Alan Ball

Alan Ball enjoyed a 21-year playing career which began at Blackpool in 1962, largely thanks to his football manager dad Alan Snr calling in a favour. Ball, just 5ft 6in tall, had been overlooked by Wolves and Bolton for being too small.

He spent four years by the seaside, before his standout performances in the 1966 World Cup persuaded Everton to sign the 21-year-old in August of the same year. Alongside Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall, Ball was part of the revered 'Holy Trinity' that helped win the League title in 1969-70. Skillful, boundlessly energetic and fiercely committed, he was a firm favourite at Goodison Park, where his red hair, diminutive stature and white boots made him easily identifiable.

After five seasons for the Toffees, Ball spent five further years at Arsenal, two campaigns at Southampton and a stint across the Atlantic with Philadelphia Fury and Vancouver Whitecaps. He returned to Blackpool as player-manager before a second spell at Southampton and three months at Hong Kong outfit Eastern Athletic, where he played with Bobby Moore. He ended his 975-match playing career at Bristol Rovers in 1984.

Ball won 72 caps for England, scoring nine goals and captaining his country on six occasions in an international career that spanned 10 years and two World Cups. Ball, who made his international debut as a 19-year-old in 1965, will be most remembered for his tireless Man of the Match performance in the 4-2 win over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.

Ball enjoyed mixed fortunes in his 19 years of management, which began with an ill-fated return to Blackpool as player-manager in February 1980. Relegation was avoided that season but relations with supporters grew strained and Ball was sacked.

Better times lay ahead at Portsmouth, where promotion to the top-flight was achieved at the third attempt but relegation and dismissal soon followed. Indifferent spells at Colchester, Stoke and Exeter ensued before Ball returned to Southampton and masterminded an escape from relegation on the final day of the 1993-94 campaign.

After failing to avoid relegation with Manchester City, Ball re-joined Portsmouth in February 1998, with Pompey seven points adrift at the foot of the Premier League. Another last-day recovery proved his final managerial act.