Ball on journey from Puskas nomination to St Helens

David Ball won promotion twice out of League One - with Peterborough United and Rotherham United - and once from League Two with Fleetwood Town [Getty Images] "It's the one that has got the most traction. It's been something that's followed me around forever since I scored that goal." David Ball became only the second Englishman nominated for the prestigious Puskas Award after his stunning goal against Preston for Fleetwood in 2015. It is a goal which has defined his career, despite it being an equaliser in a 1-1 draw against the Lilywhites in March of that year. The 36-year-old was nominated for the honour alongside names such as Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez and at that point only Wayne Rooney had been nominated from these shores. "I was doing interviews for CNN in America and all sorts of different things and it was quite it was brilliant," he told BBC Radio Merseyside. "I think it was good for the club at the time as well and obviously being the second Englishman behind Wayne Rooney to do it it was quite a big quite a big thing." Ball made a total of 209 appearances for Fleetwood before spells with Rotherham United and Bradford City. He then left to join A-League side Wellington Phoenix, where he played for five years and scored 15 league goals in 119 appearances before returning to England with Radcliffe last year. "It was something that I always wanted to do. I always wanted to move away and play away. And as soon as there was an Australian league team, obviously English speaking, it just made sense," he added. "I think for me, at the time of my career, I'd been promoted out of League One twice and the offers that I was getting was around League One, so I felt like it was a time for a change and I picked the furthest place away." Ball has since signed for FC St Helens in the North West Counties League as he prolongs his career in the lower leagues. "I've obviously been playing for18 years, moving into sort of the work that I'm doing away from football. It felt like I needed to spend more time around my family," he continued. "Last year I was playing at Radcliffe where there was a lot of travelling in the National League North. So this just felt right. I know the owner, Paul Oakes, who just took over the club, so I know him well and I felt like it just made sense to go and help him as well."