Ten years ago today Evertonians lost one of their greatest ever legends.

Alan Ball, at the terribly premature age of 61, suffered a heart attack fighting a fire in his back garden and passed away.

To mark the date we republish the tribute written by Sports Editor David Prentice, then the Echo's Chief Sports Writer, later that day.

WHAT a crushing irony that it should be Alan Ball’s heart which gave out first.

A ceaseless study in perpetual motion – Ball was famed for his energy, his passion and his refusal to quit any battle, no matter how hopeless the odds.

Sixty-one is an inordinately early age for such a man to pass away – and the coincidence of his passing coming almost a year to the day after the death of his skipper and friend Brian Labone, is almost too awful for Evertonians to bear.

Everton's Brian Labone (left) and Alan Ball (right) toast their Football League Championship victory, as Labone keeps hold of the trophy

Dixie Dean’s place as the greatest footballer in Everton Football Club’s history is unchallenged.

But few supporters still remain who witnessed Dean’s majesty in the flesh.

Ask a more contemporary fan the name of the greatest player they’ve ever witnessed and the answer is universal: Alan Ball.

He made 249 appearances for Everton, winning 39 of his 72 England caps whilst a Royal Blue legend, and his heady mixture of delicate skill and rampant fire branded his name upon Everton hearts.

His appeal is summed up by a story he once told about himself.

Ball was leaving an airport laden with bags, when an eager autograph hunter demanded a signature.

Ball indicated that he was in a rush and his hands were full of luggage. Undaunted, and showing a never-say-die spirit typical of the player himself, the youngster brandished his book and declared: “Well you’re Alan Ball, spit in it!”

Everton's Alan Ball walks out for the second half

The youngster got his autograph.

Ball was a Blackpool player when he conquered the world at the tender age of 21.

But it was only a matter of time before he forged a relationship with Everton which would endure for the rest of his life.

The youngest member of Alf Ramsey’s World Cup squad, he was a driving force showing maturity beyond his years – and in the energy-sapping extra-time period in the World Cup Final it was his legs which continued to pump across the Wembley turf.

It was from a corner, forced by his tireless running, that England scored to go 2-1 ahead.

1966 World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium July 1966 England 4 v West Germany 2 Captain Bobby Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet trophy as he sits on the shoulders of his teammates They are L-R: Jack Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Gordon Banks, Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Ray Wilson, George Cohen and Bobby Charlton.

The Germans equalised with seconds to go, taking the game into extra time. Somehow, this instilled extra bounce into Ball’s play and the image of his continuous running round the Wembley pitch, socks round his ankles, is one of the most enduring of the occasion.

It was his chase and cross which created Hurst’s controversial second - and he was still sprinting upfield, unmarked and screaming for a pass, as Hurst took the ball forward to smash his historic hat-trick goal with the last kick of the game.

Everton signed him for a British record transfer fee of £110,000 just weeks later.

Howard Kendall later joked: “Everton’s scouting network was legendary. They spotted Alan Ball playing a World Cup Final.”

It’s not overstating the case to say that Ball transformed Everton.

Alan Ball, Everton wearing white boots

Without his inspiring presence, Everton had lost the 1966 Charity Shield to neighbours Liverpool. That was on August 13.

A fortnight later Ball was in the Royal Blue engine room, Everton beat Liverpool 3-1 in front of 64,318 ecstatic Evertonians, their new flame-haired hero scored twice and an idol was born.

Ball ended that first season at Goodison with 17 goals - from midfield - and never once neglecting his defensive duties.

Howard Kendall and Alan Ball among the Everton players at Wembley ahead of the 1968 FA Cup final against West Bromwich Albion

The following season he scored an astonishing 20 league goals, added 16 more in 1968-69 – then in 1969-70 he was a member of the most cherished midfield unit in the club’s history – Ball, Harvey, Kendall, the Holy Trinity.

It was the midfield which took Everton to its seventh league title playing football in the club’s cherished School of Science traditions. Ball was both the inspiration and the most idolised player. But it was a two way love affair.

“Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same,” he later declared – and he continued to champion the Blues throughout his life.

