What do you think?
Rate this book
Playing Extra Time
Small in stature, red-haired and fiery Alan was one of the most easily recognized players of his generation. Fans on the terraces and teammates immediately took to his whole-hearted enthusiasm and never-say-die attitude. Alan is a fighter—whether overcoming his diminutive size and young age to become a professional soccer player, to the rejection he repeatedly faced as a club manager. Now Alan faces the toughest battle of life. Both his wife and daughter have been diagnosed with cancer and he is being challenged in ways that the public can only imagine.
- GenresFootballNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2004
21 people want to read
About the author
Alan Ball
1 book1 followerLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 21, 2023
Just over 15 years ago, I read an article in The Times by Crystal Palace player Aki Riihilahti about his teams Christmas Sportsman’s Dinner.
He said that this sort of thing was usually a bit boring as the players were expected to attend these occasions and not drink alcohol and meet and talk with supporters and businessmen even if they just wanted to be at home.
What made this occasion memorable for Aki, and the people at the Dinner was the speech given by the guest speaker.
The guest speaker was Alan Ball, and his speech made an impression on everyone at the dinner, about how he had overcome obstacles in his life, being originally told that he wasn’t good enough to be a professional footballer, and how he had to fight to get to where he wanted to be with a lot of help from his father, friends and family, and you have to have passion and a belief in yourself in what you want to achieve, and if you have that, no matter what you want to do in life, you can do it.
Reading this book tells his story about his upbringing, his struggles to make the grade, helped by his unfailing support from his equally remarkable father, Alan Ball senior.
However, this book isn’t just about his football playing and managerial career, it’s also about his wife and his daughter’s battles with cancer.
The book, just like the aforementioned speech is an eye opener which is a thoroughly recommended read.
Suffice to say, Alan Ball, World Cup Winner.
He said that this sort of thing was usually a bit boring as the players were expected to attend these occasions and not drink alcohol and meet and talk with supporters and businessmen even if they just wanted to be at home.
What made this occasion memorable for Aki, and the people at the Dinner was the speech given by the guest speaker.
The guest speaker was Alan Ball, and his speech made an impression on everyone at the dinner, about how he had overcome obstacles in his life, being originally told that he wasn’t good enough to be a professional footballer, and how he had to fight to get to where he wanted to be with a lot of help from his father, friends and family, and you have to have passion and a belief in yourself in what you want to achieve, and if you have that, no matter what you want to do in life, you can do it.
Reading this book tells his story about his upbringing, his struggles to make the grade, helped by his unfailing support from his equally remarkable father, Alan Ball senior.
However, this book isn’t just about his football playing and managerial career, it’s also about his wife and his daughter’s battles with cancer.
The book, just like the aforementioned speech is an eye opener which is a thoroughly recommended read.
Suffice to say, Alan Ball, World Cup Winner.
May 12, 2020
I read this straight after reading Malcolm MacDonald's autobiography. They were both mates and teammates with Arsenal and England. Being told that he was too small to be a footballer seemed to motivate Bally every single day of his life! I loved his working class passion as a player and manager. He hated anybody who wouldn't work as hard as he did. A brilliant read. There are no characters like him in the game now. Tragic.
March 10, 2014
Alan Ball is my all time hero (ABIMATH). He was part of the Ball - Kendall - Harvey Holy trinity at Everton in the 1960s and as a 9 or 10 year old kid when Everton won the league in 1970 I absolutely loved our 1966 World Cup Final MOTM. When he was suddenly sold to Arsenal in December 1971 I cried my eyes out. 30 odd years later when he published this book I was thoroughly absorbed, it wasn't all about his time at Everton, in fact the majority is about his time at other clubs both as a player and manager, but it was clear that Everton was the club he loved most.
I remember in the early 00s, Alan Ball was one of several former Everton players who came on the pitch at half time during a match at Goodison, and it was great being able to reminisce and applaud heroes from years gone by. I remember in particular being pleased to be able to applaud Bally that day. A couple of years later I read this book and towards the end Alan explained how he nearly declined the invitation to attend that day because his wife was dying of cancer and he wanted to stay with her. But, she knew of the invitation and didn't want him to decline because of her condition, so she said to him, "Alan, go to your people". That chapter was so emotional and it is the only time I have ever cried buckets when reading a book, but Alan also brought me so much joy as a young Evertonian.
I know I read this with Royal Blue tinted specs, but if I could I would have given it many more than 5 stars.
I remember in the early 00s, Alan Ball was one of several former Everton players who came on the pitch at half time during a match at Goodison, and it was great being able to reminisce and applaud heroes from years gone by. I remember in particular being pleased to be able to applaud Bally that day. A couple of years later I read this book and towards the end Alan explained how he nearly declined the invitation to attend that day because his wife was dying of cancer and he wanted to stay with her. But, she knew of the invitation and didn't want him to decline because of her condition, so she said to him, "Alan, go to your people". That chapter was so emotional and it is the only time I have ever cried buckets when reading a book, but Alan also brought me so much joy as a young Evertonian.
I know I read this with Royal Blue tinted specs, but if I could I would have given it many more than 5 stars.
December 28, 2013
Great insight into the life of a 60s/ 70s professional footballer and a 1990s manager. Interesting anecdotes from behind the scenes at Portsmouth.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews