Tommy Ball
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edgar "Tommy" Ball (11 February 1900 – 11 November 1923) was an English footballer who played at centre-half for Aston Villa
. He was shot dead by his landlord and neighbour, ex-policeman George Stagg, thus becoming the only Football League player to have been murdered.
, County Durham
in North-east England, and was brought up in nearby Usworth. He played football for his school, winning a medal as a ten-year old. After school he worked as a coalminer, playing for various colliery teams, before being signed by Newcastle United
.
He made no first-team appearances for Newcastle before moving to the West Midlands
to join Aston Villa
of the Football League First Division
in January 1920, where he was seen as cover for Frank Barson
. His first-team appearances were limited until Barson left Villa in August 1922 after which Ball became the first-choice centre-half, making 36 appearances in the 1922–23 season, at the end of which Villa finished sixth in the league table. In the following season, he continued to perform well at the heart of Villa's defence and he was forecast to be called up to play for England
.
His last game for Villa came on 10 November 1923 with a 1–0 victory at Notts County
's Meadow Lane
ground; this result left Villa third in the league table. By this time, Ball had made a total of 77 appearances in league and cup matches.
which they rented from George Stagg, who occupied the adjoining cottage. Stagg was a former-policeman who had been injured during the First World War; after the war, he had taken various factory jobs before purchasing the Brick Kiln Lane properties in 1921. The relationship between Stagg and Ball was strained, with Stagg objecting to Ball's chickens straying into his garden; Stagg had threatened to poison the chickens and had made attempts to have Ball evicted from the cottage.
On the evening of Sunday 11 November, the day after the match at Nottingham, Ball and his wife had visited the Church Tavern where Ball drunk 3½ pints of ale. They returned home late in the evening and, shortly after 10 pm Ball had gone into his garden to fetch his dog. Mrs. Ball heard an argument in the garden followed by a gunshot. She ran out into the garden where she saw her husband "in a very distressed state, reeling towards her". Mrs. Ball claimed that Stagg shot again with the bullet passing over her shoulder. Ball died shortly afterwards from the gunshot wounds. Stagg made no attempt to flee and was arrested by the police at the scene.
His funeral was held on 19 November, and has been described as "a grand occasion". The funeral cortege set off from the butcher's shop of Beatrice Ball's father, William Richards, in High Street, Aston
; seven coaches and several cars made their way through the crowds lining the streets to the packed St. John's Church, Perry Barr where the coffin was carried by Ball's former team-mates. There were floral tributes from local football clubs, as well as from Middlesbrough
, close to his birthplace. A collection among the crowd at Aston Villa's home match on the Saturday before the funeral raised over a hundred pounds for Ball's widow.
Ball was buried in St. John's churchyard in an ornate grave decorated with footballs. The grave bears the inscription: "To T.E. Ball – A token of esteem from his fellow players of Aston Villa F.C." Over the years, the grave became rather neglected but has now been restored by Villa supporters led by Jeff Hilliar.
The following poem was written shortly after Ball's murder:
's inquest
into Ball's death, Stagg admitted the killing but claimed it had been an accident. He claimed that he had fired the gun in order to frighten Ball and that Ball was shot as he attempted to grab the gun. The jury rejected this argument, returning a verdict of "wilful murder", and Stagg was committed for trial at Stafford
Assizes
.
The murder trial was heard in February 1924 in front of Mr. Justice Rowlatt
. Stagg continued to claim that the killing was an accident and that he first fired the gun when Ball (allegedly "under the influence of drink") started to climb over the gate following an argument. There then followed a fight where Ball tried to wrench the gun away from Stagg; as Stagg fell back, the gun discharged accidentally, killing Ball. Stagg also claimed that Ball had threatened to attack Mrs. Stagg who was watching from a first-floor window: "I will come up and dash your brains out" and that Beatrice Ball had later said "He would not have hurt Mrs. Stagg, although he kicks me about". This was refuted at the trial by Mrs. Ball who "emphatically denied" that her husband had ever hit her. The Aston Villa trainer, Alf Miles
, was called as a witness saying that Ball was a "good living man – always in the best of condition".
