Footballing greats pay tribute to Alan Ball

Many from the footballing world past and present paid their final respects to Alan who won universal respect as both a player and manager.

Applause from outside the cathedral greeted the arrival of the hearse carrying Alan Ball's coffin, followed by a cortege of cars.

Outside the cathedral, many well-wishers, some wearing football strips including Southampton and England shirts, gathered to pay their respects.

Ball's coffin was led into the hushed cathedral draped in the St George's Cross England flag and with his trademark grey flat cap on top.

The mourners were led by Alan's son Jimmy, 31, and daughters Mandy Byrne, 39, and Keely Allan, 35.

Once inside the cathedral, Nobby Stiles, the England midfielder who was Alan Ball's international room-mate, gave the first address.

He told the congregation: "He (Alan) adored Lesley. He was very proud and loved his family, more than all he was very proud of his country."

He added: "My most abiding memory of Alan is in the World Cup final. I think all the lads agree he was the best player on the pitch by far. He covered every blade of grass. He was unbelieveable."

During the service, the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was sung, along with football anthem, "Abide With Me."

The Reverend Canon Michael St John-Channell, leading the service, told the congregation: "Remember those famous words 'They think it's all over, it is now', but not for Alan. For him today is a new beginning."

Rev St John-Channell said Ball would never be forgotten because of the famous victory over West Germany.

He said: "It was without exaggeration one of the finest days of this nation which all of us are proud, whether we were there or not, and Alan was very much of that great time. He will never ever be forgotten."

He added: ''He tucked into his life many things we only dream of and the memories we have are precious, especially to those who have shared his life.''

Frank McLintock, who was Ball's captain at Arsenal when he signed for a British record £220,000 in 1971, told the cathedral: "I think the public reaction has been magnificent, as well as the TV, radio and newspapers. They gave Ballie a fantastic coverage.

"It really touched the hearts of the public."

He added: "I thought the scenes at the football grounds were absolutely magnificent and I think Ballie would have been proud of that."

Then a tearful McLintock added: "Alan lived his life to the full and I would like to say thanks for the memory and thanks for the contribution to our lives."

The final speaker was Alan's son Jimmy, who received a round of applause from the congregation.

He said: "We have been very fortunate to have had a mother and father as great as ours." He then went on to recite the Rudyard Kipling poem 'If'.

The service finished by playing Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" and as Alan's coffin was carried out of the cathedral by the pall bearers the congregation rose and applause rang out.

Among those in the cathedral were Alan's 1966 World Cup winning team-mates Gordon Banks, Nobby Stiles and Jack Charlton, George Cohen and Roger Hunt.

Saints legends Lawrie McMenemy, Mick Channon, Matthew Le Tissier and Nick Holmes were also among the congregation alongside former colleagues at The Dell such as Dave Merrington, Peter Rodrigues, Dave Watson, Russell Osman, Claus Lundekvam, Jason Dodd, Francis Benali, Jim Magilton and Tommy Widdrington.

Past and present Saints bosses Gordon Strachan and George Burley were there too.

Footballers Franny Lee, Mike Summerbee, Viv Anderson, Danny Wilson, Alan Knight, Vince Hilaire, Peter Shilton, Guy Whittingham and former Saints prodigy Theo Walcott were also among the mourners.

Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, had flown in from Milan, where United crashed out of the Champions' League last night, to attend the funeral.

Sir Alex arrived at Winchester Cathedral with Sir Bobby Charlton, another of Alan Ball's 1966 World Cup colleagues.

England boss Steve McClaren was among football's big names who was in Winchester to pay his last respects to the man who won 72 England caps.

Former Arsenal manager George Graham also joined mourners, plus Stewart Houston, Denis Law, Trevor Brooking, and ex-FA chief executive, David Davies.

Theo, who was coached by Alan as a 12 and 13-year-old, said: "His enthusiasm for the game was obvious and I just tried to pick up on that."

Those who came to know the 61-year-old through his charity work for organisations including Wessex Heartbeat, The Hampshire Autistic Society and Cancer Research, were also due to be present alongside all Alan's friends and family, including his three children Jimmy, 31, Mandy Byrne, 39 and Keely Allan, 35.

Alan, 61, died of a heart attack last week while trying to put out a bonfire in the garden of his Warsash home.

His wife Lesley died three years ago.

The family asked for no flowers from mourners, but for donations to be made to the Bobby Moore fund.

The cathedral can hold a maximum of 2,000 people and church officials set up speakers outside so the service can be relayed to people in The Close.

However, fears that Winchester would today grind to a halt because of the Alan Ball funeral appeared to be unfounded.

Police advice that drivers avoid the city centre were heeded with the city council reporting no congestion problems.

A temporary car park opened at the King George V Playing Field at Bar End with a free bus service operated by Stagecoach saw only some 75 cars by lunchtime.

Police inspector Kevin Baxman said: "Winchester is quieter today than normal.

"Lots of local people have stayed away. Having the car park at Bar End was a very good idea."

There was an estimated crowd of around 1,000 people swelled by scores of journalists gathered in the Cathedral Close before the funeral.

Alan was 72 caps for his country in a 10-year career and he made a total of 743 league appearances for Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton.

He later managed seven clubs including Manchester City, Southampton and Portsmouth during a career in the dug-out which spanned 19 years.

In later years, Alan was a regular on the guest speaker circuit and a keen golfer.