Vince Hilaire tells funny Alan Ball Story

Former Blues winger Vince Hilaire tells a great story about his old manager Alan Ball, whom he played under for no less than three different clubs, including Pompey, Stoke and Exeter.
Having become accustomed to hearing Ball's familiar high-pitched voice down the phone over the years - as the World Cup winner would tout transfer options to him when he was struggling at his current club - it wasn't uncommon for Hilaire to follow Ball wherever he went.
Having been released by Division Four strugglers Exeter a couple of years earlier, and with his professional football career well and truly on ice, was Hilaire about to receive an unlikely reprieve from Ball, who had recently been installed as manager at Premier League Manchester City?
For the full interview and much more, head to Pompey Player: www.player.portsmouthfc.co.uk/...

[@deletebilderberg]

I didn’t even like football when I first arrived at Portsmouth Polytechnic. Couple of games and I was addicted Knight, Swain, Hardyman, Dillon, Gilbert, Blake, Kennedy, Morgan, Channon, Hilaire, Callaghan. What a team!

[@gary1642]

I'm an Evertonian too young to have seen him play at Goodison. All my uncles loved him, 100% in everything he ever did. Legend.

[@malarki5]

I am so very glad that one of the Black footballers l grew up watching... was taken under the wing by one of the kindest, most generous, men (Alan Ball) you'll ever meet; and l've met him!

[@earlefclarke2622]

Who's the best of them all ? Little curly Alan Ball 💙

[@BoneStar]

Beaumont F.C. legend

[@brandonmasters8996]

Yeah and we Man City fans wish Bally had gone to Butlins instead of managing our club. Dark days.....dark days.

[@myaphextwin807]

Man City were wank, nothing to do with Ball.

[@tommytaylor4139]

Bally was a decent manager,just didn't do great at City,but who really did around that time?,the 80's and 90's,even into the 00's city were bang average, wasn't Bally's fault,

[@brandonmasters8996]

@@tommytaylor4139 Was an awful time at City agreed. But Ball had to take some of the blame. Brian Horton kept us up the year before. Ball did not rip up trees after leaving City either tbh.

[@brandonmasters8996]

@@tommytaylor4139 Plus no City fan can forget Ball telling City to timewaste during last game of the season against Liverpool in 96. The point was not enough to keep us up. Embarrassing really. But maybe not as embarrassing as swapping Paul Walsh for Gerry Creaney.

[@tommytaylor4139]

@@brandonmasters8996 Didn't City fans change wonder wall by Oasis for Alan Ball?,he must f been popular to do that for him.