In his summing up, Mr. Justice Rowlatt instructed the jury not to show too much sympathy towards Stagg, but "to look at the facts dispassionately". Although there was a conflict of evidence as to how Ball was killed and although there might have been no motive, "it might still be murder if a man might lose his temper against a person he did not like and commit an act of murder". If the gun was pointed at the victim and discharged on purpose, that was murder
, whereas if it went off by accident during a struggle, that was manslaughter
. After deliberating for an hour and forty minutes, the jury returned a verdict of "wilful murder" with a recommendation of mercy. Despite this, Mr. Justice Rowlatt passed a sentence of death.
Stagg was refused leave to appeal, but his sentence was commuted
to life imprisonment as part of the reforms introduced by the newly elected Labour Government. Stagg was subsequently declared "insane" and was incarcerated in Broadmoor Hospital
. He eventually died in a Birmingham mental hospital in February 1966, aged 87.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He was shot dead by his landlord and neighbour, ex-policeman George Stagg, thus becoming the only Football League player to have been murdered.
Football career
Ball was born in Chester-le-StreetChester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
in North-east England, and was brought up in nearby Usworth. He played football for his school, winning a medal as a ten-year old. After school he worked as a coalminer, playing for various colliery teams, before being signed by Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
.
He made no first-team appearances for Newcastle before moving to the West Midlands
West Midlands conurbation
The West Midlands conurbation is the name given to the large conurbation that includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton and the large towns of Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Solihull, Stourbridge, Halesowen in the English West Midlands....
to join Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in January 1920, where he was seen as cover for Frank Barson
Frank Barson
Frank Barson was an English footballer from Grimesthorpe who played for several English football clubs including Barnsley, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Watford...
. His first-team appearances were limited until Barson left Villa in August 1922 after which Ball became the first-choice centre-half, making 36 appearances in the 1922–23 season, at the end of which Villa finished sixth in the league table. In the following season, he continued to perform well at the heart of Villa's defence and he was forecast to be called up to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
His last game for Villa came on 10 November 1923 with a 1–0 victory at Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
's Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
ground; this result left Villa third in the league table. By this time, Ball had made a total of 77 appearances in league and cup matches.
Personal life and death
In May 1922, Ball married Beatrice Richards, the daughter of a local pork butcher and pie maker. In October, the couple moved into Somerville Cottages, on Brick Kiln Lane, Perry BarrPerry Barr
Perry Barr is an inner-city area in north Birmingham, England. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Perry Barr ward and the wards of Handsworth Wood, Lozells and East Handsworth, and Oscott, which elect three councillors to...
which they rented from George Stagg, who occupied the adjoining cottage. Stagg was a former-policeman who had been injured during the First World War; after the war, he had taken various factory jobs before purchasing the Brick Kiln Lane properties in 1921. The relationship between Stagg and Ball was strained, with Stagg objecting to Ball's chickens straying into his garden; Stagg had threatened to poison the chickens and had made attempts to have Ball evicted from the cottage.
On the evening of Sunday 11 November, the day after the match at Nottingham, Ball and his wife had visited the Church Tavern where Ball drunk 3½ pints of ale. They returned home late in the evening and, shortly after 10 pm Ball had gone into his garden to fetch his dog. Mrs. Ball heard an argument in the garden followed by a gunshot. She ran out into the garden where she saw her husband "in a very distressed state, reeling towards her". Mrs. Ball claimed that Stagg shot again with the bullet passing over her shoulder. Ball died shortly afterwards from the gunshot wounds. Stagg made no attempt to flee and was arrested by the police at the scene.
