On Tuesday 11th March, Exeter reserves are beaten 2-1 by Torquay United at St James's Park. Ben Camara puts United ahead on ten minutes before Exeter triallist Richard Ball equalises.

But City boss Gary Peters later revealed he has no intention of pursuing interest in Ball. Jimmy Benefield scores the winner for United on 76 minutes.

The following is from an article Birmingham Mail 

SUCH as has been the footballing roller-coaster over the past few seasons that Richard Ball could easily have taken a role as tester-in-chief of the nation’s theme park rides. From fearing Oblivion one moment when injury threatened his career, the revitalised Sutton Coldfield Town striker is now looking for a Sky Ride towards the heights of promotion. Ball has experienced more ups and down than a lift at the Hyatt Hotel. But, having missed most of last season after undergoing cruciate ligament surgery and having returned to Coles Lane for a third spell earlier this term from Evesham United, goal-getter Ball suggests he is enjoying his football more than ever. So much so that the Black Country-based marksman has rejected moves to both Stourbridge and Bromsgrove Rovers in the past few months to concentrate on firing Sutton to the Premier Division of the Southern League for the first time in 26 years.

Ball readily admits that the highlight of a career that began as a trainee with Albion was winning promotion to the Premier with Evesham five years ago – and he would love to repeat that Champagne-spraying moment to say thank you to Sutton boss Chris Keogh. I’ve been in the play-offs before with Evesham when we beat Bromsgrove 4-0 in the final and that is probably the highlight of my non-League career,” said Ball. “But hopefully we can repeat that at Sutton. I came to Sutton at the end of last season on loan and we just missed out on the play-offs then. Sutton have probably been the nearly-men in the last few seasons. But I think the squad is stronger now and we’re ready to take the club to the next level... 
...Ironically, the road back down the M5 offered another path towards pro football when he had chances to return to the pro ranks after Yeovil Town and then Exeter City offered him trials. And though Exeter were keen to sign him, a one-year deal was too much of a gamble to take to move home and family. Not that there are any regrets.

"Exeter had got relegated from League Two but their manager Gary Peters wanted to sign me," said Ball.

Richard, born in Evesham on the 10th of October 1980 had played for Bromesgrove Rovers before his trials, he later played for Evesham Town, Redditch Bromesgrove again and Sutton Coldfield. 

“But I think the squad is stronger now and we’re ready to take the club to the next level. The people at Sutton certainly deserve it. Chris and [chairman] Tom Keogh put in so much time and effort and it would nice to repay them and everyone who works so hard behind the scenes.

“I’ve had a few clubs but I really feel this is ‘home’. I would love to finish my career at Sutton.“

Ball has netted 16 league goals this season for Sutton, plus two for Evesham, to lie fifth in the Midlands Division Golden Boot standings, and he has been a familiar name on the non-League top scorers charts for the past decade.

Goals have been his trademark since he first caught the attention of Albion’s scouts and ended up becoming Lee Hughes’ boot-boy at The Hawthorns.

His contemporaries included the Chambers twins, Adam and James who are now at Leyton Orient and Doncaster respectively, plus fellow striker Justin Richards, who is at Cheltenham Town.

“I was at Albion from the age of 14 and I did my YTS with them,” said Tividale-based Ball.

“I played alongside Justin all the way through from 14 to 19 and we had a good goal record between us.