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| Footballing legends remember Ball | Footballing legends remember Ball |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of mourners have turned out for football great Alan Ball's funeral at Winchester Cathedral. | Hundreds of mourners have turned out for football great Alan Ball's funeral at Winchester Cathedral. |
| His coffin was draped in an England flag with a traditional flat cap upon it, and a speaker relayed the service to the crowds gathered outside. | His coffin was draped in an England flag with a traditional flat cap upon it, and a speaker relayed the service to the crowds gathered outside. |
| The 61-year-old member of the 1966 England team was found dead at his home in Warsash, Hampshire, last week. | The 61-year-old member of the 1966 England team was found dead at his home in Warsash, Hampshire, last week. |
| He died of a heart attack while putting out a small fire that had broken out in a compost heap in his garden. | He died of a heart attack while putting out a small fire that had broken out in a compost heap in his garden. |
| Tributes offered at the funeral were led by Ball's son Jimmy, 31. | Tributes offered at the funeral were led by Ball's son Jimmy, 31. |
| 606: COMMENT Fans remember Alan Ball | 606: COMMENT Fans remember Alan Ball |
| His mother, Ball's wife Lesley, died three years ago from cancer. | His mother, Ball's wife Lesley, died three years ago from cancer. |
| In an opening address at the service, former team mate Nobby Stiles remembered how Ball gave him a fresh burst of energy during the World Cup final, even when he felt he had no reserves left. | In an opening address at the service, former team mate Nobby Stiles remembered how Ball gave him a fresh burst of energy during the World Cup final, even when he felt he had no reserves left. |
| He said: "My most enduring memory of Alan is in the World Cup Final. | He said: "My most enduring memory of Alan is in the World Cup Final. |
| "I think all the lads would agree, he was the best player on the pitch. | "I think all the lads would agree, he was the best player on the pitch. |
| "He covered every blade of grass." | "He covered every blade of grass." |
| Everybody here today just loved the little guy, and we're going to miss him Former team-mate Bob Wilson Send us your memories | Everybody here today just loved the little guy, and we're going to miss him Former team-mate Bob Wilson Send us your memories |
| In an opening prayer, before leading the congregation in the hymn Jerusalem, Canon Michael St-John Channell said: "We are all here to share that strange mixture of sadness and joy, sadness at saying farewell and joy at Alan Ball's gifts." | In an opening prayer, before leading the congregation in the hymn Jerusalem, Canon Michael St-John Channell said: "We are all here to share that strange mixture of sadness and joy, sadness at saying farewell and joy at Alan Ball's gifts." |
| Speaking outside the cathedral before the service, former Southampton manager Dave Merrington, said: "His awareness and perception of the game was absolutely terrific. | Speaking outside the cathedral before the service, former Southampton manager Dave Merrington, said: "His awareness and perception of the game was absolutely terrific. |
| "The thing I liked about Alan was when I worked with him he was a simple guy - what you saw was what you got." | "The thing I liked about Alan was when I worked with him he was a simple guy - what you saw was what you got." |
| Dave Watson, who played alongside Ball for England and Southampton, described his memories of the midfielder: "He was a model professional, always perky, always optimistic and a great example to everybody else. | Dave Watson, who played alongside Ball for England and Southampton, described his memories of the midfielder: "He was a model professional, always perky, always optimistic and a great example to everybody else. |
| "He was enthusiastic and it was catching, you know. You never saw the dark side." | "He was enthusiastic and it was catching, you know. You never saw the dark side." |
| Ball was the youngest member of the England side that won the World Cup in 1966. | Ball was the youngest member of the England side that won the World Cup in 1966. |
| Lawrie McMenemy was among mourners at the Winchester service | Lawrie McMenemy was among mourners at the Winchester service |
| Several members of the squad attended, including centre-half and former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton, goalkeeper Gordon Banks, full-back George Cohen and striker Roger Hunt. | Several members of the squad attended, including centre-half and former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton, goalkeeper Gordon Banks, full-back George Cohen and striker Roger Hunt. |
| Lawrie McMenemy, who signed Ball for Southampton, remembered him as an outstanding role model. He said: "He was a wonderful example to all the young players we had." | Lawrie McMenemy, who signed Ball for Southampton, remembered him as an outstanding role model. He said: "He was a wonderful example to all the young players we had." |
| Former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper Bob Wilson, who played alongside Ball at Highbury in the 1970s, said: "Well, he was a magnificent footballer, and a magnificent human being. | Former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper Bob Wilson, who played alongside Ball at Highbury in the 1970s, said: "Well, he was a magnificent footballer, and a magnificent human being. |
| "You know, he's just an infectious character, an enthusiast, not just for football but for life itself. | "You know, he's just an infectious character, an enthusiast, not just for football but for life itself. |
| "Everybody here today just loved the little guy, and we're going to miss him." | "Everybody here today just loved the little guy, and we're going to miss him." |
| Ball won 72 caps for his country in a 10-year career and made a total of 743 League appearances for Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton. | Ball won 72 caps for his country in a 10-year career and made a total of 743 League appearances for Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton. |
| He went on to manage seven clubs including Manchester City, Southampton and Portsmouth. | He went on to manage seven clubs including Manchester City, Southampton and Portsmouth. |
| Before introducing the final song, Frank Sinatra's My Way, Jimmy Ball thanked the packed cathedral and drew the service to a close by reciting Rudyard Kipling's poem, If. | |
| He said: "If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, and - which is more - you'll be a man, my son. | He said: "If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, and - which is more - you'll be a man, my son. |
| "Well he was a man, probably the best I ever met." | "Well he was a man, probably the best I ever met." |
| Ball is also survived by his two daughters, Mandy and Keeley. | Ball is also survived by his two daughters, Mandy and Keeley. |