AFTER more than 20 years of professional service, Sunderland stalwart Kevin Ball is making his mark in coaching at the Academy of Light. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson talks to the fans' favourite about life on the training ground.

In football parlance, the notion of a "players' player" is much over-used.

The phrase implies a deep-rooted respect from one professional to another, an acknowledgement of the desire, commitment and passion that is rated so highly within the confines of the game.

But, in truth, such acknowledgements are rare. Players might admire their fellow pros, value the contribution they make to the team, or even concede that a team-mate possesses a level of ability that far outweighs their own.

That is not the same as earning universal respect though, and very few footballers are genuinely worthy recipients of the game's most sought-after sobriquet.

Kevin Ball was a players' player. The fierce but fair midfielder wrote his name into Sunderland folklore during his 389 appearances for the club in the 1990s.

But time waits for no-one and, in April 2002, Ball was forced to call time on a playing career that spanned more than 20 years.

Now he is a coach and, no matter how much he would like it to be, that is not the same thing.

The respect is still there when he takes training sessions at Sunderland's Academy of Light, but it is a respect borne out of status and rank as much as professional achievement.

The poacher has turned gamekeeper and, while Ball maintains he still thinks and acts like a player, he is gradually learning to view the game from a different angle.

"It's different because I'm on the other side now," admitted Ball, who led Sunderland to two Division One championships and appeared in 1992's ill-fated FA Cup final against Liverpool.

"There are times when it's difficult to make the change. I find it hard when I'm taking training and the lads are shouting at me and appealing for every decision.

"But then all of a sudden I think 'Hang on a minute Bally, you were the world's worst at this'.

"You can't forget you were a player because it helps you to understand what they're going through. When they're playing a game, even in training, the emotions are running high. It's not easy for them and it's important not to forget that.

"There are also times when I feel a bit frustrated because I still think I can play, even though I'm nearly 40.

"I've said to the gaffer that if it was a 40 by 40 pitch I might be all right - and he just said 'So would I'."

Ball was enjoying a well-earned break from football when he received a call from former Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson asking if he would like to take his first steps into coaching with the Black Cats.

The invitation was too good to turn down and, when Mick McCarthy took over from Wilkinson last March, he was only too happy to retain the 39-year-old as part of his coaching staff.

His first full season has proved to be a major learning curve but, while Ball admits he still has much to take on board, he has no doubts about where he would like to end up.

"Ultimately, my aim is to become a manager," he said. "But I do feel that it's important that you have a sound coaching knowledge as well.

"From a coaching point of view, I'm still wet behind the ears. But I'm working under an experienced manager and three very experienced coaches as well. From that point of view, I couldn't have asked for any more.

"You pick up stuff along the way. I've watched our manager a lot this year to see how he's handled certain situations.

"Something will happen and I'll have in mind how I would do it, but then he'll do it differently and I'll think 'Great' or I'll think 'I hadn't thought of doing that - I'll remember it for the future'.

"The thing I like about Mick is that he's very open. Ultimately it's his decision, but he's always prepared to listen to his staff and, from our point of view, that's great. That's how I would work as well."

Ball's transition from player to coach has given him a privileged viewpoint from which to reflect on the vagaries of the game.

And, if there was one thing he could change about his playing days, it would be his blinkered attitude towards coaching trends and techniques.

"I spoke to one of the young lads recently and I said 'If any of you players are thinking about getting into coaching then go for it'.

"I wasn't interested in getting into coaching when I was a player because I thought 'That'll be another area of the Kevin Ball career and I want to handle that when it comes along'.

"If I thought about it again now, I would have got involved a lot earlier. If I'm honest, I should have got involved years ago. I can appreciate what the coaches are trying to do now far more than I ever could when I was a player.

"If you get some of the players involved on the coaching side they will appreciate a lot more of what you are trying to do and achieve with them."

Old habits die hard. Forget a "players' player" - it's time to meet the first "players' coach".

Read more about Sunderland here.