Plymouth goalkeeper James Bittner ends 13-year wait to make full Football League debut
Monday 16 November 2015 18:08, UK
Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper James Bittner is trying to claim a 90-minute clean sheet after ending his 13-year wait for a full Football League debut.
The 33-year-old played every minute in Plymouth's 2-1 win at York in League Two on Saturday - his first league start, coming 4991 days since he first sat on the bench for Bournemouth.
Bittner conceded York's only goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time at Bootham Crescent, and joked that he was not happy with the fourth official when he put up 10 added minutes.
"I might try and claim 90 minutes as a full debut with a clean sheet. It was 99 minutes!" he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I wasn't happy when the fourth official put up 10 minutes of added time. But three points is three points and it was nice to get the first game out of the way after a long, long wait.
"It sounds like I haven't done much for the last 13 years, doesn't it? But I have played some games in the Conference Premier and been on the bench, and played at reserve level.
"It felt longer than 4000 days, I must be honest. I was wondering if it would ever come, but I'm glad for the opportunity. I felt a bit rusty in the first half but it was good in the end."
Bittner began his career with Swindon before stints at Salisbury and Bournemouth, and did not grab a regular starting place until he made 42 appearances for Exeter in the Conference from 2003 to 2005.
He remained in non-league football with Torquay, Woking, Salisbury, Forest Green, Hereford and Newport County before joining Argyle in summer 2014.
And after making just one sub appearance for the Greens until last weekend, Bittner was given a first start after an injury to first-choice 'keeper Luke McCormick.
"I was thinking after all these years that it would be just my luck that something would happen on the Thursday or Friday, that would deny me the opportunity," he said.
"I don't think at my age I can wait another 4000 days so I'm hoping the next one comes a bit quicker. I have to wait and see what the situation is with Luke. Hopefully, for him, it's not too bad."
