadden7268]

Brilliant speech!

[@connormitchell6446]

You know he was a great player when grown men in 2022 still wear shirts with his name and number on the back

[@dannykane3068]

Brilliant player and brilliant man. I had the great pleasure of meeting him once after an after dinner speech when he came over to me and said. “I have heard about you.” He wanted to talk about me! I couldn’t get a word in. On the way home a friend said. “It’s not often you get to shake hands with a World Cup winner.” I never have since.

[@CBtoffeeHQ]

What an inspiration to me , my all-time football hero a little magician with the Hart of a lion 💙

[@markbaker7103]

I only met Alan Ball once, when he did one of his first after dinner speaches. I was driving the comic turn that night and we sat together pre-dinner, Alan upon hearing our accents (Black Country) asked if i was going to watch Wolves in the FA cup against Leeds. I explained I was a life long LEEDS supporter who had only seen them play pre-season, I had never been to Elland RD. Three days later, he phoned me and said there were two tickets waiting there for me. I went, Wolves won! Alan made a dream come true for me. What a man, what a legend!!!

[@fontenoy9]

What a lovely memory.

[@ArmyofLove]

May you rest in peace. I took a lot from this. Especially the part about the grafters we need who are willing to do the dirty work.

[@gerryeverton]

who's the greatest of them all? Little curly Alan Ball. RIP

[@Lord_Hillcrest]

Brilliant.

[@petermills542]

Great stuff from Bally but for me the best bit was the 'dog chasing' analogy from Sir Alf to Ball & Nobby! Genius management!!

[@JohnSmith-hk1lx]

Best player in the WC finale in -66

[@ArchieFatcackie]

Graeme Souness said there as only 2 players on a football field he couldn’t get near. One was Zico the other was Allan Ball.

[@TheHawkrat]

A true great of English football.

[@fontenoy9]

Agree totally!

[@twoblue7329]

Best speech ever

[@stormytempest3907]

Perpetual Motion!

[@jonlahive330]

Great speech

[@seltaeb3302]

Such a sad loss too early. He was a good manager & great player who gave all & took plenty in reply.

[@MrDarkmenace1]

Alan Ball is the proof that great players don't necessarily make good managers. RIP Bally you absolute legend. From a Liverpool fan.

[@ianbentley7276]

what a player! i so wish my team Leeds had managed to sign him, imagine him teaming up with the likes of giles and brenner.

[@dreamerinalowprofile1952]

Brilliant speech. MOM 1966.

[@fontenoy9]

Thanks for your comment, agree on both

[@grahamlloyd1278]

Brilliant, and testament to the man that there's a statue outside Goodison of him as part of the Holy Trinity. Fully deserved, legend. Move the statues to Bramley Moor Dock when it's ready.

[@johnnythunders7963]

R.I.P Alan Ball💙 BLUE ARMY💙 PLAY UP POMPEY💙

[@peterdixon8700]

Great player .First time I saw him play was at Bloomfield Road against my team Manchester United. I would be about 10 or 11. The only thing I remember was he got sent off with the King Denis Law.Think Alan was about 17 squaring up to the great man. 100% grafter and battler, fantastic in the World Cup Final.Top Man.

[@arnesaknussemm2427]

Mr Perpetual motion.

[@williambilly3269]

I got my white boots signed by him when he was playing for Everton

[@TheChrishoughton]

Fantastic speech.

[@a1re2]

wow! truly inspirational

[@robin231176]

Graeme Souness has said that along with Zico, Ball was the only player who he couldn't get near enough to tackle.

[@billybigtime2808]

What a speech

[@johnruby147]

One of my favorite players not to play for my club . Bally always gave 100% in every game . Young Millenials should be shown this video , and taught that if you want to achieve something in life you have to go out and work for it , not expect it to be given to you

[@tommytaylor4139]

Pompey legend.

[@davidloughlin2238]

May he rest in peace. A nice, modest man who clearly loved his football and gave it all on the field. The modern players could learn a thing or two from the commitment of the likes of Alan Ball. He never did a Pogba, deciding whether to bother his arse or not!