Kevin Ball accepts the Freedom of the City of Sunderland

Sunderland AFC legend Kevin Ball accepts the Freedom of the City of Sunderland

Transcript

00:00I have to say, I'm not often shown for words but I have sat listening to what I have to say about music.

00:08Very, very humbling if I'm brutally honest and I never wanted to kick someone as much as I did in the last five years

00:14when they started a game about a career and I just want to give me one last tackle, I'd love to do it.

00:21Thirty-four years ago, the Ward family arrived in the north-east of Sunderland.

00:26I was asked at the time if I'd ever have a sports broadcast story, was I making the right move.

00:31I said at the time that I would make the right move.

00:34I'd like to think today's award justifies that, the game.

00:38Three years later, I got the feeling that I was representing the city of Hawkeye,

00:42making sure I was realising the importance of this.

00:45I was a very proud player, captain, coach, along with a few other roles at Sunderland FC.

00:51And I have to be honest whilst it was always easy,

00:53the drive to make people proud of that part of the city was always there.

00:58For me, hard work is the key.

01:00At ten years old, I met my first level professional footballer who was a chap called Kenny Strang from Chelsea.

01:06I remember saying to myself, if I ever become a footballer, I'm going to do what he does

01:11and make a big effort to represent any club I've ever played for, I'm going to put my own hand on the pitch.

01:17I think today's award can help me to start any young person to achieve the life they want.

01:22Yes, it was not easy, but today's award justifies all the hard work that has gone into it.

01:28Thank you very much.