I think my everlasting memory of Bally will be the day he ran almost the length of the pitch and landed one on Fashanu. instant dismissal.
We were VERY fortunate, in the early 90's to have both Kevin and Garry Bennet to ptotect their team mates and make sure that we rarely got bullied.
Another of those memories that are denied to Theredbarron was the early season Derby in 1999, at St James. Ridd Gullitt had the bright idea of dropping Elbows Al and Big Dunc for this one. Both were on the bench Instead he played a young reserve that they had taken from Darlington. He was from Sunderland oddly enough. The rain was clattering down and by the second half it was hardly possible to pass a ball. N/C scored first in the first half. In the second half, Shearer and Ferguson were brought on, however Naill and SKP did the business and we won. After the game when the interviews were being done, Kevin Ball, in his capacity of Sunderland Captain was asked if the game should have been allowed to continue in those condition. His smiling response was that he found the conditions to be perfect.
I, if you read my original post what is there to have denied?, nothing and yes, I too was there that night, sitting in the Gallowgate, right behind the goal with my my mate who had blagged the two tickets. Like so many more occasion ,one of those great games. However, You my friend have picked out one game, out of the 29 years Bally has been associated with the club. Only Nine of those years as a player covering 300+ games, He has had a good career at Sunderland and I applaud his achievements for his time as a player and a great Captain but his time afterwards is for me as a key player at the Academy leaves a lot to be desired.
Have you read the op? This is a thank you Bally thread, so kindly stop with the negatives and start a separate thread if you are so bitter
Legend. If there was such a thing as an attitude coach he'd have a job for life. Hopefully a role at the club will come back around for him.
I've not read came across the boldened part yet...I'm also not bitter at all, what gives you that idea? Nothoing in any of my posts could be misconstrude as such but what I have stated are basic facts, that I can see and read.
I was going from your opening sentance where you said, ---- Its no use hanging onto old distant memories, it is success we want. I assumed that you had confined such memories to the waste bin of history. Clearly you have not.
Sorry but that's shyte. There were times, when Ball was playing, that people said the soul had gone. Bally was a hero at times but let's not make him Steve Gerrard.
Of course we want success, Don't you? Surely that is why we play and attend game or is that not the case.? memories are exactly what they are, god or bad,. From your inference, you don't seem to be bothered that we have had little success these past 5,10,15,20,25,30 years.. I can only presume that you are happy to sit and clap substandard dross, witness the poor standards coming through the academy but are prepared to accept this.. If you think that football is about giving jobs to the boys, I certainly don't and think you'd be in the minority. . Football is about winning, not a runner up. No one remembers a loser.
Bally was awarded the freedom of the city last night https://www.safc.com/news/2024/july...bOE8_aem_R0fSFAH_AZ3Duz3Hv9LAHg&sfnsn=scwspmo
It is a funny coincidence. I was at footy do yesterday, all lads over 50, from all sorts of football clubs in the midlands. I introduced myself as a mackem import. One bloke stood up, pretended to boot the lad next to him, and said bit of Kevin Ball to make you feel at home. Most of the room laughed and knew Bally.
