David Ball (Radcliffe | England)

This might require support from the club, but would be totally up to the discretion of the Internal Affairs. Irene Van Dyk rule might be applicable, if Bazeley considered Ball immediately "recruitable" for All Whites, perhaps.
Remember that Peter Thiel was granted NZ citizenship before living here, so there are legal rules for exceptions; but someone "significant" would need to support Ball's application in order for the exception to be considered.

SamCoughlan

billyspleen75

Have we been able to work out when he can become a Kiwi?

I think the Woolongong years will have put paid to any of that. This is as the NZ govt website defines the eligibility for citizenship based on residence:

"You need to have been physically present in New Zealand, as a resident, for a certain amount of time during the last 5 years. The 5 years are counted backwards from the day you apply for citizenship.

To meet this requirement, you need to have been in New Zealand for:

• at least 240 days in each 12-month period, and
• 1,350 days across the 5 years.

You might not meet this requirement if you have been out of New Zealand for longer than 4 months in any 12-month period. This could be 1 long trip or many smaller trips.

You also might not meet this requirement if you were overseas for more than 15 months in total in the 5 years before you apply for citizenship."

The Nix were based in Aus for July-August 2020, then Jan 2021-May 2021, then Nov 2021-April 2022 and have been back here ever since. By my count that's 13 months in a 3-year period with two separate stints of more than four months. Unless he gets an exception I doubt he's eligible.

I have a feeling someone else has had an exception before.  Might have been Dura or Krishna who were out of the country for long periods, but because it was due to work requirements, they were given an exception.

Probably can't find it - but if it could be gound, I think Ball would have a lot of secondary assists - being the player who teed up the guy that sets up the goal.

If his demands are reasonable I'd still take him - a good role model for our younger players.

I'd love to see Ball extended.  No doubt a strong part of our teams success and our youngsters success.

martinb

Uffie’s first 3 seasons he was consistently around 10 goal contributions a season. Roughly at one every 200 minutes. There’s also 3 assists in the FFA cup in his first two seasons. 

Uffie’s last season was confused on attack- we had too many players who couldn’t quite play together. That saw only 4 goal contributions at one every 425 minutes. 

So far this season he’s had fewer minutes and has 3 goal contributions again at around 430 minutes each. 

I’m not sure when he is eligible as a local, but I think he’s 34 now. I think it’d only be year by year for any further contracts surely.

He’s a very adaptable player and has great feet and great vision. I guess he’d be looking to understudy Kraev and/or Old depending on if they stay. 

His rapidly dwindling numbers might show he is a bit deeper last couple of seasons.
Or they might show he is losing sharpness.
No worse than Kosta was last year, but it doesn't tell me he should be playing as much as he does; unless he's replacing Rufer/Pennington/Al-Taay/Salas if he is sitting that deep.

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Ball is not a defensive midfielder by nature, more of an AM and is working well in that position despite not scoring much.  

He's never been a player who scores a tonne of goals. Over 5 years at Fleetwood Town he scored 41 goals at 1 every 4(ish) games. It seems to have been that way his whole career. Solid but nothing flashy.
For us since 2019 he's score 15 in 100 games, 1 in every 6(ish) almost 7 games. But during that time he was used as a wide forward (during the Uffie years) or as a deeper lying forward, more a disruptor in defence and creater in attack. He's only played as the point man a couple of times this season. 
But, he does so much work in the buildup to all of our goals,either getting the assist or making the pass before the assist. I pick him as an AM now more than a striker, he has the skills, the game nouse to play the role for us for a year or two more.

"I love Football - I love my job and I love being part of something like this" - David Ball

David Ball speaks to @skysportnz ahead of tomorrow's huge clash against the Central Coast Mariners ⚔️

Match Details:

🆚 CCM
🏟️ Central Coast Stadium
⏰ 7:30pm (NZT)
📺 @skysportnz… pic.twitter.com/s6nswuUjwO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) April 4, 2024

Nice lil interview with him can tell he cares about the club a lot and no one can deny the effort hes put in. Hopefully he can top off his time here with the title!

wilbaker

"I love Football - I love my job and I love being part of something like this" - David Ball

David Ball speaks to @skysportnz ahead of tomorrow's huge clash against the Central Coast Mariners ⚔️

Match Details:

🆚 CCM
🏟️ Central Coast Stadium
⏰ 7:30pm (NZT)
📺 @skysportnz… pic.twitter.com/s6nswuUjwO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) April 4, 2024

Nice lil interview with him can tell he cares about the club a lot and no one can deny the effort hes put in. Hopefully he can top off his time here with the title!

The more I hear from this guy the more my man-crush grows! Love his attitude to the club and his passion for just being involved and a part of the bigger picture!
Seems the clubs approach has been a winner for the Ball family too which is positive news.

Only posting this cuz the account has almost 20k followers, so it might not be a total load of bollocks

✍️ Gillingham are interested in signing Wellington Phoenix forward David Ball. #GFC pic.twitter.com/aGSSP49lwq

— EFL HUB 🚨 (@efl_hub) May 10, 2024

How old is he?

