Local Sport 
England legend Alan Ball passes away
Ball was the man-of-the match in the 1966 Jules Rimet Final and manager of ECFC from 1991 to 1994 (achievements listed in no particular order), taking over during a tough time at the club. I personally had the good fortune to meet Alan when he was manager of Exeter City, and despite the fact that his career had included clubs such as Everton and Arsenal, and that he had the distinguished honour of captaining England, playing in two world cups and illustrious grounds all over the world, his infectious enthusiasm and passion was no less intense when coaching at the cabbage patch that is the Cat & Fiddle training ground.
His tenure in charge of Exeter included a brave F.A Cup third round defeat against Aston Villa – losing only 1-0, and two victories over the enemy Plymouth Argyle.
The long list of positive comments from his friends, colleagues and opponents all follow a common theme – that Alan Ball was a bright, positive character who raised the spirits of all those who had the fortune to know him.
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