Charlie Albinson insists keeping the faith in Ayr United - and himself - proved to be the best call of his career.
The keeper's decision to sign a new deal at Somerset last summer came off the back of a season in which he'd spent much of his time warming the bench.
But a breakout year has seen the former Manchester City kid not only wrestle the gloves from Aidan McAdams - he has become one of Ayr's standout performers in a stellar campaign.
Albinson, 26, is now among United's most prized assets with United chiefs moving to extend his deal until June 2024, and he believes his decision to stick it out north of the border has paid off big style.
He told the Ayrshire Post: "The main thing for me was getting the chance to prove myself. No matter where you go in football, you can never get the assurances that you will start games.
"But when I sat down with the manager at the end of last season, there was honesty on both sides - the goalkeeper's position was very much up for grabs this year and that was all I could ever ask for.
"I always backed myself and knew I was good enough to play. I just needed that opportunity and I'd like to think that I've repaid the gaffer's faith in me this season.
"Having Aidan competing with me every day in training is a massive thing. We've both supported each other since day one and you need that level of competition to drive you on. It definitely helps to have someone over your shoulder who you know could easily come in and take your position, and that's the case with a quality keeper like Aidan."
Albinson enjoyed a decorated youth career which saw him come through the ranks at City from the age of eight, spending a total of 11 years in Manchester.
Early coaches included Patrick Vieria, with Albinson among the City squad which made the FA Youth Cup Final against Chelsea in 2015, before leaving for Blackburn Rovers.
The keeper said: "I saw the whole transition of City as a club with the influx of money to the place it is now - in fairness it's pretty unrecognisable now to the place I first encountered. When I signed as a kid, they had two grass training pitches. Now they've got 10 to 15 of them.
"It's literally another world in there. But I had an amazing time and it shaped me into the player I am now. The level of coaching and attention to detail I got there was huge. The problem was that for any young kid like me, you quickly realised City could go and sign anyone in the world in any given position.
"It made the prospect of ever breaking into the team very, very difficult for someone like me. I wouldn't say that getting my head around that was a shock as such - it was just a big reality check at an early stage in my career.
"Whenever you speak to people in football, they will talk about experience. Managers need people they can trust and you understand that, so I knew I'd have to drop down the levels to get games.
"David Raya was at Blackburn when I was there - and he's now number one at Brentford. So when you're at these clubs it's difficult because of the standard you're up against and you just have to keep working away."
Albinson would eventually drop to the National League North in search of regular football, where he found games with Southport before moving on to the radar at Somerset Park.
He admitted: "When the move to Ayr came about, I didn't know much about Scottish football and I'd be lying if I said I did. But it was an opportunity which I wanted to come up and try. I thought coming up here would be a chance to test myself.
"I like it up here in general - everything has gone really well and come together for me this season. It's the most I've enjoyed my football and the positivity around the club is a huge factor in that.
"If you speak to any of the boys, they'll tell you how much they enjoy playing under the gaffer. He gives the same time to the boys who aren't playing as those who are - plenty of managers will happily sack off the lads who aren't getting game time to focus on the lads in the team, but that's never been a thing here. And I think you see the togetherness in the squad that comes from it.
"There aren't any big heads in the changing room - the manager has utilised that to our strength this season and it's got us to where we are. We just want to keep it going now, we know the opportunity that lies ahead and we're excited to see where it takes us. I want to play at the highest level I can and I'd love that to be with Ayr testing myself in the Premier League."
