Career
He was a short but agile goalkeeper who made 145 league and cup appearances for Portuguese Vale and enjoyed three spells with Walsall. He also played non-league football for Worcester City, Stourport, Darlaston, Nuneaton Borough, and Kidderminster Harriers. Ball began his career at hometown club Walsall, as the "Saddlers" posted a sixth-place finish in the Fourth Division in 1958-1959.
The Fellows Park outfit then settled in the Second Division with a 14th-place finish in 1961-1962.
Having only featured in 11 league games, Ball was allowed to join Southern League side Worcester City. City finished one point above the relegation zone in the 1962-1963 campaign, before rising to 13th place in 1963-1964 and then third place in 1964-1965, before dropping to eighth position in 1965-1966.
Ball returned to Walsall, now managed by Ray Shaw, to play 34 Third Division games in the 1966-1967 and 1967-1968 campaigns. He was bought by Gordon Lee"s Portuguese Vale in November 1968 for "a small fee", to replace the injured Stuart Sharratt.
He was immediately the first choice keeper for the "Valiants" after being preferred ahead of Milija Aleksic.
Ball played 38 matches in the 1968-1969 season and played all 52 matches in the 1969-1970 Fourth Division promotion winning campaign. Ball was given a free transfer in May 1972, as experienced Bolton Wanderers stopper Alan Boswell was signed to take over goalkeeping duties at Vale Park. He moved on to Stourport before making another return to Walsall.
He played two Third Division games under the stewardship of John Smith in the 1972-1973 season, before moving into non-league football with Darlaston, Nuneaton Borough and Kidderminster Harriers. with Walsall.
