The Mail Bag
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27 years ago I threw a book in the dustbin. Today, I bought it again.
I was in tears, a teenager who had just seen his idol sold by the manager. I could not bear seeing "Ball of Fire" with the books in my room. Bally was no longer ours. I had tossed up with putting them in a parcel and sending them to Harry Catterick with a message "Lest we forget"
So thanks to e-Bay I upgraded from paperback to Hardback and it will be back on the shelf.
We sold him when we were going downhill but we did not use the money wisely. It is so much better when your team is getting better. Heroes stay.
Two years ago, I was on a business trip in China and I was waiting for an internal flight at Canton airport and my wife rang and told me Bally had died. I was with a colleague, but how can you explain to a Chinese female, who Alan Ball was and what he meant and what this team of ours means to us?
I am so glad I am an Evertonian.
Phil Roberts, Posted 01/06/2009 at 20:00:41
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I was 9 years old.
When I heard the news I sat on the kerb and cried!!
That sale and the following use of the money ensured we wouldn’t win a trophy in the 70’s. Luckily his midfield colleague turned things around the next decade in a most spectacular way.
I was similarly moved when Bally’s family came to Goodison after his death & paid tribute to the Gwladys Street.
The Holy Trinity was 40 years ahead of Xavi, Messi and Iniesta. Those who don’t know or remember can’t appreciate just how good they were.
Bally was unforgettable. He was the very best.
I can only compare this to how I felt when we sold Dunc to Newcastle, but I bet that doesn’t even come close.
It killed me and I was unconsolable for weeks, and was because Fergie was one of us.
So was Bally but he was actually world class at football, as well.
N.S.N.O
To make matters worse I’d been desperate for a pair of his white Hummel boots for months and finally been promised a pair for Christmas. So three days later, on Christmas morning I got my Alan Ball boots, but they always reminded me that he’d gone. My Dad still has the original "Balls of fire" in his collection.
The feeling of doom/ rejection/ and abject sadness hung over me like a black cloud for days. Christmas was never going to be much fun that year. I think the painting was taken down in a tearful solo ritual that night before I went to bed.
If I recall I think our next game after that was against Huddesfield at Goodison a few days later. Before the game there was high anticipation in Gwladys Street of who was going to be captain leading them out. It was all eyes on the tunnel when Z Cars came on and all eyes strained for a glimpse of our new leader...."It’s Kendall !!!!" everyone spoke in unison.
But it was never the same. The transfer of Ball was the beginning of a very long tunnel of darkness we were thrust in and oddly enough it was the man who replaced him that day who was to bring us back out into the light! It was a dammed long wait....I was then 26 when that happened and my life had vastly moved on! But those childhood experiences do affect you for the rest of your life they say!
My dad would pick her up from work at 7.00am and sometimes, if I was up early, I’d go with him
We’d go to mass at St Phillip Neri (get it out the way early) and then home to a fry up, papers and Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan (only 2 channels, we’d watch ANYTHING)
On one such drive back (68/69) my mam produced an envelope from her bag.
Written on the envelope was ’To Eugene, all the best Alan Ball’.
"What is it?" I asked.
My mam said "What do you fri.. er..what do you think think it is?" (women in Liverpool used to say friggin’ a lot then).
I had NO idea.
However when it eventually became clear this had been written by Alan Ball...HIMSELF, his name AND MINE TOGETHER...LIKE WE WERE MATES...ME AND BALLY, BEZZIES...FOR EVER.....my 9 year old brain almost fused.
I put it in a draw in my bedroom and went to check on it every 18 seconds.
I’m sure it was my age, but I’d never had a hero like him before and I’ve certainly never had one to match him since.
Oh the joys of being a blue.
Now the result may have gone against us, but we will allways be winners, as we are Evertonians, we are born & not manufactured!! Roll on next season, with a bit of investments we can go a lot further. COYB
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1 Posted 02/06/2009 at 07:12:41
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A day that lives in the annals of infamy!