Alan Ball - Just fantastic. Today's primadonnas don't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Alan Ball and the rest.

I guess as the years go by, we will lose each of the gentlemen and true professionals who played for England in those halcyon days.

RIP Alan; taken before your time.

ed ingle, chesham, bucks

As a 10 year old he was always my favourite player. Always the essential ingredient in the team, greatly undervalued, but you would always miss him when he was not in the team. The next time I felt in a similar way about a player was watching Ardilles in the 1978 world cup. Very similar players, both indispensible to the team,linking defence to attack, smoothly.

Feel like my initial, naive childhood excitement (which left many years ago) of watching the simplicity and aggression of his play, briefly revived with his memories,;along with my little blue shirt in which I spent hours trying to make a number 8 from mother's sewing materials, to sew on the back ( you had to do it yourself in those days).

My best wishes to his three children

niel, Manchester, UK

Alan you were the first to wear white boots,
I saw you your goal a free kick curled before curls were normal
I was there when your first "home" game was against us,
We sold you for 220, 000 pounds
We sold the centre of of our holy trinity

Alan and all your familiy who care for you

My thoughts are with you

Amran, Muscat, Oman

Alan was an inspiration to all English football fans.I can recall sitting with my wife, who was expecting our first child,in front of the television watching the final against West Germany.We knew watching this dynamo of a man that he would ensure an English victory,and so it was to be.
He will be sadly missed by a large number of my generation.A sportsman,a gentleman and an inspiration.May he R.I.P.

steve otoole, London, England

Up until December 1971 when I was 8 I tentantively supported Everton but my allegiance followed Alan Ball to Arsenal who I have supported ever since. He was my first footballing hero.

I am glad he is belatedly getting the recognition in death he does not ever seem to have received in life.

Thank you for the memories.

DMcG, London

Dermot McGarrity, London,

May the lord bless and keep you and may your family take comfort from the joy you gave to others.

Guilford, Watford, England

My sincere condolences to his family I met him several times whilst living in Portsmouth and working in Wickham. He was one of the lovliest friendly and unassuming people I have ever met. He will be missed by a nation
Rest in Peace
Beverly Hay Plymouth

Beverly Hay, Plymouth, Devon

When Bally played .I saw a man who played with Pride,Passion and Pleasure.

A Walton, Leicester, England

It's rare that a childhood hero never lets one down, Alan Ball was my hero as a schoolboy in Ealing in the late 1960's and to this day never did anything to be less the hero in my eyes as he went from my boyhood idol to a man I respected as an adult. It's just a very sad day.

Michael Power, Fredericton, NB, Canada

ADN (WHU FAN)
Saw him make his debut for the Arsenal
Thoughts go out to his family

Adrian, London, UK

Alan Ball was a great footballer and a true gent he will be.
sadly missed god bless you,

peter morgan, Liverpool, England

It is exactly 1 year ago that I received a phone call from Alan to go to Brian Labones funeral with him. Alan Ball, Alan Kennedy and myself walked up the steps to the Liverpool Cathedral to pay our respects to Brian. 1 Year on and I will be walking up steps again to pay tribute, only this time I will be paying my respects to Alan. I am so proud for my family and myself to have had Alan as a friend.
Alan R.I.P. Walk tall walk straight and look the world right in the eye.

Jim Buckley, Maghull, Liverpool, England

A great true Englishman , pity there are not many left . Rest in peace Alan

Patrick Coade, Seaview, isle of wight

Alan Ball`s own words
"I remember being completely overwhelmed with emotion on one particular Saturday when I got two goals against Liverpool. I was running back to the centre circle after I scored the second one and pure elation welled up inside me. I remember thinking: "I just I love this place - I want this place forever". Once Everton has touched you, nothing will be the same."
No amount of money or celebrity can buy that. Today`s players and fans should take heed

tom, Liverpool,

i flew to the FA CUP final in 2003..Arsenal -v- Southampton...lo and behold who do i see walking in was the champion Alan Ball....it was a fantastic occasion,i managed to approach him and took a couple of photographs...they are still on my wall at home in Sydney..
forever great

dario, sydnay, australia

As a great and beloved futbol fan and player, I thank you for you contribution to this great sport. For Player like yourself bring much join to this wonderful game. As I deeply respect you, God Bless and best of wishes to your family and friends that you may rest in peace.

I thank You Allan Ball.

Oscar Jr., Springfield, U.S.A.

To a HERO who will always live on!!

Now you are in the safe arms of Lesley.


