From 1960 until the present day, I have attended Goodison Park, then as a 12-year-old; now a 62-year-old. I have had some of the best times of my life, and seen some of the finest footballers in the world in this unique old stadium.
Two particular players stand out like Blue Beacons in my memories: Alex Young and Alan Ball — both blessed with the gift of being able to literally take your breath away with sublime skill and artistry.
My two younger Blue brothers recently put me on the spot and demanded an answer: Who was your best Everton player ever? Alex Young had just edged it for me but, after watching this latest DVD, I really can’t separate them.
Young definitely edges it in dribbling skills, heading ability, and finishing... but Ball was an outstanding team player, great passing and awareness skills, also a good finisher but not as clinical as Young.
I still get a shiver down my spine when I visualise Alex Young leaping like a salmon and scoring that headed goal against Spurs; I don’t know whether my memory is playing tricks on me but he seemed to be standing on the line about 5 yards from goal when he scored.
He won both the League and FA Cup at Everton scoring 22 goals in the 1963 Championship-winning side, but he was much, much more than a goalscorer, "The Golden Vision" had the touch of an angel. He wasn’t the type of grafter David Moyes demanded, but who wants to remember a grafter? The crowd absolutely adored him. [Harry Catterick, the then Everton manager was physically assaulted at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road for daring to drop him in favour of a very raw Joe Royle. This is a myth — Editor]
Young "scored" one of the best ever disallowed goals in history in the 1966 Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday, a perfectly good goal often forgotten in the euphoria of the win. He suffered with blistered feet, very similar to the injuries that affect ballerinas, appropriate really because he was blessed with the same grace and the poise.
The shivers down my spine reappear when I think about Alan Ball, the trademark white boots, the mop of ginger hair, the winning goal he scored against Liverpool in the 1967 FA Cup, when a combined crowd of over 100,000 fans packed both Goodison Park and Anfield where the game was broadcast simultaneously on a big screen, and the two goals he scored in his first ever derby game... it just goes on and on.
He was part of the best midfield I’ve ever seen: Howard Kendall, Colin Harvey and Alan Ball complemented each other perfectly, but Bally was the star; he made things happen, he frightened players, he never stopped running, cajoling and encouraging his teammates non-stop. I can’t remember the team we played at Goodison, but his marker that day stuck that close to him, when Bally mockingly walked off the pitch to go down the tunnel during play, he followed him! Bally was also the first player I ever saw sit on the ball during open play when shielding the ball against a defender near the touchline.
I remember first hearing Alan Ball being interviewed on the telly, after we bought him from Blackpool for £110,000 (daylight robbery, by the way). If you thought Ashley from Coronation Street had a squeaky voice, then you’ve heard nothing till you heard Bally. On the subject of squeaky voices, I remember going to see Everton away at Blackpool in the 60s and standing next to Brian London, the former British Heavyweight boxing champion. Being keen boxing fans, we got into conversation with him and I remember struggling to control my laughter when he started talking like Orville the Duck! 6 ft 2 ins and 15 stone boxing champion — you don’t laugh at them, do you?
But back to Alan Ball and Alex Young — it frightens me to think what they would be worth today... Bally, an aggressive, inspirational captain and creative goalscoring Number 8; Alex Young, magnificent dribbling and heading qualities and guaranteed double-figure goals every season... Priceless — both of them! I just feel privileged and lucky that they both provided me with memories I will remember for the rest of my life.
"Who’s the Greatest of them All? Little Curly Alan Ball"
Mmmm.... or was it Alex Young?
Sorry, Paul & Ste — I just can’t separate them.
Great video, by the way; ex-Everton player Ronny Goodlass is another True Blue and should be congratulated on his work for helping to deliver football coaching on Merseyside for vulnerable young people.
Reader Comments (49)
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2 Posted 04/12/2013 at 07:10:42
It ain't what you do, it's the way you do it. When Ball arrived he took a Game, a Season, a whole Club, by the scruff of the and dragged it kicking and screaming to a League Championship ( with a little help from Harry and the rest of the lads...oh and us fans as well )
2nd only to Dixie
3 Posted 04/12/2013 at 09:01:18
4 Posted 04/12/2013 at 09:53:34
if put on the spot ...........Young - just !
5 Posted 04/12/2013 at 10:14:31
6 Posted 04/12/2013 at 09:35:31
Even among our own fans he had critics who jumped on his occasional misdirected pass.
For god knows what reason they ignored the sheer volume of Alan's good passing and mountains of effort.
I put it down to the tall poppy syndrome except that Alan was pint sized.
Alex was of and entirely different mould with an different kind of role. Though not shirking the rough and tumble stuff he did not have anything like Alans work rate and contribution to the teams success.
Alex also had his homegrown critics who wanted to see a more robust attitude. In a way they preferred a hard working cart horse instead of a potential derby winner.
From a football point of view I consider it to be my blessed good fortune to have seen their entire Everton career.
