Ted Ballard
Encyclopedia
Edgar Albert "Ted" Ballard (16 June 1920 – June 2008) was an English
former professional footballer
who played as a full-back for Southampton
in the late 1940s/early 1950s.
and spent the war years
working in a munitions factory in Hayes, Middlesex. His birthplace was only 50 yards from Griffin Park
and he played a few matches for Brentford
's reserves before signing as a professional for Leyton Orient
in April 1946. He spent the 1946–47 season
playing for Orient in the Third Division South before moving to The Dell
in June 1947, with Bill Stroud moving in the opposite direction.
He made his debut for Southampton
at home to West Ham United
on 31 January 1948, replacing the injured Joe Mallett
at centre half. After a run of eight games, he lost his place and spent the next season in the reserves. In 1949–50
and 1950–51
he made occasional starts, covering for Bill Ellerington
at right-back and either Bill Rochford
or Norman Kirkman at left-back. Unable to make either position his own, he was given a free transfer in August 1952, returning to Leyton Orient, under Alec Stock
.
At Orient he failed to break into the first team and in 1953 joined Snowdown Colliery Welfare in the Kent League
for three seasons. He then had spells as manager with Ashford Town
and Hastings United.
in Hastings
for a few years before becoming a franchising officer for Green Shield Stamps
during the 1970s. He spent his retirement in St Leonards-on-Sea
and died in June 2008, one week short of his 88th birthday.
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...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a full-back for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the late 1940s/early 1950s.
Playing career
Ballard was born in BrentfordBrentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
and spent the war years
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
working in a munitions factory in Hayes, Middlesex. His birthplace was only 50 yards from Griffin Park
Griffin Park
Griffin Park is a football ground situated in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It has been the home ground of League One side Brentford since it was built in 1904. It is known for being the only English league football ground to have a pub on each corner, and is situated in a...
and he played a few matches for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
's reserves before signing as a professional for Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in April 1946. He spent the 1946–47 season
1946-47 in English football
The 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions. Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over...
playing for Orient in the Third Division South before moving to The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
in June 1947, with Bill Stroud moving in the opposite direction.
He made his debut for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
at home to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on 31 January 1948, replacing the injured Joe Mallett
Joe Mallett
Joseph "Joe" Mallett was an English professional footballer who spent much of his early playing career at Queens Park Rangers and subsequently at Southampton...
at centre half. After a run of eight games, he lost his place and spent the next season in the reserves. In 1949–50
1949-50 in English football
The 1949–50 season was the 70th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth retained the First Division title by one of the narrowest margins in history ahead of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C....
and 1950–51
1950-51 in English football
The 1950–51 season was the 71st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur won their first League Championship, while Newcastle United defeated Blackpool 2–0 to win their fourth F.A. Cup. They would win it twice more over the next four seasons. The league was expanded...
he made occasional starts, covering for Bill Ellerington
Bill Ellerington
William "Bill" Ellerington is a former footballer who was capped twice for the full England national team and once for England B, and spent his entire professional club career at Southampton F.C....
at right-back and either Bill Rochford
Bill Rochford
William "Bill" Rochford was a member of the Portsmouth team that won the 1939 FA Cup. He played over 100 matches for Portsmouth and for their south coast rivals, Southampton.-Playing career:...
or Norman Kirkman at left-back. Unable to make either position his own, he was given a free transfer in August 1952, returning to Leyton Orient, under Alec Stock
Alec Stock
Alec William Alfred Stock was an English footballer and manager.-Career:Alec Stock was born in Peasedown St John and played as an inside-forward for Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and QPR before the Second World War and guested for several other clubs during the hostilities...
.
At Orient he failed to break into the first team and in 1953 joined Snowdown Colliery Welfare in the Kent League
Kent League
The Kent League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. It was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.-History:...
for three seasons. He then had spells as manager with Ashford Town
Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)
Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 . Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration...
and Hastings United.
Later career
He became manager of the Clarence public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
for a few years before becoming a franchising officer for Green Shield Stamps
Green Shield Stamps
Green Shield Stamps were a sales promotion or incentive loyalty scheme using trading stamps, designed and deployed in the United Kingdom and Ireland to encourage or reward shopping, by being able to buy gifts...
during the 1970s. He spent his retirement in St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
and died in June 2008, one week short of his 88th birthday.