The report says Everton moved for England’s newly crowned World Cup winner after a painful afternoon against Liverpool in the Charity Shield. Everton had displayed the FA Cup, while Liverpool paraded the league championship; the Merseyside rivals then won 1-0.
Harvey recalled that the defeat could have been even heavier, saying a 5-0 scoreline “teria sido justo”. The reaction was swift. Everton reportedly agreed a deal with Blackpool for £112,000, then a record fee involving an English club.
The signing also carried a touch of dressing-room humour. Howard Kendall joked about scout Harry Cooke’s discovery: “Ele é um olheiro muito bom, viu Alan Ball jogar uma final de Copa do Mundo”.
Ball did not need a settling-in period. Two weeks after joining, Everton faced Liverpool again in the First Division and won 3-1, with their new midfielder scoring twice.
Harvey’s description was emphatic: “Ele foi absolutamente magnífico”. In English football terms, the impact was unmistakable. Ball brought energy, technical quality and the authority of a player who had just performed on the biggest stage.
He had been the youngest member of Alf Ramsey’s England side in the 1966 final, contributing to the build-up for Martin Peters’ goal and Geoff Hurst’s controversial second. Yet his value to Everton went beyond World Cup prestige.
For Harvey, Ball raised expectations across the team. His influence was not limited to goals or memorable performances; he made established players believe they could reach a higher level.
That legacy is reflected in the Holy Trinity statue outside Goodison Park, where Ball stands alongside Harvey and Kendall. It is a reminder that great signings do more than improve a lineup-they can define a club’s identity.
The next time Everton pursue a headline-making addition, supporters will inevitably measure the newcomer against Ball: not only by immediate results, but by whether he makes everyone around him better.