Extract 1: From Farnworth to Wembley

Alan Ball, one of the heroes of England's World Cup Victory in 1966 was born in Farnworth on 12 May 1945, where he spent his  early youth. He attended Farnworth Grammar School and the photograph shows him second from the right on the front row in the school team of 1958/9. He played for Farnworth Boys on many occasions but on leaving school suffered the severe disappointment of being rejected by Bolton Wanderers for whom he had already signed amateur forms. Wanderers missed out and he signed as a full time professional with Blackpool on his seventeenth birthday. Three months later he made his first team debut against Liverpool at Anfield. One of the sports halls at the Harper Green sports centre is named in his honour.