Have you ever touched the match ball..?

[Ivo Stas]

Watching one of the Euro 2012 games last night, the players didn't like the match ball for some reason (maybe it was a little flat) so to ensure it didn't get recycled back into play at some later stage by a ball boy, it was kicked into the crowd and some very chuffed bloke got to keep it.

It made me remember the one time I touched (but didn't keep) a match ball. It was away at Portsmouth, I don't recall which season but Juan Pablo Angel scored (and I think that may have been his last goal for us). Anyhow, Pedro Mendes had a go from distance and it cleared the cross-bar and came straight at me. I prepared to catch it but someone in front threw up their hands and got a slight deflection on the ball and I ended up heading it straight up in the air instead.

[ADVILLAFAN]

I have at Villa, I panicked and flapped at it. May have been a Hitzlsperger shot

[AvFc4eVeR]

I have in the game v Coventry at home when we relegated them. Was sitting in the Holte end about ten rows back behind the goal and a shot came flying over the bar straight toward my younger sisters face, jumped infront of her to catch it, got a small cheer. Cant remember for the life of me who's shot it was.

Quality come back, Merson's goal was an absolute screamer!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

A Dennis Mortimer shot in the Holte. I'm sure I'm not the only one. He was great with the ball at his feet but couldn't shoot on target to save his life, though that never stopped him trying.

[Villan For Life]

Years ago I was stood at the front of a very empty Holte and threw the ball back to Jimmy Rimmer. It was during a league cup tie against Leicester.

Jimmy was not impressed with the accuracy of my throw as he had to move behind the goal to retrieve the ball. He shot me a filthy look!

[luke25]

Villa v Blues, got chucked out for it by a steward ;-)

[Newquay_AVFC]

I remember when we had season tickets in the Witton Lane stand lower. The ball came into the crowd and the guy next to us caught it, the play had stopped for some reason so he took a few seconds to line up his shot which went straight off the linemans head.
Also got smashed in the face when at a Moor Green game.

[Percy McCarthy]

Yes. I've been a ball-boy.

[Comrade Blitz]

I was in the first row at Bescot one Boxing Day and caught a ball that had gone out for a throw-in.

[evalast1910]

Headed one back in play, from the East Stand at Hull City, bloody good header as well!

[Richard E]

At the Molineux - possibly a League Cup game? - in the early 80s. I threw it back to Peter Withe after it ended up in the crowd. 

[Chipsticks]

I think I got a touch one one at home to Portsmouth back in early 2006. We beat them 1-0 courtesy of a Baros header, and at some point during the game someone must've hit one wide which deflected off me and further up into the crowd.

[PeterWithesShin]

During the Brian Little testimonial. I found my way into the right side of the lower North and was the only bugger there. Ball ended up in there so I had to throw it back. Took me a couple of attempts to get it over the fence IIRC.

Plenty of times when following Rovers. Including the Bill Dellow cup final 2nd leg at Trowbridge. At the final whistle we invaded the pitch and stuck the match ball in one of our bags. We got nabbed.

[danlanza]

No. It has traumatised me since childhood. I want to touch the match ball !!!!!

[spud1950]

Years ago found a fiver and took my mates down match.Was watching the game and a shot from Harry Burrows hit me in the nuts .Didnt realise why everyone was ducking .Think their still swollen now

Years later i was a steward in the witton stand and used to fetch the ball when it went over the old stand .Out the exit turnstile and if i was lucky it wouldnt bounce to much .Anyhow one game they couldnt get a exit gate open ,So i had to go round to the north stand .I had my jacket on the match ball in my hand and old bill wouldnt let me in saying anyone could say that .I had to wait till that sent out a search party