Nostalgia: The Farnworth-born class of '66 World Cup hero who was rejected by Bolton

Photo: Blackpool and England footballer Alan Ball, part of the 1966 England squad, pictured in the street where his parents live in Walkden, 1st May 1966. © Mirrorpix

The footballing career of England World Cup winner Alan Ball, born in Farnworth, Bolton, is the focus for our popular nostalgia quiz this week.

The non-stop midfielder who first played for Ashton United before Blackpool, Everton and Arsenal was actually turned down by Bolton Wanderers as a youth player. They reckoned he was too small!

Ball was back in the North West three decades after his 1996 World Cup triumph as the manager of Manchester City from 1995 to 1996.

How well do you remember Alan Ball, his England team-mates and his Manchester connections?

Good luck with the quiz. Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Alan Ball made his senior England debut in May 1965 in the 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

Who was the England manager at the time?

A) Walter Winterbottom

B) Alf Ramsey

C) Joe Mercer

2. One of Ball’s team-mates in the 1966 England World Cup-winning team was Manchester United defensive midfielder Nobby Stiles.

How many league appearances did Stiles make for United?

A) 311

B) 361

C) 411

3. Another of Ball’s World Cup team-mates, Manchester United’s Bobby Charlton, played 106 times for England.

How many goals did he score for the national team?

A) 39

B) 49

C) 59

4. While playing for England in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, Ball famously hit the bar in the 1-0 defeat to Brazil in the group stages. Who scored for Brazil?

A) Pele

B) Tostao

C) Jairzinho

5. How many times was Ball capped for England in an international career lasting from 1965 to 1975?

A) 52

B) 62

C) 72

6. Who did Ball succeed as manager of Manchester City in July 1995?

A) Brian Horton

B) Peter Reid

C) John Bond

7. Ball’s England team-mate Francis Lee was Manchester City chairman when Ball became manager.

How many league appearances did Lee make as a player for City?

A) 209

B) 249

C) 289

8. Ball had played 975 competitive games in 21 years when he finally hung up his boots in 1983 at the age of 38.

For which club was he playing at the time?

A) Vancouver Whitecaps

B) Blackpool

C) Bristol Rovers

9. Which club did Ball steer to promotion to the First Division in 1987? It was the first club he managed after retiring from playing.

A) Stoke City

B) Portsmouth

C) Southampton

10. While part of Harry Catterick’s title-winning Everton side, Ball formed a midfield ‘Holy Trinity’ with Colin Harvey and which other player?

A statue outside Everton’s ground Goodison Park commemorates the trio.

A) Brian Labone

B) Joe Royle

C) Howard Kendall

Answers:

1 (B); 2 (A); 3 (B); 4 (C); 5 (C); 6 (A); 7 (B); 8 (C); 9 (B); 10 (C)

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