Alan Ball: The Man in White Boots: The biography of the youngest 1966 World Cup Hero

by David Tossell

Longlisted for Football Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards It is a special footballer who wins the World Cup as a 21-year-old and ends a two-decade career as one of the most revered players in the history of four clubs. Former England captain Alan Ball was such a prodigy at Blackpool, youngest hero of 1966, Championship winner at Everton, British-record signing for the second time at Arsenal and veteran schemer for Southampton - not to mention footwear trend-setter. And all after being told he was too small to succeed in the game. Yet his years as a flat-cap wearing manager consisted mostly of relegation and promotion battles, some successful and some not, and plenty of frustration as he fought to produce winners in his own image and emulate the feats of his playing days. His life already touched tragically by the car crash that killed his father and the loss of his beloved wife Lesley to cancer, Ball died, aged only 61, after suffering a heart attack during a garden blaze. A decade on from his death, and drawing on interviews with family, friends and colleagues including Jimmy Armfield, Sir Geoff Hurst, George Cohen, Gordon Banks, Joe Royle, Mick Channon, Lawrie McMenemy, Francis Lee, George Graham, Frank McLintock, Matthew Le Tissier and many more, Alan The Man in White Boots is the definitive study of one of English football's most enduring figures.

Genres: Football

336 pages, Hardcover

Published September 7, 2017

About the author

David Tossell has been a sports journalist for four decades. Long-time head of European Public Affairs for the NFL (National Football League) and former Executive Sports Editor of the Today newspaper, he is the author of 17 sports books. He has been short-listed seven times in the British Sports Book Awards - for Bertie Mee (Best Biography, 2006); Grovel! (Best Cricket Book, 2008); Nobody Beats Us (Best Rugby Book, 2010); Tony Greig (Best Cricket Book, 2012); The Great English Final (Best Football Book, 2014), Natural: The Jimmy Greaves Story (Best Biography and Best Football Book, 2020). He has also been short-listed twice for MCC/Cricket Society Book of the Year.
He has written books on football, cricket, rugby and American football.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed this bio of the youngest player of the 1966 world cup winning team

[John Newcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a 12 year old ball boy during a footabll combination match Alan Ball swore at me for not getting the ball to him quick enough (we were five goals up at the time). I always thought that wasn't a very nice thing for him to do. This book suggests that he was nice but very passionate about his football and that might explain his action. That said Bob McNab who appears as his Salieri to Ball's Mozart was always very nice and respectful, even if he wasn't quite as accomplished a player.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Tossell has a respected background in sport journalism and as one would expect this biography is packed with solid research and quotes from fellow professionals, colleagues, friends and family.
The biography of Alan Ball by Tossell (2017) published ten years after Ball's sudden death from a heart attack in 2007, should be the definitive coverage of the World Cup winner's life and his time in the game.
Encompassing a playing career of a quarter of a century followed by over fifteen years in and out of club management and over seventy international caps with England, which of course included the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966. The book should stir memories of Ball for those who saw him play, whether or not he was wearing white boots. I had forgotten about his time at Exeter and his playing and managerial period in the U.S.
Personally I recall Alan Ball at his peak, playing for Everton. I can still picture the man standing outside Goodison Park signing autographs prior to a match. A great player and unique talent.

[Keith Astbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cards on table time...Alan Ball was my favourite player when I was a kid. At his peak, Ball was one of the greatest players in this country. Later on, he was briefly made England captain until the short-lived manager Don Revie inexplicably didn't just remove the captaincy - he dropped him. A decision that seems as ludicrous when reading this book as it did back then.

Anyway...I've read a couple of Ball's autobiographies but this is undoubtedly the book that I would recommend. Tossell has clearly done his research and provides a balanced, well-written account of Ball's life and careers both as a world class footballer andhis interesting if altogether less successful time in football management. Ball clearly had his flaws like the rest of us and there are times when he seems to be his own worse enemy but what a life. And what a player! And how good is it that such a sporting great is subject of a biography that does him proud x

[Anne Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was a true Ball of Fire

I found it hard to put the book down, it kept me engrossed from start to finish...his love for the game and determination he showed when playing were very clear to see.

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written biography, attempting to consider the whole of Alan's career as player and manager in an even-handed way, recording both the plaudits and the brickbats thrown his way. A fitting legacy to a great footballer and family man.

[Bill Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read about my favourite footballer, detailing his playing and managerial careers.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read and excellent chronicle of a wonderful footballer and man. Written in an authoritative, balanced and well researched manner. Highly recommended book

[Ipswichblade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great football biography by David Tossell.