--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing in non-League gave me the…" description: "\"Playing in non-League gave me the resilience. I learned everything there. You needed to fight off hard tackles and I was playing against big men. You l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/michail-antonio-6183_fight_playing-in-non-league-gave-me-the-resili_2539143.jpg" --- # Playing in non-League gave me the resilience. I learned… ![“Playing in non-League gave me the resilience. I learned everything there. You needed to fight off hard tackles and I was playing against big men. You learn how to be strong and take them on and learn resilience.” quote by Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/michail-antonio-6183_fight_playing-in-non-league-gave-me-the-resili_2539143.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/michail-antonio-6183_fight_playing-in-non-league-gave-me-the-resili_2539143.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/michail-antonio-6183_fight_playing-in-non-league-gave-me-the-resili_2539143.jpg) > “Playing in non-League gave me the resilience. I learned everything there. You needed to fight off hard tackles and I was playing against big men. You learn how to be strong and take them on and learn resilience.” [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing in lower leagues builds toughness and resilience through physical challenges and facing larger opponents. **In simple terms:** Lower league play teaches strength and resilience. Key Takeaway Embrace tough experiences to grow. Themes resilience strength perseverance Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - football training - career setbacks - team leadership Key Concepts sports psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How have you turned tough matches into personal growth? - What other skills complement resilience? A Different Perspective Resilience alone may not guarantee success without skill refinement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Resilience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resilience/) ## Related quotes > [I had to be resilient playing non-League because I was 17 playing against men. I always knew how to beat someone and how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-had-to-be-resilient-playing-non-league-because-i-was-17-playing/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I'd like to see us learn resilience and learn optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-germanotta/i-d-like-to-see-us-learn-resilience-and-learn-optimism/) [Cynthia Germanotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-germanotta/) > [My childhood gave me resilience - and there's little that can surprise me in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-vodianova/my-childhood-gave-me-resilience-and-there-s-little-that-can-surprise/) [Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-vodianova/) > [Players that come from non-league don't ever want to go back there, so they have more fight in them to make sure they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/players-that-come-from-non-league-don-t-ever-want-to-go-back-there-so/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I don't really pay attention to the long-term, I take short steps - that is what I have done through my whole career, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-don-t-really-pay-attention-to-the-long-term-i-take-short-steps-that/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [For me, I really liked the idea of playing a non-superhero on a superhero show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/for-me-i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-a-non-superhero-on-a/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) > [I don't see anything wrong in playing a non-fiction character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohnish-bahl/i-don-t-see-anything-wrong-in-playing-a-non-fiction-character/) [Mohnish Bahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohnish-bahl/) > [That was how I felt at non-league. I never looked at it then and said, 'I want to be a Premier League manager one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wilder/that-was-how-i-felt-at-non-league-i-never-looked-at-it-then-and-said/) [Chris Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wilder/) > [The lowest point in my non-league career came when I was a teenage substitute for Workington Reds in a game at Blyth Spartans, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/the-lowest-point-in-my-non-league-career-came-when-i-was-a-teenage/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) > [A non-league club trying to get into the Football League is really about cachet that comes at a cost - wage bills go up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jordan/a-non-league-club-trying-to-get-into-the-football-league-is-really/) [Simon Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jordan/) > [I do speak to a few people in non-league. There are a few people in Bristol where my family is based that I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/i-do-speak-to-a-few-people-in-non-league-there-are-a-few-people-in/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I know how far a fiver can go in non-League, let alone 100,000! So it is a lot of money. That money can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-bullard/i-know-how-far-a-fiver-can-go-in-non-league-let-alone-100-000-so-it/) [Jimmy Bullard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-bullard/) > [There are a lot of people out there now playing non-League that are good enough to be in the Football League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/there-are-a-lot-of-people-out-there-now-playing-non-league-that-are/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [League Two still has a non-league feel about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-gayle/league-two-still-has-a-non-league-feel-about-it/) [Dwight Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-gayle/) > [My time in non-league definitely grounded me and taught me to take nothing for granted - there was no glamour involved, that is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/my-time-in-non-league-definitely-grounded-me-and-taught-me-to-take/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) ## More by Michail Antonio > [Kurt Zouma is a strong guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/kurt-zouma-is-a-strong-guy/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [You get better by studying and playing with better players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/you-get-better-by-studying-and-playing-with-better-players/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I'm quite ragged. People say 'raw,' and some people don't like raw. They prefer it neat and tidy but you can't be neat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-m-quite-ragged-people-say-raw-and-some-people-don-t-like-raw-they/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [This is my boyhood dream to play for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/this-is-my-boyhood-dream-to-play-for-england/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I want to always be better and make my career last as long as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-want-to-always-be-better-and-make-my-career-last-as-long-as-possible/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Fernandinho is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/fernandinho-is-strong/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I was semipro at Tooting & Mitcham. They paid the tax and we got paid cash in hand. I told my mum, 'I'm getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-was-semipro-at-tooting-mitcham-they-paid-the-tax-and-we-got-paid/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Can you give someone a bad name for wanting to be ambitious? For wanting to move onto bigger things? That person is ambitious, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/can-you-give-someone-a-bad-name-for-wanting-to-be-ambitious-for/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Players that come from non-league don't ever want to go back there, so they have more fight in them to make sure they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/players-that-come-from-non-league-don-t-ever-want-to-go-back-there-so/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I signed for Reading and then West Ham where people called me 'The Invisible Man' or a 'poster' because I was on the bench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-signed-for-reading-and-then-west-ham-where-people-called-me-the/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [When people run at me, I see what I don't like for myself. When I'm running at people I understand now what full-backs don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/when-people-run-at-me-i-see-what-i-don-t-like-for-myself-when-i-m/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Of course I want to get into the England World Cup team, especially having been so close, but I'm not going to be concentrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/of-course-i-want-to-get-into-the-england-world-cup-team-especially/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Certain things have happened in my life where it has been crazy touch-and-go situations, but it has let me know that, even if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/certain-things-have-happened-in-my-life-where-it-has-been-crazy-touch/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [Always have belief in yourself that you can achieve things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/always-have-belief-in-yourself-that-you-can-achieve-things/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [I'm just trying to play my football right now and whatever happens, happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/i-m-just-trying-to-play-my-football-right-now-and-whatever-happens/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) [Explore all 99 Michail Antonio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) ## More Fight quotes > [“I wanted a fight. I needed a fight. I was sick and tired of playing nice. I AM NOT NICE. - Caleb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/i-wanted-a-fight-i-needed-a-fight-i-was-sick-and-tired-of-playing/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-am-a-fighter-and-i-am-in-that-fight-and-i-have-to-make-sure-that-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [I want to fight the fights that fans want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/i-want-to-fight-the-fights-that-fans-want-to-see/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-shall-fight-against-them-throw-them-in-prisons-and-destroy-them/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Therefore, our fight must primarily be a political mass struggle with revolutionary goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/therefore-our-fight-must-primarily-be-a-political-mass-struggle-with/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) [Browse all 9,748 Fight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Playing in non-League gave me the resilience. 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