"god bless"

Tracey Prebble, Southampton, England

As an Evertonian , Alan Ball always had a special place in my heart- you could only admire his passion to be a winner , his tenacity in the tackle and also his glorious footballing ability - how surreal that this god of English football - who would earn 100% for heart - was taken from us in such a way.
Bobby Moore is alone no more.
As a fellow Evertonian said to me today " the only red and white that I ever loved was Alan Balls hair and his boots !!!"
Tribute indeed.
Rest in peace little squeeky voice.

chris skelly, widnes, uk

Please reprint the wonderful 'Day in the life' article that featured Alan Ball. It told us everything about the man and was a memorable and wonderful account. I remember Alan Ball the great footballer but this told me so much about a man with heart and soul.

Bill Best, Staplehurst, UK

Alan Ball, Husband, Father, Gentlemen - EVERTONIAN.

RIP Alan, Merseyside,

Alan Ball MBE.
You are the last of a breed that is rare,a true winner who gave everything and was proud to wear an England shirt!!
A true footballer who was also Gentleman on and off the pitch and will be greatly missed.
A player who will always be a true legend.
May you rest in peace.

Mr D G Roberts, Derby,

I’m devastated and had tears in my eyes as I heard it on radio this morning as I drove into work. He was my first football idol and as they say…you never forget your first! As a young lad on my stool at Everton's Paddock Wall at the age of 8 in that wonderful 1969-70 season, it was Ball that I cheered the loudest. I remember my dad buying me an Alan Ball poster and souvenir booklet of him from one of the souvenir sellers on the pitch-side that you had in those days, and they were prized possessions for many a year. I remember the shock when he was sold to Arsenal, the disappointment when his England career ended prematurely in my view. I remember always having a soft spot for him wherever he went because he was always a True blue to me. Thank you Alan for the priceless Everton (and England) memories. God bless you, Bally!

David Edwards, Darlington, England

as a leeds fan i can honestly say that he was the only player who could have improved the great leeds side of the early 70s . fine player...white boots and all!

steve tose, newcastle, england

Alan Ball you gave your heart to football. You gave everything.

You wore the England shirt with belief. You worked selflessly for your team.

You are gone now – one of the last of a dying breed of football players. I will never forget your contribution to my teenage years watching that great England side.

I would like your epitaph to read, ‘Here lies Alan Balll, footballer, he won much but was never ashamed to lose a game contested with supreme effort and honesty’.

les morrison, london, london

I remember Alan Ball as one of the most tenacious hardwokring midfield payers of my generation. Every team needs some one like him and England in 1966 was lucky that he was the one. Although Bobby Moore was great with the ball some one like Alan had to win it first. He ran for everything and must have inspired the rest of the team. Although he was tenacious he was fair and always went for the ball and nearly always got it. Although I never met him I felt like thousands of others that I new him and so today I feal as though I have lost an old friend.

J.A.Houghton, EXETER, DEVON

My family lived round the corner from Alan Ball (Snr) house in Walkden. As a seven year old girl in1966 I remember going to his house and it being covered from top to bottom in Union Jack bunting - You could hardly see any of the house's brickwork through all the flags. I am devastated to hear of the news, after growing up in the same area that he was the local hero of - a part of my childhood has gone. Last xmas I read his autobiography - so many memories. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

Shirley Steel (nee Payne), Warrington, Uk

the final is one of my treasured childhood memories. Alan Ball seemed to be everywhere, and must have run a marathon that day. He always played his heart out. He always tried like you want your players to try. Great player, great loss. God bless.

Michael Booth, Manchester, England

WE who remeber the Wingless Wonders have lost a truly great person and a loyal Englishman

stepan, staines, surrey

I hope he will be remembered for his memorable games in t 1966 world cup with his never say die efforts,there should be some fitting tribute to him at the new wembley.

mike dobson, netanya, israel

One of the best Everton players ever.I just loved watching him.

Joe Dignan, Warrington, England

He was the best player I ever saw in the royal blue of Everton. A player who had everything and the energy to light up every stadium he played in.
Without a weakness in his game and a prolific goalscorer from midfield what would any team pay for the complete footballer today !

Jack A, N Wales,

From Barcelona.....support to the family and friends.

Enrique, Barcelona, Spain

Alan Ball, a great footballer, who never gave up.
He gave England drive, energy and passion,as well as his abundant skill.
He will be sadly missed

Pat, Nottingham, England

My hero when I started watching Everton as a kid - I had a wooden box to stand on in the paddock with his name stencilled on it!! We will miss you at Goodison Alan, RIP. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Ian Seddon, Liverpool, United Kingdom