Naz Ball
Encyclopedia
Naz Ball is a former Welsh
football striker. She represented the Wales women's national football team
and the English
clubs Arsenal
and Wembley
.
pipped Abbeydale to promotion into the National Division
. She also headed the winner in the inaugural Premier League Cup final in May 1992, as Arsenal beat Millwall Lionesses
1-0.
The following season Arsenal won a domestic treble, with Ball rampant. She scored in every round of the WFA Cup
, and her headed goal in the 3-0 final win over Doncaster Belles was the 38th of a prolific campaign.
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
. 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.
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.
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
football striker. She represented the Wales women's national football team
Wales women's national football team
The Wales women's national football team team represents Wales in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 47th in the world and 27th in Europe...
and the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clubs Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
and Wembley
Barnet F.C. Ladies
Barnet Football Club Ladies is an English women's football club affiliated with Barnet F.C.. They play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, after winning the Southern Division in 2009–10....
.
Club career
In 1991–1992, the first season of England's national women's league structure, Ball plundered 23 goals as ArsenalArsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
pipped Abbeydale to promotion into the National Division
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
. She also headed the winner in the inaugural Premier League Cup final in May 1992, as Arsenal beat Millwall Lionesses
Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.
Millwall Lionesses Ladies Football Club were founded in March 1972 by Patricia Maslin and Rita Bullions. In a time when women's football was almost unheard of the group of women who made up the Lionesses were at first snubbed by Millwall FC but went on to became the first women's football team to...
1-0.
The following season Arsenal won a domestic treble, with Ball rampant. She scored in every round of the WFA Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
, and her headed goal in the 3-0 final win over Doncaster Belles was the 38th of a prolific campaign.
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
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
final win over Liverpool Ladies
Liverpool L.F.C.
Liverpool Ladies Football Club is a semi–professional women's football club affiliated with Liverpool Football Club and playing in the FA WSL...
. In 1995–1996 Ball played for Wembley Ladies
Barnet F.C. Ladies
Barnet Football Club Ladies is an English women's football club affiliated with Barnet F.C.. They play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, after winning the Southern Division in 2009–10....
- and won a last minute penalty kick as Wembley ultimately beat Doncaster Belles in the Premier League Cup final on 10 March 1996.
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
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
stewardess.
International career
Ball was capped at international level by WalesWales women's national football team
The Wales women's national football team team represents Wales in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 47th in the world and 27th in Europe...
.