David Ball (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = David Ball
| image = David Ball.jpg
| image_size = 150
| caption = Ball playing for Peterborough United in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|12|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Whitefield, Greater Manchester, England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}{{Soccerbase}}
| position = Striker
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 199?–1997
| youthclubs1 = Prestwich Marauders
| youthyears2 = 1997–2009
| youthclubs2 = Manchester City
| years1 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = Manchester City
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = → Swindon Town (loan)
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2011–2012
| clubs3 = Peterborough United
| caps3 = 41
| goals3 = 9
| years4 = 2011
| clubs4 = → Rochdale (loan)
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2011–2012
| clubs5 = → Rochdale (loan)
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2012–2017
| clubs6 = Fleetwood Town
| caps6 = 179
| goals6 = 41
| years7 = 2017–2019
| clubs7 = Rotherham United
| caps7 = 34
| goals7 = 8
| years8 = 2018–2019
| clubs8 = → Bradford City (loan)
| caps8 = 35
| goals8 = 5
| years9 = 2019–2025
| clubs9 = Wellington Phoenix
| caps9 = 124
| goals9 = 15
| years10 = 2024
| clubs10 = Wellington Phoenix Reserves
| caps10 = 3
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2025–
| clubs11 = Radcliffe
| caps11 = 0
| goals11 = 0
| club-update = 29 March 2025
}}
David Michael Ball (born 14 December 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker.
Began his career at Manchester City, he never made a first-team appearance despite being a star player in the club's Reserve and Academy teams. He started the 2010–11 season on loan at Swindon Town, before he was signed by Peterborough United in January 2011. Peterborough won promotion out of League One via the play-offs in 2011, though Ball returned to the division on loan at Rochdale for the first half of the 2011–12 season. He was signed to Fleetwood Town in July 2012, and helped the club to win the 2014 League Two play-off final. He scored 49 goals in 209 league and cup games in a five-year stay at Fleetwood, before moving on to Rotherham United in June 2017. He helped Rotherham to win the 2018 League One play-offs, but left the club after spending most of the 2018–19 season on loan at Bradford City.
Career
=Manchester City=
Ball spent his early childhood with Prestwich Marauders, before he joined the youth system at Manchester City at the age of seven.{{cite web |last1=Rourke |first1=Sam |title=Feature: When Fleetwood Let Their Cantona Go |url=https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/feature-when-fleetwood-let-their-cantona-go/ |website=Football League World |access-date=19 June 2019 |date=30 June 2015}} He battled back from a foot injury at the end of his teenage years.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8898805.stm|title=Swindon loanee David Ball gets quizzed by youngsters|last=Scott|first=Oliver|date=9 August 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=20 August 2010}} A star of the youth and reserve sides he scored in the 2008 final of the FA Youth Cup, which City won,{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/2009/FAYC_Report|title=Liverpool retain Youth Cup|last=Mawhinney|first=Stuart|date=26 April 2007|work=thefa.com|access-date=20 August 2010}} and was joint-fifth top-scorer in the 2008–09 Premier Reserve League and joint-second top-scorer in the 2009–10 Premier Reserve League. He was named as City's Academy Player of the Month for December 2007 and Reserve team Player of the Month for February 2008.{{cite web| title=Dunnie is City's Player of the Month for December| url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2008/January/Dunnie-is-Citys-Player-of-the-Month-for-December| work=mcfc.co.uk| publisher=(Manchester City Football Club)| date=1 October 2008| access-date=28 November 2010| archive-date=30 November 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130233724/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2008/January/Dunnie-is-Citys-Player-of-the-Month-for-December| url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Awards time for Craig and Pablo |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/March/Awards-time-for-Craig-and-Pablo |work=mcfc.co.uk |publisher=(Manchester City Football Club) |date=9 March 2009 |access-date=2 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729062924/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Club-news/2009/March/Awards-time-for-Craig-and-Pablo |archive-date=29 July 2012 }} He made it onto the first-team bench only once, though this was for the famous Manchester derby game on 20 September 2009 where City lost 4–3 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.{{cite news |last1=McNulty |first1=Phil |title=Man Utd 4-3 Man City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8256750.stm |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 September 2009}}{{Soccerway|david-ball/140795}}
He was loaned out to League One club Swindon Town in July 2010 for six months, in order to gain first team experience.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8814594.stm|title=Manchester City striker David Ball agrees Swindon loan|date=13 July 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=20 August 2010}} This came despite interest from other clubs.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8803682.stm|title=Swindon Town are close to signing David Ball|date=9 July 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=20 August 2010}} He made his league debut at the County Ground on 7 August 2010, in a 2–1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, but was replaced by Alan O'Brien after sixty minutes for tactical reasons.