Craig MacGillivray has got to know the bench at Wembley pretty well in the past few years.
Pompey’s goalkeeper sat on it three times in as many years to watch former sides Walsall and Shrewsbury suffer defeats.
But it proved to be fourth time lucky for the 26-year-old in Sunday’s Checkatrade Trophy final against Sunderland at the national stadium.
Not only did MacGillivray start, but he made a crucial save from Lee Cattermole in the penalty shoot-out to help secure victory for the Blues.
“It’s phenomenal and the best moment of my career,” said the stopper. I can’t even think of the words to describe it.
“I’ve been here three times before and was on the bench. I finally got the chance to play and we won, so it was perfect.
"It’s an amazing feeling and to it at Wembley with more than 40,000 Pompey fans right behind me was incredible."
“The game seemed to have everything, with plenty of toing and froing, four goals and a penalty shoot-out.
“I’m keeping hold of the glove that was on the hand which I made the save with and I’m treasuring the medal because I’ve finally got a winners’ one.
“It’s an amazing feeling and to it at Wembley with more than 40,000 Pompey fans right behind me was incredible.
“I think that was a big factor and the fans seemed to enjoy it when the coin was tossed and we got to choose the end.
“Most of the guys who we were expecting to take a penalty had been substituted and it was only Aiden McGeady left.
“I just had a feeling that Cattermole was going to go to my left and thankfully I guessed correctly to make the save.”