Hurst 'devastated' by loss


Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a memorable hat-trick in the World Cup final, led the tributes to Ball, saying: "He was the youngest member of the team and man of the match in the 1966 World Cup final. Socially he was always a good laugh and the 1966 team mixed a lot after then."

He added: "We are all totally devastated."

Sir Bobby Charlton, who was also in the 1966 World Cup winning side, said: “He was probably the best player that day and if it had not been for his impact the result could have been totally different. He did not appear to have a nerve in his body, and he was an inspiration to us all."

Sir Bobby believes Ball’s bright talent was simply a natural extension of his lively personality which made him one of the most popular and enthusiastic England players of his era. “Alan was always bright and bubbly in everything he did as a player. He went about his work with great enthusiasm and gusto and he always had a smile on his face," Charlton said.

“He was a sensational little player with great touch and great vision. He had great close control and although he wasn’t a fast player he didn’t need to be. He could see things clearly and always made the right decisions.

“He was the youngest member of our squad and we were all looking forward to our latest reunion in two weeks. I am very sad and shocked by the news. Alan will be badly missed.”

Bobby's brother Jack Charlton revealed how Ball’s terrier-like style complimented his swashbuckling brother Sir Bobby perfectly in Sir Alf Ramsey’s team. “Alan was probably my best friend in football," he said. "I had to put up with him, he was always taking the micky out of me and having a laugh at me. But it was all in fun. He was a lovely little lad. I find it very difficult to talk about Alan because I keep smiling and I don’t want to smile.

"He was a worker, he never stopped running. He would always come and take the ball off you.”

He added: “Alf said ‘you get the ball. What do you do with it? You give it to Bobby Charlton. When you’re the size of Alan as a footballer, you’ve got to get stuck into everybody.”

Another former England team-mate, Alan Mullery, said Ball’s death was “shocking news”. He said: “He was such a bouncy and lively, young 61-year-old. He was the life and soul of everything. It is shocking news.

“I played with him in Mexico [in the 1970 World Cup]. He was a loveable bouncy character, he had a heart of gold. He lived football. He loved playing for his country. It is such a shock. At 61, he was a fit little fellow. He played a lot of golf.”

Bob Wilson, the former Arsenal goalkeeper who played alongside Ball at Highbury in the 1970s, said: “Everyone can visualise him with his red hair and squeaky voice which is still there and will always be there.

Timesonline

Met him once in 1979, had no idea who he was at the time. My friends and I were having a pickup game at the beach in Vancouver and he asked if he could join in. Played for about an hour and we found out how lousy we played the game. Next day there was a big pic in the newspaper as the Whitecaps (North American soccer league) had bought him off another team. Very nice guy from what I can remember.

From all the tributes pouring in from his fellow professionals he really did seem to be a genuine sort of person. He went into football management when he left playing the game, but didn`t quite meet with the same amount of success. He always remained well liked though.

61 is still not exactly old, especially for someone who has kept himself so fit over the years.

Alan Ball`s funeral is now taking place in Winchester Cathedral. Many of footballing`s famous names are there, including most of the winning 1966 England team.