14 February 2009 - James Breaks The Speed Record

On 14 February 2009, Portsmouth goalkeeper David James made his then-record 536th Premier League appearance in a 2-0 win over Manchester City.

James started his career in 1989 with Watford, who were then in the Second Division. After three seasons there, he moved to the Premier League in 1992, signing with Liverpool for £1.25 million. He had a rough start at Anfield and was dropped from the starting line-up in his second season after the Reds conceded 20 goals in their first 11 matches. But he regained the starting job the following season and stayed there through the 1998-99 season, making 194 league appearances.

He then moved to Aston Villa (1999-2001) and West Ham (2001-04). West Ham were relegated for the 2003-04 season, breaking James's streak of top-flight appearances at 325. But he moved back to the Premiership in January 2004, transferring to Manchester City.

In August 2006, after three seasons with City, James moved again, this time to Portsmouth. In his first year there, he kept a record 142nd Premier League clean sheet, beating the earlier record set by David Seaman. Then, after winning the 2008 FA Cup with Pompey, he made his record appearance, beating the former record held by Welsh midfielder Gary Speed.

James left Portsmouth in July 2010 for Bristol City, who play in England's second tier, the Championship. That ended his run of Premier League appearances, which currently stands at 572. Since then, that number has been bettered by Ryan Giggs (632), Frank Lampard (609), and Gareth Barry (585), leaving James in fourth on the Premier League appearances list. 

10 October 2009 - Green Sees Red

On 10 October 2009, Robert Green became the first England goalkeeper to get sent off as they lost to Ukraine 1-0.

They were in Dnipropetrovsk for a World Cup qualifier, having enjoyed a perfect record so far under manager Fabio Capello and already secured their trip to South Africa. Green had established himself as the leading candidate to be England's number one in the tournament, starting each of the last five games, but David James, who had started the thirteen games before that, was still pushing for the role.

That narrative gained steam in Ukraine, as Green received a 14th-minute red card, a first for an England keeper, for bringing Artem Milevskiy down in the box. James came on in place of Aaron Lennon for the ensuing penalty, but Andriy Shevchenko's spot kick hit the post to keep the game scoreless.

James was beaten in the 29th minute, though, by Sergiy Nazarenko, whose shot from 20 yards out put the hosts up 1-0. And despite some late pressure from England, including a close chance from Wayne Rooney, that margin held for the final score.

Green did go on to start England's first match in the World Cup against the USA, but it ended 1-1 after he failed to control a long-range shot from Clint Dempsey and Capello replaced him with James for the remainder of the competition.

14 February 2009 - James Breaks The Speed Record

On 14 February 2009, Portsmouth goalkeeper David James made his Premier League record 536th appearance in a 2-0 win over Manchester City.

James started his career in 1989 with Watford, who were then in the Second Division. After three seasons there, he moved to the Premier League in 1992, signing with Liverpool for £1.25 million. He had a rough start at Anfield and was dropped from the starting line-up in his second season after the Reds conceded 20 goals in their first 11 matches. But he regained the starting job the following season and stayed there through the 1998-99 season, making 194 league appearances.

He then moved to Aston Villa (1999-2001) and West Ham (2001-04). West Ham were relegated for the 2003-04 season, breaking James's streak of top-flight appearances at 325. But he moved back to the Premiership in January 2004, transferring to Manchester City.

In August 2006, after three seasons with City, James moved again, this time to Portsmouth. In his first year there, he kept a record 142nd Premier League clean sheet, beating the earlier record set by David Seaman. Then, after winning the 2008 FA Cup with Pompey, he made his record appearance, beating the former record held by Welsh midfielder Gary Speed.

James left Portsmouth in July 2010 for Bristol City, who play in England's second tier, the Championship. That ended his run of Premier League appearances, which currently stands at 573.