--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My playing career that was a bit up but…" description: "\"My playing career that was a bit up but mostly down. I played in the Premier League at Southampton but most of my career was in the lower divisions.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/graham-potter-11701_career_my-playing-career-that-was-a-bit-up-but_227734.jpg" --- # My playing career that was a bit up but mostly down. I… ![“My playing career that was a bit up but mostly down. I played in the Premier League at Southampton but most of my career was in the lower divisions.” quote by Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/graham-potter-11701_career_my-playing-career-that-was-a-bit-up-but_227734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/graham-potter-11701_career_my-playing-career-that-was-a-bit-up-but_227734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b26/graham-potter-11701_career_my-playing-career-that-was-a-bit-up-but_227734.jpg) > “My playing career that was a bit up but mostly down. I played in the Premier League at Southampton but most of my career was in the lower divisions.” [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a fluctuating football career, highlighting high‑level experience and lower‑division play. **In simple terms:** Career had ups and downs, with top‑level and lower‑division play. Key Takeaway Embrace all experiences as growth opportunities. Themes career sports resilience humility Mood reflective determined Type statement career When to use this quote - coaching - player development - career planning Key Concepts professional trajectory adaptability Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did lower divisions teach you? - How do you define success now? A Different Perspective Success is not linear; challenges persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Premier league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premier-league/) ## Related quotes > [I've been in the lower divisions, I've been in the higher divisions so I have got the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/i-ve-been-in-the-lower-divisions-i-ve-been-in-the-higher-divisions-so/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [As a player I had some good times but people forget I had a lot of hard times to get there; seven years in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/as-a-player-i-had-some-good-times-but-people-forget-i-had-a-lot-of/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [If things don't go well, the manager is on his way because it's such a blow if you drop into the lower divisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-cattermole/if-things-don-t-go-well-the-manager-is-on-his-way-because-it-s-such-a/) [Lee Cattermole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-cattermole/) > [A lot of people forget that I played for seven years in the lower divisions; it wasn't always 'this glittering career.' I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bruce/a-lot-of-people-forget-that-i-played-for-seven-years-in-the-lower/) [Steve Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bruce/) > [I can count on one hand and maybe a couple of fingers on another the number of players I'll keep in touch with after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/i-can-count-on-one-hand-and-maybe-a-couple-of-fingers-on-another-the/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [If someone is misrepresenting my playing career, I try to correct them. If they say something mean about me I'll let them know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-spiranac/if-someone-is-misrepresenting-my-playing-career-i-try-to-correct-them/) [Paige Spiranac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-spiranac/) > [During most of my playing career, the performance gap between men and women was slowly narrowing. Federations began providing more coaching and competitions for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judit-polgar/during-most-of-my-playing-career-the-performance-gap-between-men-and/) [Judit Polgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judit-polgar/) > [That's the fun part about your playing career is that everyone knows your first and foremost responsibility, and that's playing hockey, but whenever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-subban/that-s-the-fun-part-about-your-playing-career-is-that-everyone-knows/) [P.K. Subban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-k-subban/) > [I think everybody that coaches... there's something about their playing career when they're teaching and explaining... you know, you visualize yourself in that position,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/i-think-everybody-that-coaches-there-s-something-about-their-playing/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Honestly speaking, I was not really interested in a managerial job when my playing career ended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zico/honestly-speaking-i-was-not-really-interested-in-a-managerial-job/) [Zico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zico/) > [Ive got a ton of stories about Chuck Knox, ... Over the course of my playing career, there was nobody that I learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/ive-got-a-ton-of-stories-about-chuck-knox-over-the-course-of-my/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [As a player, I was fortunate to work with coaching and medical staffs that underscored the importance of utilizing injury prevention exercises, which contributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/as-a-player-i-was-fortunate-to-work-with-coaching-and-medical-staffs/) [Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/) > [Most of the youngsters I grew up playing with do not have a career in the game now. Sometimes people think it is easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-coutinho/most-of-the-youngsters-i-grew-up-playing-with-do-not-have-a-career-in/) [Philippe Coutinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-coutinho/) > [For me certainly Earl Campbell and Tony Dorsett come to mind, and Roger Staubach. I've grown up here in Dallas watching Roger and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/for-me-certainly-earl-campbell-and-tony-dorsett-come-to-mind-and/) [Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/) > [In the end my playing career would not have been as big as my career as a manager. I was a talented guy but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-nagelsmann/in-the-end-my-playing-career-would-not-have-been-as-big-as-my-career/) [Julian Nagelsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-nagelsmann/) ## More by Graham Potter > [Any coach in my era will reference or look at Guardiola's teams. If you look at the style of play, he has had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/any-coach-in-my-era-will-reference-or-look-at-guardiola-s-teams-if/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [The profile is to find if someone can perform in the Championship and help you win, and also play in the Premier League because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/the-profile-is-to-find-if-someone-can-perform-in-the-championship-and/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [I had five years in the university sector which was a time where I could make my mistakes, develop with the students and players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/i-had-five-years-in-the-university-sector-which-was-a-time-where-i/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [Sometimes it helps to see the world through someone else's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/sometimes-it-helps-to-see-the-world-through-someone-else-s-eyes/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [You cannot win all the time and, often, we don't win that much. You have to have something and I think if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/you-cannot-win-all-the-time-and-often-we-don-t-win-that-much-you-have/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [My unglittering football career came to a halt at the age at 30, and I had to embark on a coaching career: 14 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/my-unglittering-football-career-came-to-a-halt-at-the-age-at-30-and-i/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [But concepts around how a team functions, the importance of the relationship between football and the person, how you develop both, are always valid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/but-concepts-around-how-a-team-functions-the-importance-of-the/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [We try and play football in a positive way. Any team has to be defensively organised, but you have to look at the attributes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/we-try-and-play-football-in-a-positive-way-any-team-has-to-be/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [My mum had always pressed on me to continue my education, and it was just the volatility of sport in terms of not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/my-mum-had-always-pressed-on-me-to-continue-my-education-and-it-was/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [I improved enormously, on and off the pitch, over that year at Swansea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/i-improved-enormously-on-and-off-the-pitch-over-that-year-at-swansea/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [I was at Leeds Carnegie, the ninth tier. And I was coaching students. There would have been hundreds of managers with more experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/i-was-at-leeds-carnegie-the-ninth-tier-and-i-was-coaching-students/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [I was only picking up short-term contracts in the lower leagues. I thought that rather than the game kick me out, I'd be proactive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/i-was-only-picking-up-short-term-contracts-in-the-lower-leagues-i/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [What you've never had, you never miss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/what-you-ve-never-had-you-never-miss/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [I remember playing against the great Manchester United teams when I was a player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/i-remember-playing-against-the-great-manchester-united-teams-when-i/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) > [People think that coaching is about winning football matches - which, of course, it is - but throughout my career it has also been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-potter/people-think-that-coaching-is-about-winning-football-matches-which-of/) [Graham Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) [Explore all 58 Graham Potter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-potter/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My playing career that was a bit up but mostly down. 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