In fact, I saw Alan playing for Blackpool in a team coached by his dad. By sheer co-incidence it was that very game where Cattericks accidental trip on a wet pavement resulted in a media beat up about so called Everton thugs.
In his pre Everton days a teen age Ball was adored by seasiders supporters who named him their little general.
Such was the brilliant yet very distinct individual talents of Alan and Alex I find it impossible to place one ahead of the other and it would be grossly unfair to either of them should I attempt to do so.
At the same time I most dearly wish my 3 evertonian sons, 4 grandsons and 5 gt grandsons could experience the same tingling exquisite delight of seeing Alex Young elevate our game to a level not seen before or since.
7 Posted 04/12/2013 at 10:28:23
Another poster mentions Bobby Collins another terrific player who came from Celtic, Bobby was about 5ft 5ins but what a player for me he was as good a passer of the ball as Johnny Haynes and he was considered the best of his generation. Bobby was sold to Leeds and the following season was voted PFA footballer of the year so that tells you what a good player he was.
8 Posted 04/12/2013 at 11:00:30
The absence of TV in those days meant that until scots players came south of the border few English fans knew what they looked like.
I remember my mate saying, ' jeez that Everton mascot is a chunky kid'
We won the game 3-1 with Bobby playing a starring role.
9 Posted 04/12/2013 at 12:20:54
Collins and Vernon both thrived on derby matches and always competed. Vernon was our version of Rush. He was a fantastic goalscorer and I never saw him miss a penalty. He was pacey and waspish.
Catterick let Collins go miles before he should've as Collins became the best signing Leeds Utd ever made. Probably Catt fell out with Collins as he was an abrasive person with fire in his belly. Collins was a much better long passer than anyone I ever saw at the club and he had a nasty streak which likened him to Souness. The nearest I saw to Ball as a player was Tony Kay.
He had everything and it was a great shame when he got banned as he ruined a fantastic career. If I picked a best ever EFC side it would contain all the players mentioned. Young needed Vernon and Collins and each brought the best out of each other. Each had their admirers and as far as I am concerned they were equals in their respective abilities.
10 Posted 04/12/2013 at 13:12:40
Bally inspired you to believe, he drove himself and the team on and on. He single handedly won games and never hid. They could never have played together, brilliant in their own ways.
The greatest inspiration for the team, Alan Ball
The greatest inspiration to the fans, Alex Young
11 Posted 04/12/2013 at 14:22:26
12 Posted 04/12/2013 at 14:04:55
Harvey had the superb technique and style of Young and the workrate and consistency of Ball. For two seasons we were lucky enough to have all three of them play together (66-7 and 67-8). Of course Ball and Young were far ahead of Harvey in that not unimportant matter of scoring goals and also in heading ability.
13 Posted 04/12/2013 at 14:44:02
All I would add is that like many thousands of Evertonians, I was privileged to have seen them both grace Goodison park, & wear the BLUE shirt with pride. COYB.
14 Posted 04/12/2013 at 14:53:18
Glad to see others on here mentioning Colin Harvey who, in my opinion, was as skilled as any other footballer who has played for the Blues. I seem to recall that someone (can't remember where) referred to him as the White Pele. Has anyone else seen or heard of this and if so where was it?
15 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:12:58
Two comments:
(1) I think I am correct in saying that Young had trouble with blisters on his feet when Winter arrived with its hard pitches, and he did not always play. Bally was rarely injured.
(2) Young's Everton career was slightly blighted when he lost his place (I think to Fred Pickering??) and was subsequently pushed out onto the right wing. No-one would ever have challenged Bally's place in the side.
I would be interested to hear others' memories and views relating to the above two comments.
16 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:02:56
In my opinion, Alex Young, at his best, was unmatched for pure skill, and could scale heights that the others could not attain, so for that reason he is my Number 1.
I don't know if it's an age thing, but all these players are from 40 years or more ago. In my time, Dave Hickson and Alex Young were by far the greatest heroes for the fans, and I don't think anyone has come close to the level of adulation both those players inspired, for different reasons.
17 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:22:29
From Young to Pickering - thoroughbred to carthorse!
18 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:22:07
19 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:25:36
I don't remember that. Given the colour of his hair, could it have been "the orange peel" (sic)?
20 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:31:30
Colin Harvey
21 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:29:20
22 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:16:50
Undoubtedly the two of them, like Dixie and other before and after him, were magnificent players of their era and should be held in equally high esteem as greats of the Club.
Of the 2 I saw Bally in the flesh, and Alex probably only once on the telly in the 1966 cup fina,l so my fondest memories are of Bally but I've no doubt that from the many tributes paid to Alex they were of the same character and skill and equally deserving of greatness.
23 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:37:16
24 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:42:31
You should learn to calm yourself then :-)
25 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:57:20
26 Posted 04/12/2013 at 15:59:44
Another player he speaks highly of and believes would have gone on to be the finest to wear the Royal Blue is Tony Kay. As he says 10 stone soaking wet but could tackle a house. I met him at a dinner in Crosby and he is a gentlemen.
