He may have had to wait a while for it, but Torquay United goalkeeper Martin Rice, at the age of 26, has now made his full debut as a Football League player.
He also emerged from the occasion with great credit as he kept a clean sheet as the Gulls played out a goalless draw against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
Despite having to wait this long to make his first appearance in the Football League, Rice has appeared in a number of big games for his home town club, Exeter City, where he started his career, Truro City and also in his two spells at Plainmoor.
His tenure with the Grecians started in the 2003-04 season, which was Exeter's first season in the Conference, folllowing their relegation from the Football League in 2003, when he made his first start as a 17-year old.
During his four year stay at St James Park, he appeared in a number of important games for the Grecians, including a Conference Play-Off semi-final against Oxford at the Kassam Stadium where he made an important penalty save. This helped Exeter to seal their place in the 2007 Conference Play-Off final, where they were beaten by Morecambe.
A move down the A38 followed for Martin during the close season as he became one of Paul Buckle's first signings after he was appointed as manager of Torquay United. Martin was one of three players to make the move from the Grecians to the Gulls as he was soon joined by Lee Phillips and Chris Todd.
Although he spent much of the season as understudy to Simon Rayner and Michael Poke, Martin still managed to appear in both legs of Torquay's FA Trophy Semi-Final against York City as well as the final against Ebbsfleet United, where he saved a penalty from Chris McPhee.
Martin remained at Plainmoor as the Gulls won promotion back to the Football League in the 2008-09 season before joining Truro City on loan in the 2009-10 campaign before making the move permanent in September 2009.
Whilst with the White Tigers he enjoyed more success, helping them to win the Southern League Premier Division in the 2010-11 season.
In the summer of 2011, Martin was brought back to Plainmoor as understudy to Bobby Olejnik and only made one appearance, which was in the Football League Trophy against Cheltenham Town.
Following the sale of Olejnik to Peterborough United during the close season, Martin continued to serve the Gulls as a deputy to the returning Michael Poke before being called upon by Ling, firstly as a substitute against Barnet and again on Saturday against Oxford, to stand in for the former Southampton custodian.
It was a certainly a case of good things coming to those who wait as he kept a clean sheet in the process.
