Allan Ball

:"For people with similar names, see Alan Ball."

Allan Ball, born at Hetton-le-Hole in County Durham, is a former footballer with Scottish Football League team Queen of the South of Dumfries who made a record 819 appearances for Queens. He is now an honorary director with the club.

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 Montgomery - was injured during a game. [ [http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/columnists/backtrack/display.var.2120354.0.exkeeper_is_happiest_sassenach_in_scotland.php Ex-keeper is happiest Sassenach in Scotland (From The Northern Echo) ] ]

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.

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. ["The Queens" by Iain McCartney on Creedon Publications, 2004] Ball joined Queens playing staff that featured all time goals king of Queens, Jim Patterson, future Scotland centre forward Neil Martin, right winger Ernie Hannigan who would later join Martin in England's top division and fellow long servant Ian McChesney.

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. An extra time goal for Rangers saw them through. [ [http://www.qosfc.com/07cupfinal.htm Official Queen of the South Site ] ]

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. [ [http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/scottishcupfinal/Pride-swells-in-the-beautiful.4095421.jp#2827638 Pride swells in the beautiful south - Scotland on Sunday ] ]

In 1980-81 with Allan Ball as goalkeeper Queens were promoted from division 2. Also in the side were fellow long servant Ian McChesney and 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. [ [http://www.qosfc.com/qosaz.htm Official Queen of the South Site ] ] Danny McGrain, Davie Cooper, Gary Mackay and Rowan Alexander guested for Queens in the game against City.

Gretna

After Queens Allan Ball played for Gretna.

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. [ [http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/qosfc_archive01/dec2.htm Official Queen of the South Site ] ] [ [http://www.qosfc.com/ Queen of the South Site Official Site ] ]

Allan Ball still lives in Dumfries where away from football he plays golf with friend and former 1960s Queens club mate Billy Collings.

Ball commmented, "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."

References