Alan Ball RIP Poems
In memory of Alan Ball, a feisty member of England’s ’66 World Cup Winning team, who sadly passed away too soon.
Clik on the poem titles listed here, or see them down below.
Having A. BALL in Heaven : by John J O’Connor
Players and Managers : by John Cox
Alan Ball and his Dad : by Stuart Butler
The Provider : by mark merriman
Alan Ball tanka : by Alan McKean
I Remember Alan Ball : by S B Ingle
Every Inch Of The Way : by S B Ingle
The greatest of them all : by Paul Conatzer
Ball of fun : by Clik the mouse
Link to BBC Obituary
Our Bally
like some terrier
in 66 it was the Germans
left chasing your shadow
in theJuly Wembley sun
on the top of the World
you danced
triumphant
defining moments in time
for our Bally
grainy black and white images
of a re-run day
some forty years back
but you were so much a part of it
in another age
in another time
on another stage
first Bobby Moore
and now you
how unfair how sad
how precious this life
but oh what football memories
you leave us
standing tall
on chairs at after-dinner speeches
Alan Ball has gone
and we..
we lose
not just a great player of the time
intimidating frustrating
niggly determined
and always the passion
covering every inch of the field
feisty and joking
some character ideed
oh how we’ll miss
our Bally
© CT07
Alan Ball RIP (61) so sad today.
Having A. BALL in Heaven.
There’s a knock on heavens gate,
and St Peter takes a peek,
see’s a feisty little red head,
then hears a voice, that starts to squeak.
“Any chance of coming in?
my name is Alan Ball,”
and St Peter says,
“ just wait a bit,
I’ll go give God a call.”
St Peter returned quickly saying,
“ you’re more than welcome – lad,
there’s a place on that cloud over there.
right next to your dad.”
Then Pete went off to do his thing,
and God came walking by,
and to the little red head,
he sincerely apologised.
“Things ain’t been too good up here,
that’s why you got the early call,
our teams are lacking passion,
they required an Alan Ball.
You’ll be playing for us Saturday,
we’re playing paradise at home,
you’ll be in your favorite position,
in front of Mooro and Labone..
Harry Catterick and Sir Alf will coach,
they’ve formed an unholy alliance,
you played with Ramsey’s wingless wonders,
and Harry’s ‘School of Science’.
The Saints will sing, ‘Go Marching In,
as your fans did at the Dell,
and the Pompey chimes will ring so loud,
that they’ll hear them down in hell.
The Arsenal Gunners will give salute,
for your deeds for the Highbury cause,
and all across the country,
you’ll witness much applause.
But the greatest sadness down on earth,
will be on the blue side of the Mersey,
where Evertonians won’t forget ,
how you proudly wore their jersey.”
So when football fans this weekend,
clap their hands to show their love,
make sure you chant his name as well,
so he hears you up above.
© John J O’Connor April 27 2007
Alan Ball R.I.P
Ball of Fire
Their hero, their legend
Iconic white boots, shirt of blue
A ball of fire, too hot too handle
Disdain, our compliment to you
Our hero, our legend
On your red shirt, three lions roar
Youngest and best on that July day
Crossing for Hurst to score
© Mark Thomas
A Liverpool supporter’s poem on the death of Everton legend, Alan Ball.
Ball of fun
Every team wants one
a little ball of puppy dog energy
yapping and snapping away at heels
and yet as loveable and loyal a servant
you couldn’t hope to meet
Nimble on his feet
and as fit as bedamned
a small package crammed
with fun and laughter
and uniquely –
a World Cup winners medal
Alan Ball R.I.P.
© Clik the mouse, 25th April 2007
In memory of Alan Ball, who died of a heart attack this morning.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Alan Ball RIP
Farewell Bally
Pack your dreams into
Your kitbag and race home
Socks rolled down
And shirt too big
Furnish the parks of heaven
With those passions lad
The captain waits to start the game.
© Me
Alan Ball RIP
Alan Ball tanka
World Cup winning Ball
Now finally out of play.
A reducing team,
Steadily growing smaller
As the years race down the wing.
© Alan McKean April 2007
I Remember Alan Ball
With your red carpet of hair
And man of the match memories from ‘sixty-six
You’ll get into Heavens trophy room
© S B Ingle 25.4.07
By golly, did this little man have some passion, it didn’t matter who you supported as a kid, Alan Ball was one of those players who everyone knew about, universally liked and admired. The angels are singing in a higher pitch today – rest in peace Bally.
