May. 3 - England says farewell to one of its 1966 World Cup soccer heroes, Alan Ball.
Former England team mates paid tribute to Alan Ball at a thanksgiving service for the midfielder, who died suddenly at the age of 61.
Ball, the youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning side, suffered a heart attack in the garden of his Hampshire home after trying to deal with a bonfire that had got out of control.
He is the second member of the side that beat West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley to die. Captain Bobby Moore died of bowel cancer in 1993.
Ball's coffin was draped in a flag with the red and white cross of St George and adorned by one of his trademark flat caps.
During his career as a footballer he played for a variety of clubs. Ball then enjoyed a varied managerial career, taking charge of Portsmouth twice, Manchester City, Southampton, Blackpool, Stoke City and Exeter.
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