View Full Version : Alan Ball dead at 61
PsychedelicCeltic
25 Apr 2007, 03:01 AM
The youngest of the 1966 England side and one of the very fine Arsenal players (who toiled in obscurity for some of the worst Arsenal teams ever) has died of a heart attack. Shame.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6590715.stm
goonermaui
25 Apr 2007, 03:38 AM
Very sad, and shocked, to hear this news.
Lanesra
25 Apr 2007, 03:45 AM
Rest in peace bally.
I remember as a kid the day he signed for us,I was kicking a ball against the steps to the marble halls as he arrived,he smiled and winked at me,I don't think there were many people around Highbury I didn't tell about it:).
Miles Brasher
25 Apr 2007, 05:34 AM
Real shame. I only realised how long he'd been at Arsenal for this morning because he'd died.
And 61 is too young to die...
Bluto11
25 Apr 2007, 08:09 AM
this sucks. he was at The Globe when England played the United States (i think, maybe it was some other England match) but since I wasn't there I didn't get a chance to meet him.
Jeff L
25 Apr 2007, 09:14 AM
9am on the east coast and just checked my e mails and got one from my son about the news. A shame. I actually got to speak with him at Euro '92 in Sweden when he was taking a training session, and I was an "invited guest".
I'll always remember watching the World Cup Final in 1966 and then running over to the park to play with my mates for the rest of the afternoon.
Alan Ball was always one of my favourites, both for England and Arsenal.
Condolences and sympathies to the family.
Detlef
25 Apr 2007, 09:26 AM
this sucks. he was at The Globe when England played the United States (i think, maybe it was some other England match) but since I wasn't there I didn't get a chance to meet him. Yeah it was the England-USA match, nice guy. RIP.
Val1
25 Apr 2007, 09:49 AM
Back in the mid-70s when I became an Arse fan, the team really sucked, only 2-4 spots ahead of relegation, and Ball was one of the few bright spots on the team. All my friends were fans of the then high-flying West Ham and Ispwich teams, and there were only two points that I could argue about Arsenal's greatness: the longest continual streak in the Premiership and Alan Ball, then captain of England and a holdover from 66.
topcatcole
25 Apr 2007, 10:05 AM
Sad news. 61 :(
Cornballer
25 Apr 2007, 10:54 AM
RIP.
wDHNHJ_gPqs
NorthBank74
25 Apr 2007, 11:20 AM
RIP.
wDHNHJ_gPqs
Wow, great footage! What DVD did that come from. I've got to have it. A total time-trip for me.
Alan was probably the most memorable player for me in 73/74 my first season as a supporter. I remember how the crowd would say "Come on Alan!" in a mocking high-pitched choirboy voice like his. He was or became our captain around that time. (before Pat Rice I guess)
When I returned to the USA in 1977 there he was shortly afterwards playing in the NASL. But I was a Cosmos fan and I wasn't too aware of his exploits over here.
Last year I tried to look him up on the Net along with some other players of that era and it seemed that he'd kind of faded from the scene, unlike some others like Rice, George, Brady.
Anyway, watching this video was great! I want the DVD.
NorthBank74
25 Apr 2007, 11:47 AM
From the BBC article...
Ball, who collapsed outside his home after tackling a bonfire...
So maybe he got truly stuck-in with that bonfire? And exactly how does one tackle a bonfire anyway? From behind with an illegal scissor move? :D
GoonerMan
25 Apr 2007, 12:18 PM
wow what a shock when i heard the news this morning, its a sad day.
best wishes to his family
Cornballer
25 Apr 2007, 12:58 PM
Wow, great footage! What DVD did that come from. I've got to have it. A total time-trip for me.According to the Youtube page (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wDHNHJ_gPqs) it's from "501 Arsenal Goals."
I think it's this one (http://www.amazon.com/Arsenal-501-Goals-Charlie-George/dp/B0006JM5IK/ref=sr_1_1/002-4803874-7631259?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1176367763&sr=8-1), but I'm not 100% sure.
GriffinGunner
25 Apr 2007, 01:07 PM
Thank you for your contributions, Mr. Ball. RIP.
yossarian
25 Apr 2007, 01:36 PM
Sad news. I've only seen highlights...but they're a pleasure to watch.
Val1
25 Apr 2007, 04:09 PM
Bob Wilson, the keeper for the 71 Double Winners on Alan Ball:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJI6Yb45yZs&NR=1
Gunners11
25 Apr 2007, 04:48 PM
Sad news, may he R.I.P.
Arsonists
25 Apr 2007, 05:56 PM
The youngest of the 1966 England side and one of the very fine Arsenal players (who toiled in obscurity for some of the worst Arsenal teams ever) has died of a heart attack. Shame.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6590715.stm
Well I guess that makes two of us that will not be getting a BJ tonight.
NorthBank74
25 Apr 2007, 09:12 PM
Just watched CFC-LFC in the CL Semi and they asked for a moment of silence before the match in memory of Alan. Instead of being silent, the crowd gave him a standing ovation for a good long time.
It was a nice touch but a bit surprising I thought, given that it was Stamford Bridge and I bet that 60% of the fans there were too young to ever see him play.
Perhaps it was nostalgia for the last World Cup that England ever won that fueled the applause. Or just good English manners. Or perhaps he is just more revered than I realized.
Anyway, thanks Alan.