Allan Ball
Encyclopedia
Allan Ball is an English
former footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole
, County Durham
, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish
club Queen of the South
. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, a club record, between 1963 and 1982. He also briefly played for Bishop Auckland
, Stanley United and Gretna
, and is now an Honorary Director with the Queen of the South.
- was injured during a game.
As a 15-year-old, Ball deputised four times for Harry Sharratt
in Bishop Auckland
's goal. He doubled his weekly income from working at South Hetton
coal mine as a pit electrician
by signing for Stanley United.
, right winger Ernie Hannigan
and fellow long servants Iain McChesney and Jim Kerr.
Goalkeeper & manager George Farm
dropped himself from the team to give Allan Ball his Queens debut in a 6-3 defeat to Falkirk
. Retained for the following midweek match at Celtic
, he caught the afternoon train from Durham to Glasgow
and got a taxi, seven and sixpence, from the station. "I remember asking the driver if he'd come back again at ten. He was a Rangers
fan and told me, quite seriously, that he'd only come back if we beat them." Queens won 1-0, the taxi was there at 9.25pm.
Allan Ball made 819 Queen of the South appearances, including 507 consecutively, and was only once cautioned. That was by Tiny Wharton
, on December 25. "I'd said something about Jesus Christ," he recalls. "I was booked for blaspheming on Christmas Day."
Ball's performance in the 1975/76 Scottish League Cup
quarter-final against Rangers
at Ibrox Park helped keep Rangers to a 1-0 defeat. A 2-1 victory for Queens in the second leg at Palmerston meant extra time after an aggregate 2-2 score. Jocky Dempster
was one of the Queens scorers. An extra time goal for Rangers saw them through.
In the 1975/76
Scottish Cup Ball made a penalty save with a broken ankle in the away 2-2 fourth round draw with Ayr United. He did not play in the 5-4 replay victory.
In 1980-81 with Allan Ball as goalkeeper Queens were promoted from Division Two. Also in the side were fellow long servant Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd
and Jimmy Robertson and future manager Rowan Alexander
.
Allan Ball's long service as Queens last line of defence was rewarded with two testimonials, the first versus Carlisle United in 1971 and the other in 1984 against Manchester City. Danny McGrain
, Davie Cooper
, Gary Mackay
and Rowan Alexander
guested for Queens in the game against City.
On 11 December 2001 Queens announced, "Last night Queen of the South created a new position when former goalkeeper Allan Ball was made "Honorary Director"". Ball is still at the club in this role.
Allan Ball still lives in Dumfries where away from football he plays golf
with friend and former 1960s Queens club mate Billy Collings
.
Ball commented, "I still get back to Hetton quite a bit but I wouldn't like to leave Dumfries," at the time of Queen of the South's qualification for the 2008 Scottish Cup
final. "Right now I'm probably the happiest Sassenach
in Scotland
."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole
Hetton-le-Hole
Hetton-le-Hole is a town and civil parish situated in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the A182 between Houghton-le-Spring and Easington Lane. It is located on the southwest corner of Sunderland on the A182, off A690 close to the A1. It has a population of 14,402 but this...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
club Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, a club record, between 1963 and 1982. He also briefly played for Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
, Stanley United and Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
, and is now an Honorary Director with the Queen of the South.
Early years
Ball had been an inside left as a youngster. He took over the green jersey when the Durham County schools goalkeeper - future F.A. Cup winner Jimmy MontgomeryJimmy Montgomery
Jimmy Montgomery is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made a record 627 appearances for his hometown club Sunderland with 537 of these appearances being in the league, after joining the club as a youngster in 1960.-Football career:He made his debut aged only 18 against Walsall,...
- was injured during a game.
As a 15-year-old, Ball deputised four times for Harry Sharratt
Harry Sharratt
Harold "Harry" Sharratt was an English footballer who represented Great Britain at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Sharratt, who played as a goalkeeper, remained an amateur player throughout his career, working as a school teacher during the week...
in Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
's goal. He doubled his weekly income from working at South Hetton
South Hetton
South Hetton is a former mining village in County Durham, in England. It is situated about six miles to the east of Durham and nine miles to the south of Sunderland.-South Hetton Colliery:...
coal mine as a pit electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
by signing for Stanley United.
Queen of the South player
In 1963 Allan Ball signed for Queen of the South for £100. Ball was signed in the early hours of the morning as he came off his shift. Ball joined Queens playing staff that featured all time goals king of Queens, Jim PattersonJim Patterson (footballer)
James "Jim" Patterson is a former professional footballer and all-time record goalscorer for Scottish League club Queen of the South.-Early years:...
, right winger Ernie Hannigan
Ernie Hannigan
Ernest 'Ernie' Hannigan is a Scottish former footballer. Hannigan was a fast, tricky, right winger. He is perhaps best known for his games at 3 clubs and the partnership he forged with Scotland international centre forward Neil Martin at 2 of them; 147 games at Queen of the South and 47 at...
and fellow long servants Iain McChesney and Jim Kerr.
