Thursday will be the first time I’ve ever been motivated to vote. That’s how seriously I’m taking the referendum. The question about our future in Europe isn’t about Conservative versus Labour. It’s much bigger than that. It’s not about the next five years; it’s about the next 50. Probably even longer.

It’s about the sort of country our kids are going to grow up in and how the rest of the world will look at Britain from now on. And from all I’ve heard I think the decision we make could take us to very different places.

As for me — for what it’s worth — I am for remaining part of the EU. Some people say this is the unpatriotic choice — that being part of the EU waters down our national identity. To that, I say: “Come off it.” One of the proudest moments of my life was playing for and captaining England — in a shirt I was privileged to wear 81 times. You won’t find many people more patriotic than me — more proud of what this country is about and what we stand for. For me there are three simple reasons why, on balance, I think we should remain.

The first is my kids. I’ve got three. I teach them that they can achieve anything. And a lot of the things I’ve heard in this referendum tell me that there’ll be less opportunity for them if we pull up the drawbridge to the rest of the world. I think other countries will do the same to us. None of that is going to make my kids’ futures brighter; it’ll make their world smaller. I don’t want that for them.

EU referendum campaign - in pictures 34 show all EU referendum campaign - in pictures 1/34 Boris Johnson (left) kisses a wild salmon as he is shown around Billingsgate Fish Market in London with porter Greg Essex, uncle of TV presenter Joey Essex, on the final day of campaigning Stefan Rousseau/PA 2/34 A van displaying an advert saying 'Don't Wake Up With Nigel Next Friday' is driven through Westminster Jack Taylor/Getty Images 3/34 Michael Gove speaks alongside Priti Patel (left) and Kate Hoey at a Vote Leave campaign event at Old Billingsgate market, London Dominic Lipinski/PA 4/34 A passenger on a train reads the Evening Standard on the London Underground EPA 5/34 Delia Smith during the Channel 4 EU referendum debate Dominic Lipinski/PA 6/34 David Cameron appears on a special referendum edition of BBC One's Question Time, hosted by David Dimbleby Stefan Rousseau/PA 7/34 Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money, speaks to Sir Richard Branson about his views on the EU referendum Ben Pruchnie/PA 8/34 JD Wetherspoon beer mats that have been printed by the pub chain with strong messages in favour of leaving the EU JD Wetherspoon/PA 9/34 Ukip leader Nigel Farage and Kate Hoey on board a boat taking part in a Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" on the River Thames Stefan Rousseau/PA 10/34 Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron greets supporters after arriving in the Liberal Democrat Vote Remain campaign bus in east London Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images 11/34 Boris Johnson MP visits Sam Cole Foods fish processing factory in Lowestoft, Suffolk, where he was campaigning on behalf of the Vote Leave EU campaign Stefan Rousseau/PA 12/34 A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign, including Sir Bob Geldoff, shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the Thames Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images 13/34 Yvette Cooper MP gives a helping hand to her husband and former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, as he gets up from a story time session, during a Vote Remain canvassing visit to Shadsworth Children's Centre in Blackburn. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 14/34 The Sun backs Brexit Daniel Sotrabji/AFP Getty Images 15/34 Eddie Izzard campaigns for the Labour In campaign for the EU referendum Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 16/34 Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage poses with the party's new EU referendum poster in Westminster Jack Taylor/Getty Images 17/34 CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn, Rohan Silva, Chuka Umunna, Sarah Sands, Munira Mirza and MEP Daniel Hannan at the Evening Standard Brexit Debate Nigel Howard 18/34 The Vote Leave campaign bus passes a Vote Remain poster featuring Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson as it arrives for a visit to clothing and uniform manufacturers Simon Jersey in Accrington, Lancashire Stefan Rousseau/PA 19/34 David Cameron makes a joint appearance with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as they launch the Britain Stronger in Europe guarantee card at Roehampton University Yui Mok/Getty Image 20/34 Prime Minister David Cameron recreates the famous Beatles Abbey Road album cover by walking across Abbey Road crossing with Tessa Jowell, former secretary of state for culture, media and sport, on May 20, 2016 in London, England. The Prime Minister is campaigning to 'Remain' in the European Union ahead of a referendum on June 23 to decide on whether or not to leave the European Union Jeremy Selwyn 21/34 Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage holds aloft a UK Passport as he speaks during an anti-EU campaign event in Birmingham AFP/Getty Images 22/34 Campaigners wear clothing bearing the slogans "I'm Turning My Back On The EU", and "I Want To Leave The European Union, Do You?" as they attend a an Anti-EU (European Union) United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) pro-Brexit campaign event, in Birmingham Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Image 23/34 A British national receives her postal ballot paper AFP/Getty Images 24/34 Boris Johnson MP takes to the wicket during a visit to Chester-Le-Street Cricket Club as part of the Brexit tour Ian Forsyth/Getty Images 25/34 A campaigner with the pro-Europe campaign group called 'Irish4Europe', hands out leaflets to visitors to the London vs Mayo Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) football game at Ruislip GAA grounds in Ruislip, northwest London AFP/Getty Images 26/34 Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and former leader Ed Miliband (L) address supporters and members of the public in Doncaster town centre on May 27, 2016 in Doncaster, England. The Labour In campaign battle bus arrived in Doncaster today with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Ed Miliband MP to canvass for votes and hope to persuade UK citizens to stay in the European Union when they vote in the EU Referendum on the June 23 Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 27/34 Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, leaves after attending a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street Carl Court/Getty Images 28/34 A Vote to Leave campaigner holds a placard as Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 29/34 The image of a sari-clad Asian woman exactly balanced on a see-saw with a shaven-headed "thug" was devised by advertising giant Saatchi and Saatchi for the Operation Black Vote campaign. OBV said the poster - which features the slogan "A vote is a vote" and is due to be displayed on 37 digital billboards in London and Manchester - highlighted the "demonisation of foreigners and people of colour" in the campaign 30/34 Two pumps of Fuller's London Pride are branded with 'IN' and 'OUT' labels in the Red Lion Pub in Westminster Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 31/34 People walk past a graffiti mural of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing, which is sprayed on a disused building in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol. The image, called 'The Kiss of Death' and