Martin Rice

Martin John Rice (born 7 March 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Exmouth Town.

He spent most of his early professional career at Exeter City and has since played for their rivals Torquay United and non-League side Truro City.

Born in Exeter, Rice came through the youth scheme at Exeter City, his hometown club, being promoted from the youth team to the senior side in July 2003.

Rice began his professional career with the Grecians, making his debut aged 17, and spent four seasons at the club.

He made his debut in a 3–2 win against Barnet on 7 October 2003.

In his first season, 2003–04, he made five league appearances and two FA Cup appearances.

He improved on this record in 2004–05, making 18 appearances in all competitions.

Rice was sent off in Exeter's 3–2 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on 7 December 2004, after fouling Dagenham forward Craig Mackail-Smith.

However, in 2005–06, Rice only made five appearances, and despite making 27 league appearances the next season, he moved to Torquay United in 2007–08 after reaching the end of his contract with Exeter.

Rice played a significant role in the Grecians' run to the Conference play-offs, and played in both of Exeter's semi-final ties with Oxford United.

Exeter lost 1–0 in the home leg on 4 May 2007, but managed to win 2–1 in the away leg to send the match to a penalty-shoot out.

Rice saved Barry Quinn's penalty as Exeter won 4–3 in the shoot-out.

One of these cup appearances was in the FA Trophy 2007–08 Final against Ebbsfleet United, where Torquay lost 1–0.

Rice gave away a penalty after bringing down future teammate Chris McPhee, but made amends by saving the resulting spot-kick to keep the scores level.

He had also played in Torquay's FA Trophy semi-final first-leg win over York City, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 win, and the second-leg defeat to York on 15 March 2008.

Rice was loaned to Truro City for the majority of the 2008–09 season, returning towards the end of the season to be part of Torquay's play-off squad.

In his loan spell with City in 2008–09, Rice made 20 league appearances, even scoring a goal in the process.

This rate of almost a clean sheet every other game was a step up from 2008–09, when the custodian only managed an average of one every four games.

He was an unused substitute in Torquay's 2–0 2009 Conference National play-off final victory over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009.

Rice agreed a new one-year deal with Torquay to stay at Plainmoor as they made their return to the Football League.

However, he lasted just three months into the contract.

After impressing coaches at Truro during his loan spell, Rice left for Cornwall on a free transfer on 29 September 2009 after being released by Torquay.

With Truro 3–0 up against Abingdon United in injury time in February 2009, they were awarded a penalty.

Rice was given the honours and duly converted, for the only goal of his career so far.

Rice kept five clean sheets in his loan spell.

He was unable to play in FA Cup or FA Trophy games for Truro whilst on loan, and Torquay had a 24-hour recall on the goalkeeper.

After impressing on loan from Torquay, Rice signed a permanent deal with Truro a few games into the 2009–10 season; Truro registered the goalkeeper on 1 September 2009.

Because he had dropped into non-League football, Rice found himself a part-time footballer and worked on a building site to supplement his income.

Rice actually made fewer appearances in his first season as a full Truro player, playing 12 games compared to 20 when he was on loan.

Two of these appearances were against Mangotsfield United and Maidenhead United in the FA Cup qualifying stages, but the rest of his appearances came in the league.

Rice's second full season at City was more successful, as he made 37 appearances in all competitions.

Five of these appearances came in cup competitions, namely three games in the FA Trophy and two in the FA Cup qualifying rounds.

Rice enjoyed more success in the league, keeping an impressive 14 clean sheets in 32 games.

Since leaving Exeter he has also worked for the club's Football in the Community Trust, running goalkeeper coaching courses in February 2010.

Rice's first spell with Torquay United resulted in nine league appearances, in a side that had just been relegated to the Conference National for the first time.

Rice failed to establish himself as a regular in the side and was mostly used as backup to the more experienced Canadian goalkeeper Simon Rayner.

Rice made more appearances in various cup competitions, amassing 11 cup appearances (including three FA Cup games) in total and 20 appearances for the season in all competitions.

Rice rejoined Torquay in 2011 but failed to feature in a league match in 2011–12; he finally made his first league appearance since rejoining the club in November 2012.

Rice returned to St James Park in May 2011 to play for an Exeter XI in Adam Stansfield's testimonial.

In a 2012 interview, Rice hailed the penalty stop as "the best save I ever made – especially as I'd given the pen away!".