Goalkeeper & manager George Farm
George Farm
George Neil Farm was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper and manager.Born in Slateford, a suburb of Edinburgh, Farm represented his country on ten occasions, the last three of which occurred after a gap of five years....
dropped himself from the team to give Allan Ball his Queens debut in a 6-3 defeat to Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. Retained for the following midweek match at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, he caught the afternoon train from Durham to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and got a taxi, seven and sixpence, from the station. "I remember asking the driver if he'd come back again at ten. He was a Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
fan and told me, quite seriously, that he'd only come back if we beat them." Queens won 1-0, the taxi was there at 9.25pm.
Allan Ball made 819 Queen of the South appearances, including 507 consecutively, and was only once cautioned. That was by Tiny Wharton
Tiny Wharton
Tom "Tiny" Wharton OBE was a Scottish football referee in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Universally and ironically known as Tiny, due to his colossal 6'4" frame, he was one of the most iconic and respected officials of his generation.An engineer by profession, Wharton took up refereeing at the age of 21...
, on December 25. "I'd said something about Jesus Christ," he recalls. "I was booked for blaspheming on Christmas Day."
Ball's performance in the 1975/76 Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
quarter-final against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at Ibrox Park helped keep Rangers to a 1-0 defeat. A 2-1 victory for Queens in the second leg at Palmerston meant extra time after an aggregate 2-2 score. Jocky Dempster
Jocky Dempster
John 'Jocky' Dempster is a Scottish former professional footballer.- Career :Dempster played with junior outfit Muirkirk before signing for Queen of the South F.C. at the start of the 1969-70 season....
was one of the Queens scorers. An extra time goal for Rangers saw them through.
In the 1975/76
Scottish Cup 1975-76
The 1975–76 Scottish Cup was the 91st staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Rangers who defeated Heart of Midlothian in the final.-First round:-Replays:-Second Replays:-Second round:...
Scottish Cup Ball made a penalty save with a broken ankle in the away 2-2 fourth round draw with Ayr United. He did not play in the 5-4 replay victory.
In 1980-81 with Allan Ball as goalkeeper Queens were promoted from Division Two. Also in the side were fellow long servant Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd from Kilwinning is a Scottish former professional footballer.Crawford Boyd is best known for his time at Dumfries club, Queen of the South The defensive cornerstone of the 1970s returned to Queens during the promotion campaign of 1980-81 to make a total of 321 first team appearances...
and Jimmy Robertson and future manager Rowan Alexander
Rowan Alexander
Rowan Samuel Alexander is a former footballer and ex-manager of one-time Scottish Football League club Gretna.He is currently assistant manager at Ayrshire junior side .-Queen of the South:...
.
Allan Ball's long service as Queens last line of defence was rewarded with two testimonials, the first versus Carlisle United in 1971 and the other in 1984 against Manchester City. Danny McGrain
Danny McGrain
For the former Clyde F.C. footballer, see Danny McGrain Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Celtic F.C. in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals...
, Davie Cooper
Davie Cooper
David "Davie" Cooper was a professional football player. He was a Scotland international and played as a left winger....
, Gary Mackay
Gary Mackay
Gary Mackay is a former Scottish international association football player, who is now a SFA–registered agent. He also managed for a year.-Club career:...
and Rowan Alexander
Rowan Alexander
Rowan Samuel Alexander is a former footballer and ex-manager of one-time Scottish Football League club Gretna.He is currently assistant manager at Ayrshire junior side .-Queen of the South:...
guested for Queens in the game against City.
After playing
Ball became a successful motor dealer in Dumfries.On 11 December 2001 Queens announced, "Last night Queen of the South created a new position when former goalkeeper Allan Ball was made "Honorary Director"". Ball is still at the club in this role.
Allan Ball still lives in Dumfries where away from football he plays golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
with friend and former 1960s Queens club mate Billy Collings
Billy Collings
Billy Collings is a Scottish ex footballer who played for Greenock Morton, Dumbarton, Berwick Rangers, Cambuslang Rangers, Queen of the South, Stranraer and Gretna.-Greenock Morton, Dumbarton & Berwick Rangers:...
.
Ball commented, "I still get back to Hetton quite a bit but I wouldn't like to leave Dumfries," at the time of Queen of the South's qualification for the 2008 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final. "Right now I'm probably the happiest Sassenach
Sassenach
Sassenach is a word used chiefly by the Scots to designate an Englishman. It derives from the Scottish Gaelic Sasunnach meaning, originally, "Saxon", from the Latin "Saxones"; it was also formerly applied by Highlanders to Lowlanders. As employed by Scots or Scottish English-speakers today it is...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
."