Naz Ball Explained

Naz Ball
Fullname:Naldra Ball[1]
Birth Date:29 October 1974
Birth Place:Pwllheli, Wales
Position:Striker
Years1:–1995
Years2:1995–1997
Clubs2:Wembley
Nationalteam1:Wales
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:2

Naldra "Naz" Ball is a Welsh former football striker. She represented the Wales women's national football team and the English FA Women's Premier League clubs Arsenal and Wembley.

Club career

In 1991–92, the first season of England's national women's league structure, Ball scored 23 goals as Arsenal pipped Abbeydale to promotion into the National Division.[2] She also headed the winner in the inaugural Premier League Cup final in May 1992, as Arsenal beat Millwall Lionesses 1–0.[3]

The following season Arsenal won a domestic treble. Ball scored in every round of the WFA Cup,[4] and her headed goal in the 3–0 final win over Doncaster Belles was the 38th of a prolific campaign.[5]

In April 1995, Ball, by then reduced to bit-part status, came on for the final two minutes of Arsenal's 3–2 FA Women's Cup final win over Liverpool Ladies.[6] In 1995–1996 Ball played for Wembley Ladies – and won a last minute penalty kick as Wembley ultimately beat Doncaster Belles in the Premier League Cup final on 10 March 1996.[7]

Ball featured for Wembley in the following season's 1–0 FA Women's Cup final defeat to Millwall Lionesses. She emerged from retirement to do so, aged 35, while working as an RAF stewardess.[8]

International career

Ball was capped at international level by Wales.[9] In 1995 UEFA Women's Championship qualification Ball scored twice in her five appearances for Wales.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1993-95 EM für Frauen - Wales - Frauen. UEFA. 10 November 2013. German.
  2. Web site: 1991–1992. The Owl Football Historian. 2010-10-16. https://archive.today/20120630225029/http://www.btinternet.com/~a.drake/women/Historical/wt91.htm. 30 June 2012.
  3. News: Sport in Short: Football. The Independent. London. 1992-05-25.
  4. News: Football / Women's FA Cup Final: Arsenal on trail of the treble: Shipp stands firm as the Belles rue lack of a finishing touch: Sam Elliott reports from Oxford. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--womens-fa-cup-final-arsenal-on-trail-of-the-treble-shipp-stands-firm-as-the-belles-rue-lack-of-a-finishing-touch-sam-elliott-reports-from-oxford-1457256.html . 18 June 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. London. 1993-04-25. Sam Elliott. 2010-10-16.
  5. News: Football: FA forging links to create a permanent partnership: Henry Winter reports on the interest created by the women's FA Cup final in which Arsenal defeated Doncaster Belles 3–0 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fa-forging-links-to-create-a-permanent-partnership-henry-winter-reports-on-the-interest-created-by-the-womens-fa-cup-final-in-which-arsenal-defeated-doncaster-belles-30-1457584.html . 18 June 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. London. 1993-04-26. Henry Winter. 2010-10-16.
  6. News: Highbury Ladies conjure up great cup final escape. The Times. 1995-05-01. Alyson Rudd.
  7. News: Belles are beaten. The Times. 1996-03-11.
  8. News: Football: Lionesses bring pride to Millwall. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-lionesses-bring-pride-to-millwall-1259819.html . 18 June 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. London. 1997-05-05. Mike Rowbottom. 2010-10-16.
  9. http://www.barnetfc.com/page/Ladies/0,,10431~548434,00.html Barnet FC Ladies – A History

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