PROTEGE JIMMY ON THE BALL FOR STAGS
JIMMY Ball is excited by the challenge which lays ahead as manager of AFC Totton.
The 46-year-old – son of the late former England World Cup winner, Alan Ball, – was appointed manager of the Southern League Division One South outfit on Tuesday.
Totton were fifth in the table before the weekend with seven matches remaining.
“I like the project and something I can get my teeth into,” Ball told The NLP.
“It’s a great club with very ambitious people around it. It was something which really interested me.
“They’ve got big dreams of what could be achieved here. The setup is fantastic and it can only get better.
“The ground is fairly new and they’re going to look to develop it as well. With our link to Southampton (the Men’s B team and Women sides play at Snows Stadium) the pitch is fantastic. Sometimes that is a hindrance because opposition clubs love playing here!”
Ball has a distinguished coaching career including spells at Portsmouth and Stoke City, with his last role at Stevenage under Paul Tisdale.
Last year, he oversaw Forest Green Rovers for eight games in a caretaker role, where they lost in the League Two play-off semi-finals to Newport County, before he reverted to the under 18 side.
“I believe all my experiences will help me,” he said. “The things I’d done at previous clubs helped me at Forest Green.
“You take things from all the courses you’ve been on and all your life experiences.
“You need all of that to be a football manager these days. It’s not just about working on a training pitch or tactics board. You need a lot of different tools in your arsenal these days.”
Ball was looking to work alongside the previous management structure of Dan Sackman and Liam Robinson, who took over from Glenn Howes earlier this season.
“That hasn’t materialised and I respect that decision from them,” admitted Ball, who revealed he had brief conversations about taking over after Howes’ departure for Dorchester Town in October.
“I’ve got stuck into it straight away. I’ve managed to watch all our matches back and I believe I’ve got a good idea of what we’re all about.”
Ball is the third generation in his family to enter football management.
Alan Ball Snr – Jimmy’s grandfather – spent 12 years managing in England and Sweden before his father, Alan Jnr, enjoyed spells at Portsmouth and Southampton among others.
Jimmy often watched the Hampshire rivals during his dad’s spells in charge and was a former Southampton youth player.
“I don’t think there are many people held in so much regard in both cities as he was football wise,” said Ball.
“I’ve been all over the world coaching and different parts of England but my sisters are here, my wife’s family are here so it’s nice to come home.”