ABS
The basics
Quick facts
Intro
English footballer, football manager
A.K.A.
James Alan Ball
Gender:
Male
Work field:
Birth:
26 September 1924(Farnworth)
Death:
2 January 1982(Nicosia)
The details
Biography
James Alan Ball (26 September 1924 – 2 January 1982) was an English football player and manager.
Born in Farnworth, Lancashire, Ball played as an inside forward for Bolton Boys Federation, Southport (in two spells), Birmingham City (although he did not play a Football League match for them), Oldham Athletic and Rochdale.
He managed Halifax Town in two separate spells (1967–1970) and (1976–1977), and in between these he managed Preston North End between 1970 and 1973, and Southport, IF Saab and IK Sirius. Ball managed Djurgårdens IF in 1979.
He was killed in a car crash in Nicosia, Cyprus, in January 1982 at the age of 57.
His son Alan Jr. played in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team and later followed his father into management.