Allan Ball

Allan Ball (born 26 February 1943) is a former English footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole, a town situated in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish club Queen of the South in Dumfries. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, which is a club record, between 1963 and 1982. Ball also briefly played for Bishop Auckland, Stanley United and Gretna and is now an Honorary Director of the Doonhamers.

Early years

Ball played outfield as an inside left as a youngster before he was handed the green jersey when the Durham County Schools goalkeeper, future FA Cup winner Jimmy Montgomery with Sunderland, was injured during a match.^[2][3]

As a 15-year-old, Ball deputised four times for Harry Sharratt at Bishop Auckland. Ball doubled his weekly income from working at South Hetton in the coal mine as a pit electrician by signing for Stanley United.

Queen of the South

In 1963, Ball signed for Queen of the South for the princely sum of £100. Ball was signed in the early hours of the morning after finishing his shift down the coal mine. ^[4] Ball joined Queens first eleven team that featured all-time leading goslscorer for Queens, Jim Patterson, right winger Ernie Hannigan and fellow long servants Iain McChesney and Jim Kerr.^[2]

Goalkeeper and then player-manager George Farm had given Allan Ball his Queens debut in a 6–3 defeat to Falkirk, taking himself out of the team. Retained for the following midweek for an away to Celtic at Celtic Park, Ball played well once more, despite the Doonhamers losing the game.^[2]

Allan Ball made 819 Queen of the South appearances, including 507 matches consecutively and was only once shown a yellow card, on 25 December, by renowned Scottish football referee Tiny Wharton, who went on to open Queens new East Stand in 1995. Ball quoted: "I'd said something about Jesus Christ so I was booked for blasphemy on Christmas Day."

Ball's performance in the 1975-76 Scottish League Cup quarter-final first leg match versus Rangers at Ibrox Park assisted the Govan club to a narrow 1–0 victory. A 2–1 win for Queens in the second leg at Palmerston Park had the tie going to extra-time after the 2–2 aggregate score. Jocky Dempster was one of the Queens scorers on the night but Rangers scored a winner in extra-time to progress in the competition.^[2]

In the 1975-76 Scottish Cup, Ball saved a penalty with a broken ankle in the 2–2 draw at Somerset Park in the fourth round versus Ayr United and did not feature in the 5–4 replay win.^{[2] [5]}

Season 1980-81, with Ball as the Queens goalkeeper, the club were promoted from the Second Division into the First Division. Also in the first eleven were fellow long servants Iain McChesney, Crawford Boyd and Jimmy Robertson, along with future Queens manager Rowan Alexander.^[2]

Ball's long-time service as Queens goslkeeper was rewarded with two testimonials. The first versus Carlisle United in 1971 and the second one in 1984 versus Manchester City. Danny McGrain, Davie Cooper, Gary Mackay and Rowan Alexander all guested for Queens in the testimonial match versus the Sky Blues.^[2]

Gretna

After leaving Palmerston, Ball played for Gretna. ^[2]

Life after football

Ball went on to be a successful motor dealer in Dumfries.

On 11 December 2001, Queens announced that Ball was now an Honorary Director at the club, a position that he still holds. ^[2]

Allan Ball still lives in Dumfries, playing golf with friend and former Queens player Billy Collings.

At the time of Queen's qualification for the 2008 Scottish Cup Final, Ball said, "I still get back to Hetton-le-Hole often but I wouldn't like to leave Dumfries. Right now I'm probably the happiest Sassenach in Scotland."

External links

• Allan Ball full career profile on the official Queen of the South website

References