Jack Ball (footballer, born 1923)

John Albert Ball (16 July 1923 – July 1999) was an English professional footballer who made 113 Football League appearances playing as a goalkeeper for Brighton & Hove Albion.[2]

Jack Ball
Personal information
Full name John Albert Ball
Date of birth (1923-07-16)16 July 1923[1]
Place of birth Brighton, England
Date of death July 1999 (aged 75–76)[2]
Place of death Brighton, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Vernon Athletic
1940–1953 Brighton & Hove Albion 113 (0)
1953–196? Hastings United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Ball was born in Brighton, Sussex, where he attended Brighton Intermediate School. He joined Brighton & Hove Albion from Vernon Athletic in 1940 as an amateur, and turned professional three years later. In March 1943, he joined the RAF, and when competitive football resumed after the war, he made his debut in the Third Division South in October 1946. He broke his wrist a year later, losing his place to Harry Baldwin, and the two shared the position until 1952 when Baldwin left the club. Ball himself left in 1953 and joined Hastings United of the Southern League.[1] He helped that club reach the third round of the FA Cup in both 1953–54 and 1954–55,[3] and remained on their books until the early 1960s. He continued living in Hove,[1] and died in Brighton in 1999.[2]

References
  1. Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  2. "Jack Ball". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  3. Elms, Philip (1988). Claret and Blue: the story of Hastings United F.C. St Leonards-on-Sea: 1066 Newspapers. pp. 14–15.
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