WHEN it comes to sporting legacy and making a lasting impression, there’s few like Paul Collingwood in the North-East.

Not many sportsmen have made an long-term impact on their chosen sport as he did. As he called time on his innings with Durham Cricket Club, the Emirates Riverside hierarchy named a pavilion in his honour. He could yet return to his county in some form of coaching capacity.

Six months into his retirement and Collingwood is at the Beacon of Light, next to the Stadium of Light, shining on the banks of the River Wear in Sunderland.

Black Cats fan Collingwood has helped to shape the £15m centre, a beacon of opportunity for the North-East, as part of his role on the board of trustees.

It’s part of the vision of Sir Bob Murray, the former Sunderland chairman.

Collingwood is watching his former Durham team-mates use the 4G football pitch on the top floor of the building as part of their winter training.

While there’s no real urge to get his trainers on and join in, Collingwood admits he is taken aback by the facility.

“This is a real legacy for Bob Murray – we have the Stadium of Light next door and we have something here which is what Bob’s all about. He’s a Consett lad who wants to give opportunities to people and this is pure quality. An exceptional building and facility, second to none,’’ he reflected.

“The Stadium of Light would not be here if it wasn’t for him. He had a vision for it and getting the right people involved, which he clearly has done from the start, then it’s incredible really.

“I’ve been a trustee of the Foundation of Light for a number of years now. Bob got me involved and to see something physical like this and see the impact of the foundation, it’s incredible.

“When you are in meetings and talking about things happening, I guess it’s hard to visualise something as grand as this.

“I remember George Clarke, also a trustee, talking about it and this is exactly what he wanted it to be.

“I have to say they’ve made a pretty good job of it, an exceptional facility. We see the fitness side of it, the football pitches and the like, but the education side presents opportunities for all ages and all part of society.’’

A Black Cats fan of many years and eras, Collingwood and his Durham team-mates showed off the County Championship at the Stadium of Light when they first won it in 2008.

Cricket commitments, the international calendar is an all-year round programme, means he doesn’t get to see his team as much as he would like to, but the red and white blood flows through his veins.

“I’m a big Sunderland fan as everyone knows, but I’ve not had as much involvement in setting up this place as I would have liked because I’m travelling a lot,’’ he admitted.

“I’ve been watching Sunderland since 1987 in the old Third Division when I was 11-year-old – and here we are now in the same position!

“One thing I will always remember is the passion for the club then, as soon as I walked into Roker Park I felt it. It wasn’t so much my dad it was more my Aunty and Uncle, John and Rose, who took me to the game.

“They took my brother, cousin and me in the back of the car and that’s it - I’m in for life. You turn up now for games, Premier League especially, and supporters are there but maybe a bit distant, a dour feel about it.

“Get into this division and it’s more grounded, more real. It’s been a few years of stagnation with the club and there’s a good feeling here now with things turning round and being more positive.

“A few of the Durham lads go to games and have an enjoyment of supporting the team – that passion is back. There’s a raw feeling to games again, you are back to the roots of the game.

“We always know we have that competition between Sunderland and Newcastle, but they have gone through bad times too.

“I hope we will go up this year, as a Sunderland fan I’m going to say yes. The togetherness is back which has been lacking and the manager is pushing them along in the right direction.’’

Collingwood is soon away with England, off to the West Indies for the one-day series that follows the Test matches. After that he looks certain to be part of the England World Cup coaching team, a continuation of his international role.

Amid the big changes at Durham, with head coach Jon Lewis departing, along with the experienced Geoff Cook, the club are seeking a leader under new director of cricket Marcus North.

Commitments with England this year partly rule Collingwood out, but it’s a position he would, naturally, have an interest in – international commitments allowing.

“When you get a new chief executive at a club, they are going to bring their own ideas in,’’ he mused. “It was a surprise to see Jon leave and I would have liked to have seen him given an opportunity for at least another season.

“When the club has got back on its feet and started recruiting again, what he has done in the dressing room in terms of recruiting players is second to none – producing Lions and international cricketers and we may have lost a few due to financial reasons, but there’s still some production line there.

“To me the cricketing side was always quite strong. We have had a close-knit dressing room and the ethos is to come in, be welcomed and you buy into that togetherness.

“Jon did a good job and put his heart and soul for 22 years in and I wish him well.

“For me, of course it’s something I have thought about. I’ve been with England nigh-on four years now and would like to hope I can finish the job off with the World Cup this year. That’s the first half of the summer pretty busy – although it’s not dotted and signed yet, but it’s (coaching role) pretty much there.

“After that, who knows? It’s a blank canvas. No plan, see what happens.’’