THE great and the good turned out at Winchester Cathedral today to pay their last respects to Saints legend Alan Ball.

Daily Echo reporter Adrian Kajumba spoke to some of them...

Former Manchester City chairman Francis Lee, a member of England's 1970 World Cup squad along with Ball, said the number of mourners from across the country who attended Winchester Cathedral to pay their respects was testament to Ball as a footballer and a man.

"He was a marvellous chap, great fun to be with and a wonderful footballer," said the man who, as chairman of Manchester City, tempted Ball away from the Dell in 1995.

"I will always remember that he could run a game of football and was the master of one touch football and giving early balls to strikers. That all these people have come here to say farewell to someone who wasn't even born in this area is one unbelievable testament to his great ability as a footballer and as a man".

Former Saints midfielder Tommy Widdrington, now Salisbury player-coach, described Ball as not just a "local hero but an international legend".

He said: "Alan Ball wasn't just a local hero but an international legend. He was a lovely guy who was full of enthusiasm for the game.

"I owe him personally for giving me confidence and getting my career on the road. He was fantastic to work under. The turnout today is testament to how well liked and respected he was".

Former Northern Ireland international and Hartlepool United manager Danny Wilson spoke of his "respect" for Ball: "I only knew Alan on the social side of things but I am here out of total professional respect for him.

"He was a terrific character and a lovely, great guy to be around. He had all the ingredients you would want the people around you to have".

Former England midfielder Viv Anderson, a member of England's 1982 World Cup squad, explained how he last saw Ball two weeks ago in Preston and paid his respects to a man he described as "bubbly".

Anderson, who was capped 30 times for his country, said: "He was such a bubbly fellow and it is such a shame he passed away so quickly.

"I played against him many years ago and he was just how he was off the pitch. A bubbly man and everytime you are in his company you know you are going to have fun".

Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper spoke of his "shock" on hearing of Ball's death, a man and former team-mate he described as a "wonderful friend".

"We were absolutely shocked. He was fit and healthy and it was just a big shock to us that he has passed away at such a young age," said Banks.

"My abiding memory of him will be the final in 1966 when he was running down that right hand side, he must have been the fittest man on the field.

"If it hadn't been for his work that day it would have been a much harder game. He is a great man, a wonderful friend".

Sir Trevor Brooking a member of England's 1982 World Cup squad, said: ""There will be a very big turnout and not just from a football perspective but all walks of life. That says it all.

"He was a very bubbly personality, good fun to be with and a very competitive opponent but that was all forgotten after the game".

Former Saints skipper Jason Dodd, now Eastleigh's manager, played under Ball and remembered: "He was a colourful character because he was always fun to be around.

"The people here today won't just be football people but people from everywhere. I will always remember playing under him and when we had small-sided games he was still the best player out there and he still had it".

For a four-page review of Alan Ball's funeral, don't miss tomorrow's Daily Echo.