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8842092.stm|title=Swindon 1 – 2 Brighton|date=7 August 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=20 August 2010}} He was initially played out of position in midfield by manager Danny Wilson and then spent time on the substitutes bench before taking an injured Charlie Austin's place up front in October. He scored his first senior goal on 5 October, as Swindon beat Torquay United 2–0 in the Football League Trophy.{{cite news |title=Swindon 2-0 Torquay |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9041844.stm |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 October 2010}} He scored a brace eleven days later in a 5–4 defeat at Peterborough United.{{cite news |title=Peterborough 5-4 Swindon |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9075106.stm |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2010}} He was then benched in favour of Charlie Austin and Vincent Péricard, returning to the City of Manchester Stadium in January after scoring a total of three goals in nine starts and 12 substitute appearances for Swindon.{{cite web |title=Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk - David BALL - Player Profile |url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=BALLDAVI |website=swindon-town-fc.co.uk |access-date=19 June 2019}}
=Peterborough United=
Ball signed a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year deal for Darren Ferguson's Peterborough United on 31 January 2011 after being bought for an undisclosed transfer fee.{{cite news |title=Peterborough sign Jones and Ball |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/peterborough_united/9382213.stm |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2011}} He scored five goals in 21 appearances for "Posh" in the second half of the 2010–11 season, and was a stoppage-time substitute for Lee Tomlin in the League One play-off final as United secured promotion into the Championship with a 3–0 victory over Huddersfield Town.{{cite news |last1=Begley |first1=Emlyn |title=Huddersfield 0-3 Peterborough |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/13489373.stm |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 May 2011}}
He was partnered with Tomlin following the sale of Craig Mackail-Smith to Brighton at the start of the 2011–12 season.{{cite news |title=David Ball targets lead role at Peterborough United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14505890 |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2011}} However Ball returned to League One on loan at Rochdale on 31 August after Peterborough signed Emile Sinclair from Macclesfield Town.{{cite news |title=Rochdale snap up David Ball and Ahmed Benali |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14740833 |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2011}} He scored four goals in eight games for the "Dale", which led to him being recalled to London Road on 10 October to compete with Paul Taylor and Emile Sinclair for a starting place in the absence of Nicky Ajose (loaned out) and Lee Tomlin (injured).{{cite news |title=David Ball confident of success at Peterborough United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15273092 |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2011}} Ball made just five substitute appearances however, and returned to Rochdale on loan on 24 November.{{cite news |title=Rochdale net David Ball & Kuagica Sebastiao Bondo David |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15875953 |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 November 2011}} His second loan spell at Rochdale was not as successful as his first spell as he failed to find the net in seven games and manager Steve Eyre was sacked.{{cite news |title=Ferguson to hold talks with out of favour striker |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/ferguson-to-hold-talks-with-out-of-favour-striker-1-3420116 |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=Peterborough Telegraph |date=14 January 2012 |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was put on the transfer-list at Peterborough in April 2012.{{cite news |title=Peterborough United list Grant McCann, release Joe Lewis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17897311 |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2012}}
=Fleetwood Town=
On 23 July 2012, Ball signed for newly promoted League Two side Fleetwood Town on a three-year deal.{{cite news |title=Fleetwood Town sign Peterborough striker David Ball |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18957289? |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 July 2012 |language=en-gb}} He started the 2012–13 season playing out of position until manager Micky Mellon was replaced by Graham Alexander in December. He ended the campaign with nine goals in 38 games, before scoring 13 goals from 40 appearances in the 2013–14 season. Fleetwood won promotion out of League Two with a 1–0 victory over Burton Albion in the 2014 play-off final.{{cite news |last1=Maiden |first1=Phil |title=Burton Albion 0-1 Fleetwood Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27465323 |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2014}} On 29 March 2015, he scored a goal that was a described as a "spectacular lob" and an "exquisite chip" to secure a 1–1 draw with Preston North End at Highbury Stadium, which later saw him nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award; this made him only the second Englishman to be nominated for the award, after Wayne Rooney in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/puskas-award/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925231636/http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/puskas-award/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2014|title=FIFA Puskás Award 2015 Nominees|date=12 November 2015|publisher=FIFA|access-date=14 November 2015}}{{cite news |title=David Ball honoured by FIFA Puskas Award nomination alongside Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2015/november/david-ball-honoured-by-fifa-puskas-award-nomination-alongside-lionel-messi-and-carlos-tevez/ |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=efl.com |date=25 November 2015 |language=en-gb}} He scored eight goals in 30 League One games for the "Fishermen" during the 2014–15 campaign.
