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Reporter organises memorial service for World Cup hero Ball

The Bolton News has organised a memorial service for World Cup hero Alan Ball.

The service will be held in his home town of Bolton later this month, thanks to the hard work of trainee reporter Deborah Linton.

Following the footballer’s sudden death earlier this year the focus of attention was on Southampton where he lived, but staff at the Bolton News felt something should be done there and came up with the idea of a service at the town’s parish church.

Representatives from Bolton Wanderers, including chairman Phil Gartside and owner Eddie Davies, will be among figures from the footballing world who plan to attend to remember Alan, the youngest member of England’s winning 1966 World Cup team.

Deborah also developed a close relationship with his children in Southampton, who said they would fly to Bolton to take part in the service, and his uncle is to give a short reading.

In addition, Deborah has persuaded the headmaster of Alan’s old primary school to send a party of children along.

Editor Steve Hughes said: “We wanted to do something in Alan’s home town to remember him and for people to pay their respects.

Deborah has done a marvellous job in pulling everything together in such a short space of time.”

The service will be held on Saturday, June 9. Do you have a story about the regional press?
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