Personal Life
Ball was educated at Farnworth Grammar School. Ball's father, Alan Sr., died in a car crash in Cyprus in January 1982.
Always a distinctive figure thanks to his diminutive stature and his high-pitched voice, Ball released his second autobiography, Playing Extra Time, in 2004 which received much critical acclaim. Aside from his highs and lows in football, it also candidly detailed his private struggle as a family man after his wife and daughter were both diagnosed with cancer. Lesley, his wife of 37 years, died on 16 May 2004, aged 57, after a three-year battle against ovarian cancer. He and Lesley, who had been together for five years prior to their marriage, had three children together; Mandy (born 1969), Keely (born 1971) and Jimmy (born 1976). They also had three grandchildren.
He had remained in the family home in Warsash, and from mid-2005, Ball had had an ongoing relationship with childhood friend Valerie Beech, ex-wife of former Bolton player Harry Beech.
In April 2004, while his wife was ill in hospital and weeks from death, Ball appeared for Testwood Baptist Church in the Roger Frapwell Testimonial Match at the BAT ground, Totton, near Southampton, wearing the number 7 shirt as he did in the 1966 World Cup triumph. Also in that team were former Saints manager Dave Merrington and ex-Saints defender Francis Benali. The proceeds from the game were donated to local charity SCRATCH.
In May 2005, Ball put his World Cup winner's medal and commemorative tournament cap up for auction to raise money for his family. They were sold for £140,000.
Read more about this topic: Alan Ball, Jr.
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