The best club in the world with a great history.
27 Posted 04/12/2013 at 16:11:23
1) How often did Alex turn it on AWAY from home?
2) How many did he score against Liverpool?
3) What was his injury record like?
4) How often did he ignore better placed team mates?
Answer those four questions honestly and you don't have to bother answering the OP's question at all.
28 Posted 04/12/2013 at 16:24:13
In 66-67 (Ball's first season), Young scored 12 goals. Bally scored 15 from midfield. He also outscored him in 67-68.
29 Posted 04/12/2013 at 16:29:52
That was a poor attempt at sarcasm from me.
I replied to your post without reading the ones above.
Apologies for a dopey post.
3 points will get us calmed down :-)
30 Posted 04/12/2013 at 16:42:06
31 Posted 04/12/2013 at 16:30:35
32 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:11:15
33 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:06:32
as they say there are statistics and there are statistics.
I saw both players throughout their Everton careers.
One difference that I would like to mention is the fact that we really didn't appreciate what we lost until we sold Ball. Yes we all loved him when he was here but the "cult idolisation" really happened after he left.
With Young not only was he loved but he was "hero worshiped" and idolised during his time at Goodison.
34 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:21:38
35 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:30:03
36 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:14:50
I remember the great George Best said Colin Harvey was his favourite player.
I loved Alex, Bally, Collins and Roy Vernon but my own hero was Jimmy Gabriel.
37 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:32:25
I genuinely don't think there's a comparison to be made on any level.
Statistics may not be able to tell the full story but, for me, they provide a surer guide to what happened than our star struck memories.
38 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:58:51
As to the original question, personal recollections & opinions apart, we were obviously very fortunate to have them both.
39 Posted 04/12/2013 at 18:03:10
Again, I agree that stats don't tell the whole story but there's been a myth-building exercise about the guy which he himself sought to debunk.
Readers might recall his comments about deafness being the reason he didn't seek out his team mates; how blisters spoiled his time at Goodison and how we never saw the best of him here. He was also pretty modest in his "Golden Vision" interview as I recall. Nice guy; legend; terrific dribbler BUT nothing like as effective or inspirational as Bally IMHO.
40 Posted 04/12/2013 at 17:52:36
Mike McLean @ 363
Interestingly, Mike, if you take their whole career at Everton, instead of just the period after Ball joined when Alex Young's star was inevitably beginning to fade and which consequently gives a false reading, Ball scored a total of 78 goals in 250 games whereas Young hit 89 goals in 272 games. Very little to separate them.
I was absolutely gutted when Catterick sold Ball and mourned his leaving us as much as anyone, but, for me, Young was the greatest ever.
41 Posted 04/12/2013 at 18:23:21
When Alex signed for the Blues every side had a big bad centre forward and Alex was a subtle footballer. I have spoken to a number of Everton players who played with both players and each and everyone of them has said that Bally was the greatest player they have played with.
John Morrisey once told me sometimes when you went out to play you didn't feel like playing and you would be sluggish and disinterested, but he said Bally would sus you out and do a few one two's with you then you would get your game going again. Like I said if you ask any player who was the best they would tell you "Who's the greatest of them all, little curly Alan Ball"
42 Posted 04/12/2013 at 19:39:08
43 Posted 05/12/2013 at 01:55:06
At the time Harvey was actually my favourite player, even ahead of Bally.
Someone asked in an earlier post where Harvey acquired his "White Pele" nickname.
Don't know for sure but there have been a number of players who have been given the 'White Pele' tag over the years, Tostao and Zico, for example, pretty obvious why of course.
As for Harvey, he was part of the famous Everton midfield we all know as 'the Holy Trinity' and although the comparison with Pele wasn't that obvious (Pele was a forward and Harvey was a midfielder) it was his class, composure, creativity, skill and elegance on the ball that earned him that accolade from the Goodison faithful.
Unbelieveable that he only got one cap for England..from Joe Mercer I believe.
Notwithstanding, with hindsight, Bally has to be the best.
44 Posted 05/12/2013 at 05:03:09
45 Posted 05/12/2013 at 10:56:44
It was a Golden Era and I loved every minute of it.
46 Posted 05/12/2013 at 12:03:08
Alan Ball, August 1966
Unfortunately my age means I missed witnessing them both play live, but this is the reason I'd go for Bally.
48 Posted 06/12/2013 at 14:22:36
then signed by us.The golden vision was unbeleivable at Goodison
but often struggled a bit in comparison away.Bally maintained his level home and away the English Billy Bremner but better.
49 Posted 06/12/2013 at 21:04:47
He had the best one touch passing I have ever seen - usually short range but always gave his team mates extra time and space.
Shed tears when we sold him.
50 Posted 06/12/2013 at 21:22:54
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1 Posted 04/12/2013 at 07:10:28