Tributes have poured in from across the football world for Alan Ball.

The Prime Minister led the tributes to the World Cup winner.

Tony Blair's official spokesman said: ''The Prime Minister is saddened by Alan Ball's death, and hugely admired him.''

World Cup winning goalscorer Sir Geoff Hurst said other members of the 1966 team were ''totally devastated''.

Sir Geoff said: ''He was the youngest member of the team and man of the match in the 1966 World Cup final.

''Socially, he was always a good laugh and the 1966 team mixed a lot after then.'' Sir Geoff contacted other members of the team this morning.

He said: ''We are all totally devastated.'' Another 1966 team mate Jack Charlton said he would ''miss Alan more than anyone''.

''Every time I met him and spent time with him he was taking the mickey out of me, he was having a go at me. It was something we had going since 1966.

''I used to get annoyed with him and grab him by the shirt but it was only fun and we both knew it and I am going to miss Alan more than anybody because we had a tremendous relationship,'' he said.

He joked that Mr Ball would ''stand on the chair'' to make after- dinner speeches.

''I'm laughing now because I am thinking of Alan. I am not happy and I don't know why I'm laughing. It's just thinking of him. I've got so many good memories of Alan Ball.

''He was a tremendous player. I kicked him a few times - he kicked me back a few times. He was a lovely lad and I'm going to miss him.'' Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said: "He loved life. He was always on the move, always fit.

"As a player he was an all round fantastic midfielder player. Great ability, great midfielder.

"It probably came from his father who was exactly the same, so they tell me."

Sir Tom Finney spoke of his shock and sadness at the death of a fellow football legend.

Sir Tom, capped 76 times for England, said: ''I am totally shocked, it is just unbelievable. He always seemed in the best of health and full of energy. And 61 is no age to die.'' Sir Tom said Ball was a major reason England won the World Cup in 1966.

He said: ''He was a very, very good player. He was very similar in style to a Lampard or a Gerrard. He gave everything he had in a game and he was one of the main movers and influences in that 1966 team.'' Fellow former England international Alan Mullery: "Alan was such a great character. He was a man with a big heart. Alan was so enthusiastic, and when I played with him with England he was someone who never stopped talking. He loved the game of football. At the World Cup Final, Alan ran his legs off. He started the game standing 5ft 6in tall, and by the end he was 5ft tall."

Meanwhile Acting chairman of Saints Leon Crouch, said: ''It is very sad news which has hit everyone hard.

''He was a terrific character who was always bubbly and jolly and who was a football man through and through.

''He was a fantastic player who did a fantastic job for this club. He was a great passer of the ball and a real dynamo in midfield.

''He also did tremendously well for us in his brief stint as manager.

''He helped keep us up when all seemed lost and then inspired us to play some wonderful football the following season.'' Mr Crouch said he was in ''good spirits'' and excited about the prospect of Southampton FC getting back into the Premiership when they met at a dinner event on Saturday.

''He made Hampshire his home and loved the club and the area and he will be a big loss,'' he added.