--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was at Watford and got a knock-back…" description: "\"I was at Watford and got a knock-back when I was 16 and didn't get a YTS contract. They said I could find another club or go in and train three times a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/ashley-young-8358_club_i-was-at-watford-and-got-a-knock-back-wh_542494.jpg" --- # I was at Watford and got a knock-back when I was 16 and… ![“I was at Watford and got a knock-back when I was 16 and didn't get a YTS contract. They said I could find another club or go in and train three times a week after school. I'd been there since I was 10, so I got my head down and proved them wrong. Within a year, they had signed me up, and I haven't…” quote by Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/ashley-young-8358_club_i-was-at-watford-and-got-a-knock-back-wh_542494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/ashley-young-8358_club_i-was-at-watford-and-got-a-knock-back-wh_542494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6d/ashley-young-8358_club_i-was-at-watford-and-got-a-knock-back-wh_542494.jpg) > “I was at Watford and got a knock-back when I was 16 and didn't get a YTS contract. They said I could find another club or go in and train three times a week after school. I'd been there since I was 10, so I got my head down and proved them wrong. Within a year, they had signed me up, and I haven't looked back.” [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence after rejection proves dedication; hard work can overturn early setbacks and open new doors. **In simple terms:** Hard work can change early rejection. Key Takeaway Stay focused and prove doubters wrong. Themes perseverance determination career Mood determined optimistic Type motivational sports When to use this quote - football trials - career development - training routines Key Concepts sports psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you after a setback? - How can you maintain confidence when faced with doubt? A Different Perspective Not all rejections are surmountable; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [I've always said I'd rather see a club that's won 10 or 12 in a row than a club that's lost 10 or 12…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mckeon/i-ve-always-said-i-d-rather-see-a-club-that-s-won-10-or-12-in-a-row/) Jack McKeon > [ “I say, 'In the contract we said we wouldn't break each other's hearts. What if we do again?' Fiercely \[Peter\] says. 'What if we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-say-in-the-contract-we-said-we-wouldn-t-break-each-other-s-hearts/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [When I was in Middle of The Night, MGM came and offered me a contract and I said that when I got out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-rowlands/when-i-was-in-middle-of-the-night-mgm-came-and-offered-me-a-contract/) [Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-rowlands/) > [After two years with 'Donna,' they offered me a new contract, but I said no. I didn't want to be the fourth man through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/after-two-years-with-donna-they-offered-me-a-new-contract-but-i-said/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [One of the biggest wake-up calls of my career was when I saw a record contract. I said, 'Wait - you sell it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/one-of-the-biggest-wake-up-calls-of-my-career-was-when-i-saw-a-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [“It must be the top drawer," he reflected. "So she carries the keys in a pocket on the right. 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It's a natural skill that I have, to hit long balls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/i-don-t-practise-it-that-much-maybe-two-or-three-times-a-week-it-s-a/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I am one of the people who just doesn't enjoy watching myself. I wish I could! I've seen 'Deadpool' three times; the third time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-hildebrand/i-am-one-of-the-people-who-just-doesn-t-enjoy-watching-myself-i-wish/) [Brianna Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-hildebrand/) > [“Please could I say one word?" was the question three times repeated before a rough head boobed out from the grotto of books in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/please-could-i-say-one-word-was-the-question-three-times-repeated/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I mean, we never ever really did it like that, really. I mean, you know, we loosely did it like that, but we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medeski-martin-and-wood/i-mean-we-never-ever-really-did-it-like-that-really-i-mean-you-know/) [Medeski Martin And Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medeski-martin-and-wood/) ## More by Ashley Young > [I'm not a cheat. I'm not a diver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-not-a-cheat-i-m-not-a-diver/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [Things happen on football pitches. Once the game is finished, you don't need to talk afterwards. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/things-happen-on-football-pitches-once-the-game-is-finished-you-don-t/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I like to spend time on freekicks after training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-like-to-spend-time-on-freekicks-after-training/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I'm confident in my own ability, and if I'm called upon to play on the right, the left, or as the main striker, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-confident-in-my-own-ability-and-if-i-m-called-upon-to-play-on-the/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [Everything that moved, I was kicking it. You can ask my mum and dad. A stone, a can, whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/everything-that-moved-i-was-kicking-it-you-can-ask-my-mum-and-dad-a/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [In modern day football, you've got to play in different positions. I've played in numerous positions, apart from centre-back and goalkeeper, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/in-modern-day-football-you-ve-got-to-play-in-different-positions-i-ve/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I've always had to fight. Throughout my life, it's been a fight to get to where I am now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-always-had-to-fight-throughout-my-life-it-s-been-a-fight-to-get/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [As players, we have to concentrate with what happens on the pitch, not off it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/as-players-we-have-to-concentrate-with-what-happens-on-the-pitch-not/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I've always said that when you pull on an England shirt, it's a proud moment, and it's an honour to play for and represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-always-said-that-when-you-pull-on-an-england-shirt-it-s-a-proud/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I'm enjoying playing football, and as a footballer, that's what you want to do, and that is exactly what I've been doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-enjoying-playing-football-and-as-a-footballer-that-s-what-you/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I have my heart set on being unhappy so dont try and change my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-have-my-heart-set-on-being-unhappy-so-dont-try-and-change-my-mind/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I've been watching 'Power.' I've been hooked on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-been-watching-power-i-ve-been-hooked-on-it/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I've played at a European Championship; to represent your country at a World Cup is every boy's dream, and for me, it would definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-played-at-a-european-championship-to-represent-your-country-at-a/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [It is always disappointing to obviously concede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/it-is-always-disappointing-to-obviously-concede/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [I am one of those players who has many scars up and down my legs from being kicked, but I know I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-am-one-of-those-players-who-has-many-scars-up-and-down-my-legs-from/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) [Explore all 81 Ashley Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) ## More Club quotes > [United was my first European club. 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Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [Chelsea is in my heart and I was so proud to achieve so much for the club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/chelsea-is-in-my-heart-and-i-was-so-proud-to-achieve-so-much-for-the/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) Browse all 2,537 Club quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was at Watford and got a knock-back when I was 16 and didn't get a YTS contract. They said I could find another club or go in and train three times a week after school. I'd been there since I was 10, so I got my head down and proved them wrong. 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