painted by pro-EU campaign group We Are Europe, highlights the upcoming deadline for voter registration for the referendum on 7th June Ben Birchall/PA 32/34 The front page of The Sun newspaper on 9th March The Sun 33/34 London Mayor Boris Johnson addresses supporters during a rally for the 'Vote Leave' campaign on April 15, 2016 in Manchester, England. Boris Johnson is taking part in a 48 hour 'Brexit Blitz' of campaigning in Northern England. Britain will vote either to leave or remain in the EU in a referendum on June 23 Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 34/34 John Whittingdale, Theresa Villiers, Michael Gove, Chris Grayling, Iain Duncan Smith and Priti Patel attend the launch of the Vote Leave campaign at the group's headquarters in London Stefan Rousseau/Getty Images 1/34 Boris Johnson (left) kisses a wild salmon as he is shown around Billingsgate Fish Market in London with porter Greg Essex, uncle of TV presenter Joey Essex, on the final day of campaigning Stefan Rousseau/PA 2/34 A van displaying an advert saying 'Don't Wake Up With Nigel Next Friday' is driven through Westminster Jack Taylor/Getty Images 3/34 Michael Gove speaks alongside Priti Patel (left) and Kate Hoey at a Vote Leave campaign event at Old Billingsgate market, London Dominic Lipinski/PA 4/34 A passenger on a train reads the Evening Standard on the London Underground EPA 5/34 Delia Smith during the Channel 4 EU referendum debate Dominic Lipinski/PA 6/34 David Cameron appears on a special referendum edition of BBC One's Question Time, hosted by David Dimbleby Stefan Rousseau/PA 7/34 Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money, speaks to Sir Richard Branson about his views on the EU referendum Ben Pruchnie/PA 8/34 JD Wetherspoon beer mats that have been printed by the pub chain with strong messages in favour of leaving the EU JD Wetherspoon/PA 9/34 Ukip leader Nigel Farage and Kate Hoey on board a boat taking part in a Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" on the River Thames Stefan Rousseau/PA 10/34 Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron greets supporters after arriving in the Liberal Democrat Vote Remain campaign bus in east London Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images 11/34 Boris Johnson MP visits Sam Cole Foods fish processing factory in Lowestoft, Suffolk, where he was campaigning on behalf of the Vote Leave EU campaign Stefan Rousseau/PA 12/34 A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign, including Sir Bob Geldoff, shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the Thames Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images 13/34 Yvette Cooper MP gives a helping hand to her husband and former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, as he gets up from a story time session, during a Vote Remain canvassing visit to Shadsworth Children's Centre in Blackburn. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 14/34 The Sun backs Brexit Daniel Sotrabji/AFP Getty Images 15/34 Eddie Izzard campaigns for the Labour In campaign for the EU referendum Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 16/34 Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage poses with the party's new EU referendum poster in Westminster Jack Taylor/Getty Images 17/34 CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn, Rohan Silva, Chuka Umunna, Sarah Sands, Munira Mirza and MEP Daniel Hannan at the Evening Standard Brexit Debate Nigel Howard 18/34 The Vote Leave campaign bus passes a Vote Remain poster featuring Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson as it arrives for a visit to clothing and uniform manufacturers Simon Jersey in Accrington, Lancashire Stefan Rousseau/PA 19/34 David Cameron makes a joint appearance with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as they launch the Britain Stronger in Europe guarantee card at Roehampton University Yui Mok/Getty Image 20/34 Prime Minister David Cameron recreates the famous Beatles Abbey Road album cover by walking across Abbey Road crossing with Tessa Jowell, former secretary of state for culture, media and sport, on May 20, 2016 in London, England. The Prime Minister is campaigning to 'Remain' in the European Union ahead of a referendum on June 23 to decide on whether or not to leave the European Union Jeremy Selwyn 21/34 Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage holds aloft a UK Passport as he speaks during an anti-EU campaign event in Birmingham AFP/Getty Images 22/34 Campaigners wear clothing bearing the slogans "I'm Turning My Back On The EU", and "I Want To Leave The European Union, Do You?" as they attend a an Anti-EU (European Union) United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) pro-Brexit campaign event, in Birmingham Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Image 23/34 A British national receives her postal ballot paper AFP/Getty Images 24/34 Boris Johnson MP takes to the wicket during a visit to Chester-Le-Street Cricket Club as part of the Brexit tour Ian Forsyth/Getty Images 25/34 A campaigner with the pro-Europe campaign group called 'Irish4Europe', hands out leaflets to visitors to the London vs Mayo Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) football game at Ruislip GAA grounds in Ruislip, northwest London AFP/Getty Images 26/34 Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and former leader Ed Miliband (L) address supporters and members of the public in Doncaster town centre on May 27, 2016 in Doncaster, England. The Labour In campaign battle bus arrived in Doncaster today with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Ed Miliband MP to canvass for votes and hope to persuade UK citizens to stay in the European Union when they vote in the EU Referendum on the June 23 Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 27/34 Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, leaves after attending a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street Carl Court/Getty Images 28/34 A Vote to Leave campaigner holds a placard as Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 29/34 The image of a sari-clad Asian woman exactly balanced on a see-saw with a shaven-headed "thug" was devised by advertising giant Saatchi and Saatchi for the Operation Black Vote campaign. OBV said the poster - which features the slogan "A vote is a vote" and is due to be displayed on 37 digital billboards in London and Manchester - highlighted the "demonisation of foreigners and people of colour" in the campaign 30/34 Two pumps of Fuller's London Pride are branded with 'IN' and 'OUT' labels in the Red Lion Pub in Westminster Dan Kitwood/Getty Images 31/34 People walk past a graffiti mural of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing, which is sprayed on a disused building in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol. The image, called 'The Kiss of Death' and painted by pro-EU campaign group We Are Europe, highlights the upcoming deadline for voter registration for the referendum on 7th June Ben Birchall/PA 32/34 The front page of The Sun newspaper on 9th March The Sun 33/34 London Mayor Boris Johnson addresses supporters during a rally for the 'Vote Leave' campaign on April 15, 2016 in Manchester, England. Boris Johnson is taking part in a 48 hour 'Brexit Blitz' of campaigning in Northern England. Britain will vote either to leave or remain in the EU in a referendum on June 23 Christopher Furlong/Getty Images 34/34 John Whittingdale, Theresa Villiers, Michael Gove, Chris Grayling, Iain Duncan Smith and Priti Patel attend the launch of the Vote Leave campaign at the group's headquarters in London Stefan Rousseau/Getty Images

