members of the World Cup winning team were appointed MBE for their services to football. Ball, along with Roger Hunt, Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson and George Cohen, had to wait more than three decades for official recognition of their achievements. In 2003 Ball was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. In 2011, the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inducted the 1979 NASL champion Vancouver Whitecaps team. Ball was a vital member of this squad. He was also named a 2nd Team NASL All-Star (Best XI) for that season, and the MVP of the 1979 NASL playoffs. Ball was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Ball is in the 1960s. Ball was inducted into Everton's hall of fame "Everton Giants" in 2001, and at the start of the 2003–04 season, as part of the club's official celebration of their 125th anniversary, was elected by fans as a member of the greatest ever team. See also List of men's footballers with the most official appearances References Further reading External links Alan Ball at EnglandFootballOnline.com English Football Hall of Fame profile Obituary in The Daily Telegraph Obituary on BBC Sport 1945 births 2007 deaths People from Farnworth 1966 FIFA World Cup players 1970 FIFA World Cup players Arsenal F.C. players Blackpool F.C. managers Blackpool F.C. players Bristol Rovers F.C. players Eastern Sports Club footballers England international footballers England under-23 international footballers English expatriate footballers English expatriate sportspeople in Canada English expatriate sportspeople in the United States English Football Hall of Fame inductees English football managers English footballers Everton F.C. players Exeter City F.C. managers Expatriate footballers in Hong Kong Expatriate soccer players in Canada Expatriate soccer players in the United States FIFA World Cup-winning players Association football midfielders Hong Kong First Division League players Manchester City F.C. managers Members of the Order of the British Empire North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players Philadelphia Fury (1978–1980) players Portsmouth F.C. managers Premier League managers Southampton F.C. managers Southampton F.C. players Stoke City F.C. managers English Football League managers English Football League players UEFA Euro 1968 players Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984) players North American Soccer League (1968–1984) coaches People educated at Farnworth Grammar School Floreat