FORMER Chippenham Town goalkeeper James Bittner ended an almighty wait for his first start in the Football League last weekend – almost 5,000 days since his first appearance as a substitute.

The Devizes-born 33-year-old, who came through Swindon Town’s youth system, was first named as a substitute in Bournemouth’s draw with Tranmere in League Two back in 2002, but after years spent as second or third-choice stopper at a host of league clubs, Bittner finally got on the pitch as he helped Plymouth Argyle beat York City 2-1.

With regular number one Luke McCormick ruled out with a hip injury, Bittner, who has also had spells with Fulham and QPR, as well as Exeter City and Salisbury City in non-league, at long last enjoyed a taste of Football League action, 4,991 days after his first outing on the Bournemouth bench.

“I started at Swindon, I went to Fulham in the Premier League, I’ve been in the Championship, League One and League Two, but always as a second or third choice unfortunately,” Bittner, who is also Plymouth’s goalkeeping coach, told the BBC.

“It’s frustrating when you’ve been at the highest level and you’ve worked down and down and you think ‘please just give me a chance’.”