Thursday, April 26, 2007

Goodbye to a true legend

Yesterday, I awoke to some sad news.

I heard of the death of Alan Ball and being a life-long Evertonian I had to say something.

I was never fortunate enough to see him play live at Goodison Park as I was only 10, when he moved on to Arsenal, A move he never would have wanted but that the manager at the time thought was necessary. Despite this he never forgot the Blue half of the city who had worshiped him and the other members of the holy trinity (Harvey and Kendall). He was a true gentleman on and off the pitch in an age when there was no play-acting in football and if you were tackled, you just got up and got on with it.

There are plenty of players in this day and age who can learn a lot from his example and that of the many other players of his generation.

He was always known of course as one of the heroes of the 1966 World Cup win, but even I did not realise that it was him, and not Geoff Hurst, who was voted Man of the Match that July day, all those years ago. We are all Saddened by his sudden passing from a heart attack and I feel lucky that my own attack in Feb did not have the tragic consequences that his did on Tuesday night.

Bally! You were here all too briefly, and left us much too soon. Your memory will long endure for many Evertonian's as well as the fans of Arsenal and Southampton, all of whom you served so well as a player and to those clubs who were lucky enough to have you as a manager, you will be well remembered.

So Long friend and Rest In Peace!!!!

Saturday, April 21, 2007

I'm Still Here

It's amazing the thing what can happen to you when your not blogging and, a month after my last entry I found out just how suddenly things can change.
I had a Heart Attack!!!
Just a minor one, mind you, but that was enough to scare the living be-Jesus out of me and make me realise just how fragile we all are. So I'm now on the road to recovery and let me say this... I wouldn't recommend having a heart attack to anyone, because if that was a minor one then I wouldn't want to have a major one.
So now this Joe's eating right and living a bit righter than he was, on a no-kryptonite diet. He's upped the exercise and just wants to be as healthy as he can be which is not a hard wish to make.
I will be back on this blog as soon as possible and promise to let you know from time to time how I am getting on.
Keep the faith brother blogger's and don't let your health get the best of you.
Up, Up and (deep breath) Awaaaaaay!