04/20/24
April 25, 2007
Alan Ball dies, aged 61: The youngest of England's World Cup winning team, Alan Ball died of a suspected heart attack after a fighting a bonfire at his home.
Everyone knows the World Cup winner, the little ginger bundle of energy who really won the Jules Rimet trophy, begging Sir Geoff Hurst's pardon. (BBC)
Much too young. He was opposition manager at a fair few matches I've attended, so saw the man in the flesh a few times. It's not often a man so squeaky and ginger can win the nation's heart, and even rarer than an English footballer can win anything, so go easy lad.
posted by Abiezer at 06:08 AM on April 25, 2007
. His was one of the names always to be remembered from '66.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 09:35 AM on April 25, 2007
RIP
posted by squealy at 01:17 PM on April 25, 2007
I've actually met him. He was a judge in a dancing competition I was in! (Seriously!) I was 12 at the time I think, and his voice was as high as mine... Very nice bloke. Can't help but think of Fantasy Football (Baddiel and Skinner) making fun of his voice. 61? Shit... Rest in peace Alan.
posted by Drood at 01:59 PM on April 25, 2007
His was one of the names always to be remembered from '66 Isn't it funny how some of us of a certain generation can still recite the whole team ("Banks, Cohen, Wilson...), yet we can't remember who played in the last game. It means either early onset Alzheimer's, or (more likely) some kind of immortality for members of that team. Moore, Ball...
posted by owlhouse at 04:38 PM on April 25, 2007
RIP