Jimmy Ball says professionalism, consistency and reliability are among the defining characteristics he wants to see throughout his Torquay United squad.
The Gulls manager used the phrase “proper football men” when discussing the experienced Weston-super-Mare side United will face at Plainmoor on Tuesday evening.
Ball explained that the description was not simply about physical strength or experience, but about players who consistently deliver for their clubs.
“They are proper football men who do it right, keep themselves fit and turn up week in, week out,” he said.
“You know what you are going to get from them: seven-and-a-half out of ten every single week.
“You can hang your hat on them, and that is why they have long and successful careers.”
Ball believes younger players should study those professionals who have accumulated hundreds of senior appearances by maintaining consistently high standards.
“A lot of younger players coming into the game might turn their noses up at some of these proper men in non-League football,” he said.
“They should be looking at them and thinking: every time he turns up for training and every time he turns up for a game, his manager knows exactly what he is going to get.
“That is why he has had a career of 500 or 600 games. There are no big highs and lows in his performance.”
The United boss insists that age is no barrier to displaying those qualities, highlighting young defender Harry Shield as an example.
“You can be a proper football man at 18 or 19, which I think Harry Shield is,” he said.
“He is a young boy, but he is a man on the football pitch, for sure.
“He was in a lot of pain on Saturday and played through it until it became too much and started affecting him. He is a great kid: brave, tough and he gave us everything he had.”
Shield was handed a starting opportunity against Horsham and impressed Ball with both his defensive discipline and his contribution in possession.
“Their main attacking threat was down their left-hand side, and Harry doubled up really well with Dom Bernard,” Ball explained.
“We nullified that threat for a long period. Harry also put some really good crosses into the box and was strong when he had players around him.”
Ball said it is ultimately the manager’s responsibility to create an environment in which professional habits become embedded throughout the squad.
“It is my job because it is the environment I set and create,” he said.
“I have an amazing staff and good players who are buying in. You create an environment of professionalism, consistency and commitment, and hopefully you get the rewards from that.
“If you have got it right, sometimes the senior professionals see something developing and snuff it out before it comes as far as me.”
That competitive culture has been strengthened by the size and versatility of United’s squad, with several players missing out on selection for the opening fixture.
Ball believes that competition will benefit the team over the course of the campaign.
“The players who didn’t make the squad have to take their chance when they get it,” he said.
“The lads who get picked have to keep the shirt. It is healthy.
“I can play lots of different ways and use any system. That is a great thing to have as a manager.
“Ultimately, it still comes down to man against man. You have to outrun, outfight, outthink and outplay your opponent — and find a way not to get beaten.”
