--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've not just played for England. I've…" description: "\"I've not just played for England. I've done it for all the black players out there - to prove that they can do it.\" — Ashley Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/ashley-cole-9160_black_i-ve-not-just-played-for-england-i-ve-do_2774392.jpg" --- # I've not just played for England. I've done it for all the… ![“I've not just played for England. I've done it for all the black players out there - to prove that they can do it.” quote by Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/ashley-cole-9160_black_i-ve-not-just-played-for-england-i-ve-do_2774392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/ashley-cole-9160_black_i-ve-not-just-played-for-england-i-ve-do_2774392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca9/ashley-cole-9160_black_i-ve-not-just-played-for-england-i-ve-do_2774392.jpg) > “I've not just played for England. I've done it for all the black players out there - to prove that they can do it.” [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing for national pride and to inspire future black players, showing representation matters. **In simple terms:** Play to inspire others. Key Takeaway Use your platform to uplift. Themes representation inspiration legacy Mood proud hopeful Type inspirational social When to use this quote - sports - community leadership - youth mentorship Key Concepts social impact role model Questions to Reflect On - How can you support upcoming players? - What does representation mean to you? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers beyond individual effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) ## Related quotes > [I've played for England; I've been lucky enough to do this for a long time. So why can't you do it with a smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-ve-played-for-england-i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-do-this-for-a-long/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [In a team like Chelsea with many top players you have to prove yourself again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-schurrle/in-a-team-like-chelsea-with-many-top-players-you-have-to-prove/) [Andre Schurrle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-schurrle/) > [To be honest, I don't think I've played bad for England, I've certainly not been as bad as some people say. That criticism has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-ve-played-bad-for-england-i-ve-certainly/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I've had a lot of success in England, and I've really enjoyed my time with Manchester City, but I wanted to challenge myself even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-success-in-england-and-i-ve-really-enjoyed-my-time/) [Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/) > [I'm proud, privileged, and overwhelmed by how many times I've played for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-m-proud-privileged-and-overwhelmed-by-how-many-times-i-ve-played/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I know most of the black players who preceded and followed me at Duke. They all contribute to our tradition of excellence on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-hill/i-know-most-of-the-black-players-who-preceded-and-followed-me-at-duke/) [Grant Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-hill/) > [Everyone said that the NBA could not possibly make it because it had too many black players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/everyone-said-that-the-nba-could-not-possibly-make-it-because-it-had/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [Football is a global sport and black players have contributed to the global sport for a number of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yorke/football-is-a-global-sport-and-black-players-have-contributed-to-the/) [Dwight Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yorke/) > [I've played for England and at one stage I was the first-choice centre forward because I played in four or five qualifiers in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage-i-was-the-first-choice/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [I enjoyed Wembley like all the managers before me, and I would hope that games would still be played there by the England national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/i-enjoyed-wembley-like-all-the-managers-before-me-and-i-would-hope/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [Salah already played in England. He has high skills at dribbling, tempo and finishing and he makes defenders despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/salah-already-played-in-england-he-has-high-skills-at-dribbling-tempo/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [To get a first goal for England was something I've dreamed of since I was a little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/to-get-a-first-goal-for-england-was-something-i-ve-dreamed-of-since-i/) [Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/) > [Let me be clear about something: I've never changed my attitude towards playing for England. I've always wanted to play all three formats. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/let-me-be-clear-about-something-i-ve-never-changed-my-attitude/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [Growing up in England I've leant more on my English side, but Stath is what would have happened if I leant more on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-demetriou/growing-up-in-england-i-ve-leant-more-on-my-english-side-but-stath-is/) [Jamie Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-demetriou/) > [I've always felt really good about England. I've always felt really, really good about Britain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-ve-always-felt-really-good-about-england-i-ve-always-felt-really/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More by Ashley Cole > [I'm not a goalscorer. It's not my job. Everyone always tells me I've never scored. I don't think I've had a shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-m-not-a-goalscorer-it-s-not-my-job-everyone-always-tells-me-i-ve/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I don't think it's my personality to be going around telling people what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-don-t-think-it-s-my-personality-to-be-going-around-telling-people/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [When you're growing up and thinking about being a footballer, you want to make as many caps and play as many games as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/when-you-re-growing-up-and-thinking-about-being-a-footballer-you-want/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I came to AS Roma to play in the Champions League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-came-to-as-roma-to-play-in-the-champions-league/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I do not fear the pressure to win because I spent 14 years in England always fighting for a starting spot, and that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-do-not-fear-the-pressure-to-win-because-i-spent-14-years-in-england/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [To win the Premier League proves you are a top team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/to-win-the-premier-league-proves-you-are-a-top-team/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I never think I want to go to another World Cup just to be in the record books again and play in six tournaments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-never-think-i-want-to-go-to-another-world-cup-just-to-be-in-the/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [Of course you don't want to hear racist chants, but sometimes, as a player, you have to take it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/of-course-you-don-t-want-to-hear-racist-chants-but-sometimes-as-a/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [When I used to see things in the newspapers, going onto the pitch was the best way to get away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/when-i-used-to-see-things-in-the-newspapers-going-onto-the-pitch-was/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I'm so lucky to have had the career I've had and play with so many amazing players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-m-so-lucky-to-have-had-the-career-i-ve-had-and-play-with-so-many/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I have been able to fulfil nearly all my ambitions at Chelsea. I have won the Champions League, the League, I have won FA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-have-been-able-to-fulfil-nearly-all-my-ambitions-at-chelsea-i-have/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I don't really like seeing myself on TV doing interviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-don-t-really-like-seeing-myself-on-tv-doing-interviews/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I've got the chance to make history, and that means such a lot to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-ve-got-the-chance-to-make-history-and-that-means-such-a-lot-to-me/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I'm not a diva, I'm not an egotistical guy that comes and thinks he's bigger than anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-m-not-a-diva-i-m-not-an-egotistical-guy-that-comes-and-thinks-he-s/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [It happens in football: you are loved one day and hated the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/it-happens-in-football-you-are-loved-one-day-and-hated-the-next/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) [Explore all 75 Ashley Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've not just played for England. 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