We track down another Blast from the Past

Bobby Ham scored 18 goals in 46 appearances as leading scorer for his home town team Bradford City in their promotion season from the Third Division in 1969, and throughout his career he was regarded closely by his teammates and opponents as he moved up the Leagues, with the same admiration as others in higher grades regarded Jimmy Greaves and Kevin Keegan, while legendary Liverpool boss Bill Shankly, who would always have a good word for a 100 per center, was one of his biggest fans.Q: You are still remembered especially by your former teammates as a top striker in any company, even though much of your career was with teams not in the superstar class?A: I played for both Bradford clubs in the lower divisions as well as Halifax Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Preston North End and Derby County where I had a great partnership with Kevin Hector, and at the Baseball ground was lucky to be in the same team as the great Dave Mackay. And it was also a privilege at Preston and Halifax to be managed by Alan Ball senior, who so many football people will tell you was one of the most underrated manager/coaches in British football.Q: Are you still involved in the great game? A: Very much so. I am currently part of a five man steering committee trying to get my old club Halifax back in the League if not right back immediately to the stage in my playing days where we had unforgettable Cup performances against the top flight teams in the country.Q: Halifax are just one of a number of clubs who no longer are in the Football League. That’s a shame isn’t it?A: That is so true, and no doubt it still applies to all the fans and all the ex-players of the other clubs who lost their place in League football. People say how terrible it is that so many good clubs are no longer in the League; and are having to play in the Conference or lower. But, in fact, I think that the Conference has been a good thing, virtually a Fifth Division, and therefore a serious ladder back into an higher status of opponents and that gives confidence and serious targets for the teams and their fans to aim at. Q: What are you memories of Alan Ball the manager?A: Alan Ball was a magician as far as his players were concerned. He was a great character, and he knew how to motivate players better than anybody in the game. I wish that he had been my coach when I was 18: I think I might have gone on to be a pint-sized Ronaldo. He had his finger on the pulse in every aspect of the game, was totally respected by anybody in the game who had to deal with him, and at Halifax, Stoke City and Preston North End and all the other clubs he worked with he was a very special boss in the eyes of all the players.Q: From your era which players did you particularly admire?A: Who could not admire Jimmy Greaves, a quicksilver diamond of a player, or Bobby Smith, Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh, Colin Bell, Francis Lee, George Best, Nobby Stiles...all absolutely top quality in their own way, and men who I never tired watching them play on film or real life because I tried to soak up every little nuance of the various ways they played.