Every Inch Of The Way
Alan Ball
Small jokes, he heard ’em all
“You’re not small
You’re just not very tall”
He gave hope to every titch
Who wanted to be out there on that pitch
The ones who thought they’d never get a kick
Or even get picked
He would never give up – and nor did we
Someone said to me – (and it hurt) –
You won’t make the team, you’re just a little squirt
My mate spoke up
“Alan Balls a little squirt
And he just won the World Cup”
© S B Ingle 25.4.07
Thank you Alan Ball – inspiration and magic.
The Provider
Yes, it was he who
sprinted tiredly down
the wing to fire over
the cross from which
our Geoff scored THAT goal.
He who ran himself
into the ground in search
of the game’s ultimate prize.
Later as squeaky-voiced manager
often pilloried and ridiculed
by fans and fancy dan players
who had but a fraction of
his heart, his talent, his bottle.
Yet they can never take away
his one momentous achievement –
being a part of THAT team
whose players clutched each other
in a frenzy of elation
at the end of one hundred and twenty
marvellous minutes.
Silent as I watched the headlines:
his death the lead story,
says it all really.
And fans attending the 2007 Cup Final
should stand as one to
mark the passing of a true legend.
© mark merriman
R.I.P. Bally, one of the game’s greats.
Alan Ball.
When picking sides,
Great weight, great height
Determined who would play
As little ones, left out, were stuck in goal
So as to get a game
Where would we find an idol
One for us fellows small
One who’d give us self esteem
With great tenacity on the ball?
Would you have to be a Millwall docker
Or a squaddie like at Leeds
Was fame at game all based on size and frame
Was that how we’d succeed?
All that changed in sixty six
High time it did and all
When a little bloke stood tall
Amongst mere men
That bloke was….Alan Ball!
© kev 2007
Alan Ball, a real inspiration for all little blokes who couldn’t and can’t get a game, purely because of their size, that it is possible to overcome the odds and succeed, irrespective of stature.
peace
kev
The greatest of them all
Ginger hair
royal blue jersey
white boots on Goodison’s glorious green
Who’s the greatest of them all…
Little curly Alan Ball
© Paul Conatzer
I don’t think that there is an Everton fan in my age group (I’m 49) that didn’t adore Alan Ball..His recent death was a shock…If there was anything that you would think would run for ever it would be his heart..
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Publish your football poems here and then discuss them with your team mates and fans. We're archived by The British Library, so your masterpieces are in the safe hands of a world-class keeper. What a result!
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Latest Comments
13th September 2024 at 6:14 pm
Welcome to Football Poets Beth
Great evocative poem Beth….
More please !
Haiku always welcome.
Hope we (FGR) get to play you again soon
Best
Crispin
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26th July 2024 at 6:25 pm
Great poem Mike Bartram. Eddie was a legend, affectionately known in Liverpool as, “the first hooligan.” Even the hoolies were well dressed in those days. The amazing thing was he was only 26 when that picture was taken. He’d played for Everton youth team and was well known to the players. He never got arrested. They threw him out and he climbed back in, just in time for Derek Temples winner.
I used the picture of him being tackled to the ground on the front cover of my book, “Once Upon a rhyme in Football.” It’s worth looking on youtube and finding the re-enactment of the Wembley scene. Frank Skinner and Baddiel went around to Eddies home in the 1990’s and acted it out on the green outside. It’s hilarious, especially all the effort they put in to get Eddie sober enough to shoot the scene.
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10th July 2024 at 6:07 pm
Hi Crispin,
I don’t know if you’ve see the picture in social media today…
a picture of a teenage Lionel Messi cradling a baby in Africa as part of a photoshoot…. the family had won a lottery to have their baby pictured with him….
the photographer has just revealed that the baby is actually in fact Lamine Yamal!!!!
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26th May 2024 at 2:30 pm
Hi Denys…
Re Man City:
OK it was 20 years ago but Criag Wilson did write this and a few others on them back in 04/05.
BTW I’m more Forest Green Rover since 2014 (and Chelsea) these days . I drum and am a standing season ticket holder .
Best
Crispin
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29th April 2024 at 2:47 pm
Hi Denys,
Yes Richard Williams you’re a brilliant wordsmith, my friend. When I first saw your football poetry I thought it was the superb Guardian sports and music writer. I once had the honour of sitting next to Richard Williams while at the Independent on the sports desk. He writes about music and sport with immense knowledge and authority. I’ve read a couple of Richard’s books recently. Great writer rather like you Richard Williams the Pompey fan. Congratulations on promotion.
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28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
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26th April 2024 at 4:46 pm
Nice work, Joe. You were quick off the mark with that! Good one from Richard Williams too I see.
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25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm
Hi Denys
With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?
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