Callum Ball
Encyclopedia
Callum Reece Ball is a professional footballer, currently playing for Football League Championship
side Derby County
. He plays as a striker.
's youth system at the age of 9 from local rivals Nottingham Forest
, becoming a scholar in the Derby County Academy. Although primarily involved with the scholar team – scoring six goals in three matches during December 2009 – Ball also featured for the Derby County Reserves side which won the 2009–10 Central League Central Section title, starting twice and scoring the winner in a 1–0 win over Macclesfield Town
. He eventually netted 25 goals at U-18 and reserve level throughout the campaign. His first experience of first team football came when he was named as a substitute for Derby County's FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Millwall in January 2010. He made his full debut as a late substitute in Derby's 2–0 victory over Cardiff City
on the final day of the 2009–10 season
.
Ball enjoyed a blistering start to the 2010–11 season as he featured regularly for the Under-18s and the reserves, scoring 13 times for the former and 5 times for the latter by the middle of October. This form lead to Ball being named on the substitutes bench for the game versus Swansea City
ahead of senior striker Chris Porter
, despite Porter being fully fit. His form continued throughout the season and by the end of April, Ball had scored 31 goals - 21 for the under-18 side and 10 for the reserves. Ball again featured on the senior substitute bench for the games against Burnley
and at Norwich City
over the Easter holiday period, managing to get his 3rd and 4th first team appearance as a late substitute in both games, with Derby manager Nigel Clough
hinting at his desire for Ball to break into the First Team in the 2011/12 season. Ball made his full debut on the final day of the 2010/11 season in a 2-1 defeat away to Reading
, a match in which he had his first professional goal wrongly disallowed for offside. The week after the end of the campaign, Derby announced Ball would be given a first-year professional contract following the completion of the club's scholarship programme.
In July 2011, Ball signed a new three-year contract, which extended his stay at the Pride Park
club until at least 2014.
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. He plays as a striker.
Playing career
Ball joined Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
's youth system at the age of 9 from local rivals Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, becoming a scholar in the Derby County Academy. Although primarily involved with the scholar team – scoring six goals in three matches during December 2009 – Ball also featured for the Derby County Reserves side which won the 2009–10 Central League Central Section title, starting twice and scoring the winner in a 1–0 win over Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. He eventually netted 25 goals at U-18 and reserve level throughout the campaign. His first experience of first team football came when he was named as a substitute for Derby County's FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Millwall in January 2010. He made his full debut as a late substitute in Derby's 2–0 victory over Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on the final day of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
.
Ball enjoyed a blistering start to the 2010–11 season as he featured regularly for the Under-18s and the reserves, scoring 13 times for the former and 5 times for the latter by the middle of October. This form lead to Ball being named on the substitutes bench for the game versus Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
ahead of senior striker Chris Porter
Chris Porter (footballer born 1983)
Christopher John "Chris" Porter is an English footballer, who currently plays for Sheffield United. Born in Wigan, England he has also played for Bury, Oldham Athletic, Motherwell and Derby County.-Early career:...
, despite Porter being fully fit. His form continued throughout the season and by the end of April, Ball had scored 31 goals - 21 for the under-18 side and 10 for the reserves. Ball again featured on the senior substitute bench for the games against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
and at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
over the Easter holiday period, managing to get his 3rd and 4th first team appearance as a late substitute in both games, with Derby manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
hinting at his desire for Ball to break into the First Team in the 2011/12 season. Ball made his full debut on the final day of the 2010/11 season in a 2-1 defeat away to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, a match in which he had his first professional goal wrongly disallowed for offside. The week after the end of the campaign, Derby announced Ball would be given a first-year professional contract following the completion of the club's scholarship programme.
In July 2011, Ball signed a new three-year contract, which extended his stay at the Pride Park
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
club until at least 2014.
Achievements
- Central League Central Division Champions 2009/10; 2010/11
- Derby County Reserve Player Of The Year 2008/09; 2009/10; 2010/11
Statistics
(correct as of 29 November 2011)| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
2009–10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 2010–11 in English football The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||