The wait to reach the Premier League has been a rewarding one for Brighton & Hove Albion's Adam Webster, who played in the four highest divisions outside the top flight before getting his chance.
After making his first-team breakthrough as a 17-year-old for Portsmouth in the Championship in January 2012, he dropped down to League One and then went on loan to Aldershot in the National League before returning to Pompey in League Two.
It was then that Webster started to shine and he earned a move back up to the Championship with Ipswich Town in 2016. Two years later he joined Bristol City and 12 months after that he became a PL player for the first time with Brighton.
"I've experienced a lot in my time already," the 24-year-old said after being presented with his Premier League Debut Ball.
"Almost getting relegated from League Two to playing in the Conference as well and now in the Premier League, so it's been brilliant for me and I wouldn't change it."
Premier League debut
Webster's Premier League debut came in Brighton's fourth match of the season, a trip to champions Manchester City. It proved a tough introduction as Kevin De Bruyne gave the home side a second-minute lead in a 4-0 victory.
"Building up to the game we had a plan and everything and we conceded after a minute," he recalled. "We lost 4-0 but we played really well that day."
Club and country?
Since that match at the Etihad Stadium, Webster has settled comfortably into an ever-improving defence under head coach Graham Potter.
"He's the type of player who is going to be sensational for us I think," said Brighton's technical director Dan Ashworth, who joined the club from the same role with England's national team.
"Not only does it give me great pleasure to help some players get into the first team and give homegrown debuts, but also Adam as well.
"I'm delighted it's another young English player representing us in the Premier League, and who knows, maybe Gareth [Southgate, England manager] will be watching as well?"
Also in this series
Part 1: Connolly: Facing Aguero showed me the level I need
Part 2: Alzate: Debut at Newcastle gave me goosebumps