Player coach role maybe??

MetalLegNZ

How old is he?

Player coach role maybe??

Only 34, so he's got a couple of yearas in his legs yet. Well on the pathway with his coaching academy within the Nix setup, so he could be a cheaper option for a league 2 team.

The nix won’t use 5 imports next season so subject is not relevant anymore 

AucklandPhoenix

The nix won’t use 5 imports next season so subject is not relevant anymore 

Speculation on the Nix Pod he will be a naturalised NZer in 2025, so would a bit odd to leave now when so close to having a NZ passport, plus he has his Academy in Welly.

Unless it's family reasons to return to the UK, you'd think it would have to be a very generous offer from the Gills.

Can't see it happening, personally. Mid-table League 2? Been there, done that.
Unless he's decided he wants to return home or he's been told he's not in Chiefy's plans for next year (unlikely), reckon he's staying.

Might be on good coin which the Nix are trying to offload with the reduced tv payment.

But yeah, can't see him going.

coochiee

AucklandPhoenix

The nix won’t use 5 imports next season so subject is not relevant anymore 

Speculation on the Nix Pod he will be a naturalised NZer in 2025, so would a bit odd to leave now when so close to having a NZ passport, plus he has his Academy in Welly.

Unless it's family reasons to return to the UK, you'd think it would have to be a very generous offer from the Gills.

It doesn't say Ball is interested back, only that Gillingham are interested in him. Every chance he'd turn them down

Anyone work out what Bally meant by his cryptic insta post this morning?

WanderingSheep

Anyone work out what Bally meant by his cryptic insta post this morning?

What did it say?

I kinda have forgotten, it was like 6am when i saw it. But something about people saying stuff behind your back with a snake background

RR

WanderingSheep

Anyone work out what Bally meant by his cryptic insta post this morning?

What did it say?

RR

WanderingSheep

Anyone work out what Bally meant by his cryptic insta post this morning?

What did it say?

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Friar Tuck

RR

WanderingSheep

Anyone work out what Bally meant by his cryptic insta post this morning?

What did it say?

IMG_6727.jpeg 128.34 KB

It looks like its @clewisinvestor - obviously have missed something there but im sure if you figured out what it was you'd have an answer. Maybe a dig at clayton though.

Yeah I saw it. My only other thought/suggestion is maybe he has seen stuff online (some of the negative comments from fans) but that was just a thought. No idea

I recall a lot of earlier comments that Ball and his family enjoy life in New Zealand and that he would be looking for coaching work here before considering returning to UK.  That was a while ago but suspect this is linked to the length of his contract extension (to allow him to be naturalised in NZ).

He definitely loves it here. Third hand info, but a mates dad chat fairly regularly to him and has no intentions on leaving. Family very much settled, but I guess anything can change 

Sorry can’t post a link but search Youtube for “I had trials once”, featuring David Ball. Posted 11 days ago. Just watching now so nothing to share yet.

David Ball could well be this "generation's" version of Chris Greenacre in regards to the club if they, the club, are smart. I think he would be a good coach. He's very focused and a wants to win attitude. I'd back him any day. He's sincere and up front when you speak with him.

Stumbled across this from last month, a 2 hour podcast with David Ball as special guest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lj9aMQZGkk

Its a good listen. The Nix come up in the first segment. He mentions he had a offer from the Roar (under Fowler) as well as us. 

See my previous post, thanks for the link. Its a good listen/watch.

RR

Stumbled across this from last month, a 2 hour podcast with David Ball as special guest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lj9aMQZGkk

And another with Beyond the Surface.

Napier Phoenix

See my previous post, thanks for the link. Its a good listen/watch.

RR

Stumbled across this from last month, a 2 hour podcast with David Ball as special guest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lj9aMQZGkk

Oh, totally missed that you had posted it. My bad.

Yeah, was good hearing about his previous football experiences and such.

Found it interesting that Uffie was the first to talk to him about how he planned to use him in the teams formation if he signed.

Bally just scored a screamer against Birkenhead. 

Why do I feel sad watching that? Hope he’s going to come back to the top team and make some crucial contributions that push us to our first ever title! 

Gambare Bally. The others weren’t that great in Perth, but Perth were garbage.

martinb

Why do I feel sad watching that? Hope he’s going to come back to the top team and make some crucial contributions that push us to our first ever title! 

Gambare Bally. The others weren’t that great in Perth, but Perth were garbage.

I have no doubt Bally will still turn out for the first XI depending on our injuries / absences / opposition tactics.

RR

🚨 David Ball goal alert 🚨 #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/niKpk2btUs

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 27, 2024

A carbon copy, if at slower pace, of the cutback and a goal scored by Kosta against Sydney FC late last season.

Mainland FC

RR

🚨 David Ball goal alert 🚨 #NZNationalLeague pic.twitter.com/niKpk2btUs

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 27, 2024

A carbon copy, if at slower pace, of the cutback and a goal scored by Kosta against Sydney FC late last season.

The defence are even slower,  jeez!