Alan Ball, who provided inspiration and perspiration to help England to win the 1966 World Cup, died hours after discussing Manchester United’s comeback against AC Milan with his son.

The 61-year-old is believed to have suffered a heart attack while attempting to extinguish a bonfire that had spread out of control in the back garden of his home in Warsash, Hampshire, on Tuesday night. Ball, who won 72 caps, is the second member of the 1966 final team to have died, the first being Bobby Moore, the captain, from cancer in 1993.

Ball’s son, Jimmy, 31, said that he had spoken on the phone to his father for the final time after watching the Champions League semi-final, first leg at Old Trafford. It is believed that the former England player had started a bonfire to burn rubbish earlier in the day but went outside again when he realised it had not been put out.

“From what we can gather, he was at his compost heap, which caught alight,” Jimmy said. “While trying to fight the fire, he suffered a fatal heart attack. I got a phone call in the middle of the night. It’s unbelievable.”

Firefighters arrived at Ball’s home at about 12.15am, when his body was discovered. A Hampshire police spokesman said that it appeared the fire had got out of control and Ball had been attempting to stifle the blaze when he collapsed. Terry Hussey, a close friend, said: “I last saw him on Sunday and he was as fit as a fiddle. He was due to play in a charity golf tournament today for the Wessex Heart Foundation.”

In two weeks’ time, Ball, who was appointed MBE in 2000 for his services to the game, had been planning to attend one of the regular reunions of the 1966 team. The FA announced that the England players will wear black armbands before their first match at the new Wembley Stadium, against Brazil on June 1.

Ball started his career with Blackpool and there will be a minute’s silence before the club’s Coca-Cola League One match against Scunthorpe United on Saturday. Similar respect will be paid before Everton’s Barclays Premiership match against Manchester United at Goodison Park. Southampton will open a book of condolence for Ball, who had two playing stints with the club, whom he also coached and managed.

Lawrie McMenemy, who signed Ball for Southampton, said that at their first meeting, the player saw the former guardsman and said of him: “It’s like looking up at Blackpool Tower.” McMenemy recalled: “I immediately walked past him and locked the door. I wouldn’t let him out until he signed. I wanted him so badly for his ability and enthusiasm. That rubbed off on everyone.”

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