Alan Ball avoids driving ban

Alan Ball recieved the MBE in March 2000

The former Manchester City and Portsmouth manager, Alan Ball, has escaped a driving ban for speeding.

Despite being given three penalty points to add to the nine already on his licence, Ball was not given an automatic ban after saying he needed his car to take his wife to hospital.

The youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad, Ball was stopped in April while driving his Mercedes at 43mph in a 30mph zone.

Magistrates in Colchester, Essex, were told the 57-year-old, from Warsash, Hampshire, regularly took his wife to hospital for cancer treatment.

The former Blackpool, Arsenal and Southampton player also said he used his car to attend public speaking engagements, including many for charity.