It's almost like somewhere along the line someone with a fancy degree or qualification in sport has decided he wasn't good enough to do the coaching and mentoring roles he did for years. As a result he got put in a ****e pr role and has slowly been edged out. Reality is that role he did mentoring the young kids was perfect for someone like Ball. Clearly always gave it his all to make the most out of what he had and always seemed to be aware and appreciate the fact he got to play football for a living.
Nearly a quarter of a Century at the club (and with other clubs) as a player, coach, approximately three weeks as stand in manager and as a development coach he helped in producing (not just him alone) 2 players of repute, not much has came through the academy since that is plain to see. Sure, there are players who have careers in the game albeit at the lower levels, for me leave too many questions. After his first stint as a stand in manager, he wasn't deemed by those in charge to be adequate to manage the club fully. Any ambitious person at that time may have left to find his own way in the game. We all have our own views, i respect yours, but some of mine are in that over the past four years, Kevin Ball who had been a Champion of the fans has rarely been seen, rarely spoke or made comment on the debacle that has unfolded since Madrox took over.
Lovely fella. Had some good laughs with Bally. Will always be a club legend in my eyes. Cracking lad.
I remember Waddle setting him up for a screamer on Waddle's debut. I remember thinking what a moment that was. Bally gave us so many memories. I hope the club give him a lifelong seat at the games and some memories for him as a fan.
I got a call from him on my 50th birthday, arranged by my sis who is good mates/colleague with Bally’s best mate. In short, just a top bloke. Had me wound right up and took the piss, then we just chatted on for about half an hour. Has sorted me tickets. thinking back he was a bit reticent about our promo prospects when I was so optimistic early in the season. Along the lines of “there’s still an awful lot of work to be done/things need fixing”. Anyway, would happily buy him a drink irrespective of who he is in terms ofSAFC status, he spent time to chat to some random bloke…
There'll never be anyone else like him to play for Sunderland. He was the captain when I first got into football. Legend gets banded around alot these days, be he truly is a Sunderland great. Playoff final 98. He stuck his head in between two sets Charlton boots to knock the ball on, we went onto score.
My all time Sunderland idol and forever will be. Had Ball on my shirts. Loved his absolute thunder and passion. For the club. Met him several times and he always had time for the fans. Lads I know involved with lower league clubs speak of the absolute class and respect he showed them at all times and demanded they also got from our players. Legend doesn’t cut it for me. A man I genuinely adore and I hope whatever he does next he has a wonderful time with. He’s as Sunderland as any one of us, and will always be.
Excellent that mate, pleased you posted that. Another nice story... I work in a Cancer Care Hospice in newcastle, and a few years ago we had an elderly patient in who was a massive lads fan....had two pictures on his bedside table, one his wife and family, and one of Bob Stokoe. Leading up to the semi final vs Bristol Rovers in the checkatrade, I sorted out a trial of nowtv and set it up in his room so he could watch it. One of the nurses contacted SAFC and low and behold, Kevin Ball came to visit him. We thought it was a great gesture, and the patient was really made up. We won the semi....should have seen the smile on his face the next day "we are going to Wembley" he was saying, smiling from ear to ear. The lift it gave his wife was something money couldn't buy....priceless. The next day, Kevin Ball came in again, this time of his own accord. He came in quite a few times over the next week or so, until sadly, the lad passed away. A few weeks later, the lads wife came in with a donation to the hospice, and came to see me and thanked me for getting the match on for him, and gave me a big hug. She said that Kevin Ball had gone to his funeral, they hadn't asked him to, but he wanted to. Things like this mainly go un noticed, or un-thanked (if that's the correct word), but that family will never forget that. Small things sometimes have the greatest impact, and honestly Kevin Ball coming in to see him, give him, and therefore his wife, such a lift. It was priceless. Kevin Ball, a Sunderland A.F.C. Legend, a hero on the pitch, and an unsung hero off it.
Superb. Absolutely Superb, that is what our club is all about and Bally 'gets it'. Thank you for sharing that story.
He’s not just a Sunderland legend but a proper, proper top bloke. This stuff he’s done outside of his SAFC work tells me that. The type of bloke you’d quite like to go for a pint with.
My favourite memory is from a Game at Roker Park against Wimbledon. Vinnie Jones was at the top of his reputation of the dirtiest player since Billy Bremner. The thought of his clashing with Kevin had most of our Fans salivating. It occured to some reporter to ask Vinnie what he though about the up-coming clash, him versus Kevin Ball. Kevin who? he was reported to have replied. Never erd of im. Come the day Vinnie was greet with the boo's that he was used to. The game started and had only been going for a minute or so, when Vinnie has the ball, and Kevin is near him. Then Vinnie is up in air and Kevin has the Ball. This trend continued. The Ref obviously had a sense of humour, and recognised the justice a of a thug getting mugged. He pretty much left the pair of them to it. Kevin went for him at every opportunity till the rest of the Wimbleton players stopped passing to him. (Well thats how I remember it). Press reports after the Game claimed Kevin's only quote was 'he knows who I am now'
I'm sure I read somewhere that Vinnie Jones said Kevin Ball was the only player he feared. Or the hardest player he's come up against. Something along them lines anyway. Maybe due to that game.
