'The best I've ever played with' - Howard Kendall

Alan was probably my best friend in football. I had to put up with him always taking the mickey and having a laugh at me but it was all in fun. I find it very difficult to talk about Alan because I keep smiling and I don't want to smile.

SIR BOBBY CHARLTON (1966 World Cup team-mate)

He was probably the best player in the World Cup Final, and without his impact the result could have been totally different. He did not appear to have a nerve in his body and was an inspiration to us all.

SIR GEOFF HURST (1966 World Cup team-mate)

We spent holidays together in Australia, and my wife Judith and I always enjoyed his company. He was an ebullient character, and this was one of the things that made him such a great player.

He was one of the most passionate players of my time and this was very apparent during the World Cup Final. Ask any of the players that day who was their man of the match, and they would say Bally.

NOBBY STILES (1966 World Cup team-mate)

With eight minutes to go in the final, I went to cross to the far post, but I wasted the chance and I remember thinking: "I've nothing left, I can't move."

Bally spotted me and just ran up and said: "Move, you b*****, move." He got me going again because I was absolutely gone.

ROGER HUNT (1966 World Cup team-mate)

Liverpool had got promoted in 1962 and it was our first game back in the top flight. Blackpool had a little ginger lad on the right wing and that was my first viewing of Alan Ball.

There were 50,000 there and it would be a bit daunting to make your debut in those conditions, but it didn't seem to affect Alan at all.

Alan used to tell how hard his father worked him and how he never gave him any praise. I think that, and being rejected by a couple of clubs early on, made him more determined.

BILL KENWRIGHT (Everton chairman)

When I had the honour of giving him an award a few years back, he told me he couldn't believe how he was still worshipped at Goodison Park after all the years. He will be worshipped for as long as there is Everton.

HOWARD KENDALL (Everton team-mate)

He was the best player I have ever played with. If anything went wrong on the pitch, he would put it right. The World Cup was where he made his name, and his performance in the final summed up the way he played.

LAWRIE McMENEMY (Ex-Southampton manager)

I signed him seven months after we won the FA Cup Final but were still in Division Two. Alan had the chance to stay in the top flight but the first thing I did was lock the door and tell him he was not going anywhere until he signed.

Alan started life as a road sweeper and ended up as the best lead violinist Southampton ever had.

KEVIN KEEGAN (Southampton team-mate) I played with him when he was 38. I'd been European Footballer of the Year twice but he could teach me things I never even thought about.