Alan Ball house plaque unveiled in Farnworth
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| The plaque extolling Alan's feats on the football pitches of the world |
A PLAQUE has been unveiled in memory of former England footballer Alan Ball on the house in Farnworth where he was born.
The soccer star died last April after suffering a heart attack as he tackled a fire in his garden at his home in Hampshire.
The youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team was just 61 when he died.
Yesterday, his family and friends gathered to see the plaque, organised by Bolton and District Civic Trust, unveiled on his birthplace - a semi-detached house in Brookhouse Avenue, Farnworth.
His uncle Trevor Ball said: "This is a really worthwhile project because Alan was always so proud of Farnworth and his roots.
"He was very quick to tell people where he was born and where he grew up and even when he was a professional he still lived in this area.
"This plaque means that people in Farnworth will have a permanent reminder that one of their own, born and bred in this street, through hard work and dedication realised his dream.
"I hope this is an inspiration for future generations."
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| Alan's sister Carolyn Cooke with the plaque on the wall of the house in Brookhouse Avenue, Farnworth |
The blue plaque has been funded by Ball's former clubs, which include Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal, Southampton and Bristol Rovers.
Ball, a former Farnworth Grammar School pupil, had trials with Bolton Wanderers as a teenager but was rejected when coaches told him he was "too small".
The 5ft 6in midfield-dynamo eventually began his career with Blackpool, before being transferred to Everton for a then British record fee of £110,000.
He won a league championship title with the Merseyside club in 1970 and collected 72 England caps during a 10-year international career.
He later managed clubs including Southampton and Manchester City.
The plaque says that he is famous for his man-of-the-match performance in England's victory against Germany at Wembley in 1966.
Barbara Ronson, the Mayor of Bolton, unveiled the plaque. She said: "He was so well thought of in the community and people are proud to see him honoured in this way."
Brian Tetlow, chairman of Bolton Civic Trust, said: "This is not the normal practise of the civic trust. We usually deal with heritage but we felt this was a worthwhile cause."
Charles Cater has lived in the house with his wife, Lynn for five years. He said: "When I bought it I had no idea that Alan Ball used to lived here."
He added: "I am very proud this plaque is on my house. It is a beautiful thing."
Ball's life was celebrated at a memorial service, organised by The Bolton News, at Bolton Parish Church in June last year.
More than 300 fans, family and friends, including former England teammates, Westhoughton-born Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee, and Bolton legends Roy Hartle and Tommy Banks, attended the service.
8:49am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: WUMPKINS, bolton on 9:00am Fri 28 Mar 08
Could end up on E-bay
Posted by: eggbarm, northkorea on 11:15am Fri 28 Mar 08
That was my house i wondering were that came from. They could of ask me, i was at work all day
That was my house i wondering were that came from. They could of ask me, i was at work all day
Posted by: starspangledbanner, Little lever on 8:49pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]eggbarm[/bold] wrote:
That was my house i wondering were that came from. They could of ask me, i was at work all day [/quote] -you [bold]ARE[/bold] joking, right?
eggbarm wrote:
That was my house i wondering were that came from. They could of ask me, i was at work all day
-you
ARE joking, right?
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