His funeral was held on 19 November, and has been described as "a grand occasion". The funeral cortege set off from the butcher's shop of Beatrice Ball's father, William Richards, in High Street, Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
; seven coaches and several cars made their way through the crowds lining the streets to the packed St. John's Church, Perry Barr where the coffin was carried by Ball's former team-mates. There were floral tributes from local football clubs, as well as from Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, close to his birthplace. A collection among the crowd at Aston Villa's home match on the Saturday before the funeral raised over a hundred pounds for Ball's widow.
Ball was buried in St. John's churchyard in an ornate grave decorated with footballs. The grave bears the inscription: "To T.E. Ball – A token of esteem from his fellow players of Aston Villa F.C." Over the years, the grave became rather neglected but has now been restored by Villa supporters led by Jeff Hilliar.
The following poem was written shortly after Ball's murder:
Twas on a Sabbath evening in drear November days
Two friends were heard creating, in Perry Barry's byways
High words just fed the anger, now this young man's life is fled.
A shot and then another! And Thomas Ball lies dead.
Murder trial
At the coronerCoroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
's inquest
Inquest
Inquests in England and Wales are held into sudden and unexplained deaths and also into the circumstances of discovery of a certain class of valuable artefacts known as "treasure trove"...
into Ball's death, Stagg admitted the killing but claimed it had been an accident. He claimed that he had fired the gun in order to frighten Ball and that Ball was shot as he attempted to grab the gun. The jury rejected this argument, returning a verdict of "wilful murder", and Stagg was committed for trial at Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
Assizes
Assizes
Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to::;in common law countries :::*assizes , an obsolete judicial inquest...
.
The murder trial was heard in February 1924 in front of Mr. Justice Rowlatt
Sidney Rowlatt
Sir Sidney Arthur Taylor Rowlatt KC KCSI PC was an English lawyer and judge, best remembered for his controversial presidency of the Rowlatt committee, a sedition committee appointed in 1918 by the British Indian Government to evaluate the links between political terrorism in India, especially...
. Stagg continued to claim that the killing was an accident and that he first fired the gun when Ball (allegedly "under the influence of drink") started to climb over the gate following an argument. There then followed a fight where Ball tried to wrench the gun away from Stagg; as Stagg fell back, the gun discharged accidentally, killing Ball. Stagg also claimed that Ball had threatened to attack Mrs. Stagg who was watching from a first-floor window: "I will come up and dash your brains out" and that Beatrice Ball had later said "He would not have hurt Mrs. Stagg, although he kicks me about". This was refuted at the trial by Mrs. Ball who "emphatically denied" that her husband had ever hit her. The Aston Villa trainer, Alf Miles
Alf Miles
Alfred Miles, also known as Freddie, born in Aston on January 1884, was a football player in England. As a professional he only played for Aston Villa F.C.. He was a full-back who made 269 appearances for Aston Villa in his 11 year career at Villa Park...
, was called as a witness saying that Ball was a "good living man – always in the best of condition".
In his summing up, Mr. Justice Rowlatt instructed the jury not to show too much sympathy towards Stagg, but "to look at the facts dispassionately". Although there was a conflict of evidence as to how Ball was killed and although there might have been no motive, "it might still be murder if a man might lose his temper against a person he did not like and commit an act of murder". If the gun was pointed at the victim and discharged on purpose, that was murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, whereas if it went off by accident during a struggle, that was manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
. After deliberating for an hour and forty minutes, the jury returned a verdict of "wilful murder" with a recommendation of mercy. Despite this, Mr. Justice Rowlatt passed a sentence of death.
Stagg was refused leave to appeal, but his sentence was commuted
Commutation of sentence
Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not nullify the conviction and is often conditional. Clemency is a similar term, meaning the lessening of the penalty of the crime without forgiving the crime...
to life imprisonment as part of the reforms introduced by the newly elected Labour Government. Stagg was subsequently declared "insane" and was incarcerated in Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital is a high-security psychiatric hospital at Crowthorne in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It is the best known of the three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England, the other two being Ashworth and Rampton...
. He eventually died in a Birmingham mental hospital in February 1966, aged 87.
