“You get to understand what it means to fight every week – not just for the fans but a bigger cause…That’s the mentality I have and have had, throughout my career – I’m a fighter and that won’t change.” – Ashley Cole

At 38, Ashley Cole got his first ever goal in the FA Cup after 49th appearances and first goal in English football in almost 7 years since September 2012 (for Chelsea vs Stoke).

Ashley Cole who played in a record eight different post-war FA Cup finals made his first FA Cup appearance in 1847 days, since playing alongside Frank Lampard for Chelsea against Stoke in January 2014, in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Brighton. After joining Derby County in January he is still working his way back to full fitness, As a result, he has only managed a few minutes playing time before Saturday.

Ashley Cole who is an aspiring coach joined Derby to help inspire the young Derby team with his experience to a premier league promotion “I’m here to help if need be to speak to them and to drill into them the understanding of what it means to put on a club shirt. They need to work hard and never let a day go by without learning something and always trying to improve.”

Veteran English full-back Ashley Cole showed he can still produce on the big stage, Cole was introduced at half-time in the fifth-round clash and scored a shocking goal in the 81st minute.

Despite Derby’s loss, Frank Lampard praised Ashley Cole’s fitness and dedication after he scored in just his second appearance for Derby County. “He’s been a machine all of his career in terms of fitness and looking after himself. He is as lean as anybody and as long as he has the desire then that’s his call”.