In August 2015, Ball signed a new two-year contract with Fleetwood.{{cite web|title=David Ball: Fleetwood Town striker signs new contract|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33761647|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 November 2015|date=3 August 2015}} He was limited to five goals in 42 matches in the 2015–16 season, before hitting a career-high 14 goals from 55 matches in the 2016–17 season. He left the "Trawlermen" after rejecting manager Uwe Rösler's new contract offer.{{cite news |title=David Ball signs for Rotherham after leaving Fleetwood |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11719/10923765/david-ball-signs-for-rotherham-after-leaving-fleetwood |access-date=19 June 2019 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=22 June 2017 |language=en}}
=Rotherham United=
On 22 June 2017, Ball signed for Rotherham United on a two-year deal; he said he was persuaded to come to the New York Stadium after hearing manager Paul Warne's ambitious plans.{{cite news |title=Staff enthusiasm tipped the balance - Ball |url=https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2017/june/read--millers-enthusiasm-tipped-the-balance---ball/ |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=themillers.co.uk |date=26 June 2017 |language=en-gb}}{{cite web|title=READ {{!}} Millers confirm Ball signing|url=https://www.themillers.co.uk/news/2017/june/read--millers-confirm-ball-signing|publisher=Rotherham United F.C.|access-date=22 June 2017|date=22 June 2017}} He scored his first goal for Rotherham in an EFL Trophy tie against Manchester City Under-23s on 15 August 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united/rotherham-united-lose-out-in-penalty-shoot-out-with-manchester-city-1-8704892|title=Rotherham United lose out in penalty shoot-out with Manchester City|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|date=15 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017}} He finished the 2017–18 season with nine goals in 38 games for the "Millers" and helped the club to win promotion despite missing a penalty during the 2–1 extra-time win over Shrewsbury Town in the League One play-off final.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44186999 |title=Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town |first=Ged |last=Scott |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2018 |access-date=27 May 2018}}
On 3 September 2018, Bradford City confirmed the signing of Ball until the end of the 2018–19 season, in a deal that was signed on the loan deadline of 31 August.{{cite news |title=City Complete Ball Signing |url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/david-ball/ |access-date=3 September 2018 |publisher=Bradford City A.F.C. |date=3 September 2018}} The deal was confirmed just hours before manager Michael Collins was sacked.{{cite news |last1=Time |first1=Millers |title=Things change quickly for David Ball before and after Rotherham exit |url=http://itsmillerstime.co.uk/things-change-quickly-for-david-ball-before-and-after-rotherham-exit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907060013/http://itsmillerstime.co.uk/things-change-quickly-for-david-ball-before-and-after-rotherham-exit/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 September 2018 |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=itsmillerstime.co.uk |date=4 September 2018}} He scored his first goal for Bradford in an EFL Trophy tie against Barnsley on 13 November.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/barnsley-fc/highlights-barnsley-2-bradford-city-1-oakwell-remains-a-fortress-but-bantams-sense-hope-1-9443201|title=Barnsley 2 Bradford City 1|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post|date=13 November 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018}} In December 2018 he was praised by City teammate Hope Akpan,{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/17297029.bradford-city-akpan-hails-attacking-midfield-trio/|title=Bradford City: Akpan hails attacking midfield trio|date=13 December 2018|access-date=19 December 2018|author=Simon Parker|publisher=Telegraph & Argus}} and in May 2019 he was credited by "Bantams" manager Gary Bowyer for helping Lewis O'Brien to develop as a young player.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/17614564.bradford-city-ball-has-had-role-in-midfielders-progress/|title=Bradford City: Ball has had role in midfielder's progress|date=2 May 2019|access-date=4 May 2019|author=Simon Parker|publisher=Telegraph & Argus}} On returning from his loan at Valley Parade, Ball was released by Rotherham at the end of his contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48287756|title=Rotherham United: Jon Taylor & Ryan Williams among five players in talks with Millers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 May 2019}}
=Wellington Phoenix=
On 12 July 2019, Wellington Phoenix announced that Ball had signed a two-year contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/114172697/new-english-forward-david-ball-brings-experience-to-wellington-phoenix|title=New English forward David Ball brings experience to Wellington Phoenix|website=Stuff|date=12 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}} He extended his contract for a further 2 years in 2022, with hopes to become a New Zealand citizen and play for New Zealand internationally in 2024, when he has lived in NZ for 5 years.{{Cite news |title=English forward Ball extends Phoenix stay two more years |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/05/football-english-forward-david-ball-extends-stay-at-wellington-phoenix-two-more-years.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526014703/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/05/football-english-forward-david-ball-extends-stay-at-wellington-phoenix-two-more-years.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-26 |newspaper=Newshub |language=en-NZ}}
==Wellington Phoenix Reserves==
On 28 September 2024, Ball captained the Wellington Phoenix Reserves in their first New Zealand National League match of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/10/1/2024-mens-national-league-week-1|title=2024 Men’s National League – Week 1|website=The Niche Cache|date=1 October 2024|language=en|access-date=2014-10-01}} Few weeks later, Ball scored his first goal in the National League against Birkenhead United on 27 October.{{Cite web|url=https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/10/29/2024-mens-national-league-week-5|title=2024 Men’s National League – Week 5|website=The Niche Cache|date=29 October 2024|language=en|access-date=2014-10-01}}
==Radcliffe FC==
On the 28th of March it was announced by Radcliffe on Instagram that he would be joining on a free transfer.
Career statistics
{{Updated|match played 13 January 2025}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Manchester City
- FA Youth Cup: 2007–08{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Stuart |title=Manchester City: Where are Boyata's 2008 Youth Cup winning team-mates now? |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/manchester-city-boyatas-2008-youth-9392456 |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=4 June 2015}}
Peterborough United
Fleetwood Town
Rotherham United
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|David Ball (footballer)}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, David}}
Category:People from Whitefield, Greater Manchester
Category:Sportspeople from the Metropolitan Borough of Bury
Category:Footballers from Greater Manchester
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:Swindon Town F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players
Category:Rotherham United F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players
Category:English Football League players