The murder of Tommy Ball

By Paul Lester

Subjects: Aston Villa Football Club, Death, Soccer players, Assassination, History

Description: When gunshots rang out in Brick-kiln Lane, Perry Barr, England on the night of 11 November 1923 the life was claimed of Thomas Edger Ball, the Aston Villa Football Club centre-half and one of the country's most promising young footballers. This tragedy earned Ball the unwelcome distinction of being the only English Football League player ever known to have been murdered. Paul Lester here produced the first extended study of the case, a curious slice of soccer history.