--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I was ready for the Premier…" description: "\"I don't think I was ready for the Premier League until I was 24 at Southampton.\" — Peter Crouch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png" --- # I don't think I was ready for the Premier League until I… ![“I don't think I was ready for the Premier League until I was 24 at Southampton.” quote by Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png) > “I don't think I was ready for the Premier League until I was 24 at Southampton.” [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Late development can still lead to elite performance with perseverance and opportunity. **In simple terms:** Success can come later with effort. Key Takeaway Embrace growth at any age. Themes sports career personal development Mood reflective optimistic Type sports career When to use this quote - training programs - career transitions - mentorship Key Concepts late bloomers talent identification Questions to Reflect On - What support helps late bloomers succeed? - How can clubs scout older talent? A Different Perspective Age bias may limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Premier league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premier-league/) ## Related quotes > [It's crazy because I did say to myself at the age of 16 that I want to be in the Premier League at 24.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-bolasie/it-s-crazy-because-i-did-say-to-myself-at-the-age-of-16-that-i-want/) [Yannick Bolasie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-bolasie/) > [You don't appreciate the level of the Premier League until you are there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/you-don-t-appreciate-the-level-of-the-premier-league-until-you-are/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) > [Football wasn't invented until the Premier League, we all know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dunster/football-wasn-t-invented-until-the-premier-league-we-all-know-that/) [Phil Dunster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dunster/) > [I'd say that La Liga is slightly more technical than the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-bale/i-d-say-that-la-liga-is-slightly-more-technical-than-the-premier/) [Gareth Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-bale/) > [Yes, Manchester United are the best team in England, but you have to ask how good has the Premier League been since I left?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/yes-manchester-united-are-the-best-team-in-england-but-you-have-to/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [You can focus on the ranking events but I do miss the Premier League because it's massive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lewis/you-can-focus-on-the-ranking-events-but-i-do-miss-the-premier-league/) [Adrian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lewis/) > [I want to be a premier back in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-henry/i-want-to-be-a-premier-back-in-this-league/) [Derrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-henry/) > [Playing at the top level in the Premier League - that's where I strive to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-abraham/playing-at-the-top-level-in-the-premier-league-that-s-where-i-strive/) [Tammy Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-abraham/) > [I want to go to the Premier League. A lot of massive, strong defenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/i-want-to-go-to-the-premier-league-a-lot-of-massive-strong-defenders/) [Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/) > [Premier League is one thing. World Cup is totally different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sven-goran-eriksson/premier-league-is-one-thing-world-cup-is-totally-different/) [Sven-Goran Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sven-goran-eriksson/) > [It's a league that you really have to get used to. If you're coming from another one, it's a tough league. Getting the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/it-s-a-league-that-you-really-have-to-get-used-to-if-you-re-coming/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) > [This Premier League is the kind of competition that you can't relax in. Any team, any rival can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-otamendi/this-premier-league-is-the-kind-of-competition-that-you-can-t-relax/) [Nicolas Otamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-otamendi/) > [When you are better than your opposition for 45 minutes and create six chances, if you don't score, you are in danger in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/when-you-are-better-than-your-opposition-for-45-minutes-and-create/) [Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/) > [I watch the Premier League, the Spanish and Dutch leagues, and a little bit of the German league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-van-gaal/i-watch-the-premier-league-the-spanish-and-dutch-leagues-and-a-little/) [Louis van Gaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-van-gaal/) > [The Premier League is amazing. It's everything you dream of as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-coady/the-premier-league-is-amazing-it-s-everything-you-dream-of-as-a-kid/) [Conor Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-coady/) ## More by Peter Crouch > [I'm not the type of player that's going to run in behind or go past three and score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-m-not-the-type-of-player-that-s-going-to-run-in-behind-or-go-past/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I've always been the tallest; I didn't shoot up. That's who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-ve-always-been-the-tallest-i-didn-t-shoot-up-that-s-who-i-am/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [My dad got me my first pair of boots. It was a big occasion for us to go to the shopping centre. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/my-dad-got-me-my-first-pair-of-boots-it-was-a-big-occasion-for-us-to/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [Footballers are very superstitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/footballers-are-very-superstitious/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I feel proud I was part of the old school and still around in the new school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-feel-proud-i-was-part-of-the-old-school-and-still-around-in-the-new/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I can understand why people laugh and make jokes, but I'm comfortable with being this tall. It's not as if I've had a sudden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-can-understand-why-people-laugh-and-make-jokes-but-i-m-comfortable/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [The death of Cyrille Regis, a giant in so many ways, was such a shock and deeply upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/the-death-of-cyrille-regis-a-giant-in-so-many-ways-was-such-a-shock/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [Heading is a skill, and it would be a shame to lose that from the game. There is nothing more dramatic than when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/heading-is-a-skill-and-it-would-be-a-shame-to-lose-that-from-the-game/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [People tend to assume I was terribly self-conscious about my height. In fact, I've always been perfectly comfortable with the way I am. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/people-tend-to-assume-i-was-terribly-self-conscious-about-my-height/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [In my early years, I wanted to be like Paul Gascoigne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/in-my-early-years-i-wanted-to-be-like-paul-gascoigne/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I didn't come from a council estate like a lot of the lads do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-didn-t-come-from-a-council-estate-like-a-lot-of-the-lads-do/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [In my opinion, whenever I've been given the opportunity to play, I've done well and scored goals, and that will continue to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/in-my-opinion-whenever-i-ve-been-given-the-opportunity-to-play-i-ve/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I don't know why, but playing for England, I always feel I am going to score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-don-t-know-why-but-playing-for-england-i-always-feel-i-am-going-to/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I was always quite technical as a player, but when you are the size I am, if you are crap in the air, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-was-always-quite-technical-as-a-player-but-when-you-are-the-size-i/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [I ve got a boot boy from the Youth team. His name s Kudos - he's a good lad and has been looking after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-ve-got-a-boot-boy-from-the-youth-team-his-name-s-kudos-he-s-a-good/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) [Explore all 118 Peter Crouch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I was ready for the Premier League until I was 24 at Southampton.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Crouch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premier-league-until-i-was-24-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premier-league-until-i-was-24-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/036/peter-crouch-4003_football_i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premie_1012133.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I was ready for the Premier League until I was 24 at Southampton.” — Peter Crouch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter Crouch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think I was ready...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premier-league-until-i-was-24-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-don-t-think-i-was-ready-for-the-premier-league-until-i-was-24-at/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```