The Alan Ball words which adorn the walls of the home dressing room at Goodison Park
The Alan Ball words which adorn the walls of the home dressing room at Goodison Park

His value to Everton was inestimable.

In the spring of 1971, manager Harry Catterick was asked to put a price on Ball’s head.

Catterick pondered deeply, reflected that the domestic record stood at £200,000, then announced that he would expect offers in the region of £1m.

So would he really sell Everton’s idol for such a sensational sum?

“I’d consider it, and then I’d say no,” he declared.

Alan Ball leaves Goodison Park for Arsenal in December 1971
Alan Ball leaves Goodison Park for Arsenal in December 1971

So it was an earth-shattering decision when just a year later Catterick accepted £220,000 from Arsenal.

Evertonians were devastated. Catterick’s explanation was that Ball was losing his pace and could no longer be the goalscoring midfielder of his youth.

Alan Ball signed by Arsenal for £220,000 was at Bellefield, West Derby, for his last training stint with Everton then he went to Goodison Park to collect his boots. Everton manager Harry Catterick says farewell to the player. December 1971

It made little difference. He re-invented himself as a more considered, thoughtful midfielder, and remained one of the first names on Ramsey’s England teamsheet. The scant consolation for Blues fans was that he still remained a persistent thorn in neighbours Liverpool’s flesh, usually saving his increasingly rare goals for trips to Anfield.

In 1973, Ball became only the second player to be sent off in a full international, reacting with fury to violent tactics by Poland in a qualifier for the 1974 World Cup in Warsaw.

As a result, he missed the return game at Wembley.

England skipper Alan Ball gives thumbs-up to Kevin Keegan in May 1975 during a goalless draw with Northern Ireland
Alan Ball gives thumbs-up to Kevin Keegan during an England v Northern Ireland game in May 1975

He enjoyed a swansong at Southampton, before moving to play in the fledgling North American Soccer League, joining Philadelphia Fury as player-coach in May 1978 and joining the Vancouver Whitecaps in June 1979.

A football man to his very core, management was the logical next step for such a fierce competitor. But it was always to his chagrin that his career as a manager could not come close to matching his successes as a player.

He would always show his prized World Cup winner’s medal when introducing himself to dressing rooms for the first time, but perhaps he could not come to terms with the fact that few of the players under his charge could match his own burning passion and desire.

Everton legend and former Southampton player Alan Ball during his time as Portsmouth manager. Picture: Russel Cheyne/Allsport

His managerial career kicked off at Blackpool, the club where his playing career started, and encompassed Portsmouth – a club he guided back into the top flight – Stoke City, Exeter, Southampton, Manchester City and Portsmouth once again.

In 2000, he and four other members of the World Cup winning team were awarded the MBE for their services to football, an award which many felt was long overdue.

And in 2003 he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

alan ball is inducted in the list of everton greats at goodison park by sir philip carter

Always a distinctive figure thanks to his diminutive stature, his high-pitched voice and flame-red hair, Ball released his autobiography, Playing Extra Time, in 2004 and received much critical acclaim.

Aside from his highs and lows in football, it also candidly detailed his private struggle as a family man after his wife and daughter were both diagnosed with cancer.

His beloved wife Lesley, died on 16 May 2004, aged 57, after a three-year battle against ovarian cancer.

Ball had lost his own inspiration, father Alan Ball senior, in 1982 following a car crash in Cyprus.

But after overcoming so many personal tragedies, in recent months he admitted he had come to terms with his losses and was at peace with himself.

He was a frequent visitor to Merseyside – only last month delivering inspiring speeches to a group of spellbound supporters and former players at the Hall of Fame dinner at the Adelphi Hotel, and then the Crowne Plaza Hotel before the Everton-Barcelona old boys reunion.

Everton fan Graeme Holmes with former Everton player Alan Ball

It’s shocking to think that he looked in such rude and robust health.

Former colleagues talk of Alan Ball as one of Everton’s finest players of all-time.

Few would argue.

There wasn’t much of Alan Ball physically, but in terms of talent, commitment and inspirational service he was a towering collossus.

His legacy will live on forever.