The second reason is that I think politics is a team game. I worked for the greatest manager of all time. Sir Alex Ferguson always taught us that no individual is bigger than the team — that just because we played for Manchester United didn’t mean we could swan around doing our own thing. We had to work even harder, and be even more of a team, to get where we wanted to be.

I think Europe is a bit like that. Britain is an amazing country but we’ll achieve much more if we’re a team player – working with others to get things done. I believe we need to work with our friends and neighbours in Europe if we want to make changes our children can be proud of. The sort of things young people care about: tackling climate change, helping refugees, fighting disease in Africa — they can only get fixed if we all work together.

The third reason is the kind of country I want us to be. I’ve got a unique perspective on this. I’ve seen racism in football and I’ve spoken out about the racism my family and I experienced. But in this campaign, to tell you the truth, I haven’t liked what I’ve seen. I think the focus on immigration has been a shame. I think there’s a danger that, if Leave wins, it’ll be an endorsement of the idea that it’s OK to blame all our problems on foreigners.

'It’s about the sort of country our kids will grow up in and how the rest of the world will look at us' Rio Ferdinand

The England football team used to do that — and it didn’t help us play any better. Then we started learning from the foreign players in the Premier League, and we improved ourselves. So let’s remember: Europeans make a really important contribution to our country, and most of our problems are actually home-grown.

That’s just my two cents’ worth. But in the end it’s your decision. And my main message is: get out there and have your say on Thursday.