Colchester United’s assistant manager, Steve Ball, is looking forward to this weekend’s trip to Cambridge, where he spent a few unhappy weeks as a player, 25 years ago, while also clashing with current Cambridge No. 2 Joe Dunne earlier this season.
Ball and former U’s manager Dunne exchanged heated words on the touchline, and also in the tunnel, during and following the U’s 2-0 home win over the Abbey Stadium outfit last August.
“Joe (Dunne) is a great guy, and a passionate guy,” said Ball.
“He did a great job here at Colchester, and we have shaken hands since that game. You just tend to get wrapped up in it all – that’s football.”
Ball, 47, spent a brief period with Cambridge in 1992, before going on to sign for Roy McDonough’s Colchester as a cultured midfielder.
“That wasn’t a great time,” admitted Ball.
“I was only at Cambridge for a few weeks, when John Beck was the manager. I wasn’t his type of player, but it was a good move for me to come to Colchester.”
Now Ball is loving every minute of his role as the U’s No. 2, having cut his teeth in the U’s Academy and also as first-team manager of Leiston and Maldon & Tiptree.
“It’s been a massive learning curve for me,” insisted Ball.
“I know so much more now, in every area, on and off the pitch. I know we played Cambridge back in August, but to me it seems like only yesterday. It’s all been such a whirlwind,” added Ball.
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