Garry Richards heads to Wembley on Saturday hoping to end a frustrating wait to make an appearance on the big stage.

Richards (pictured right) was suspended for Gillingham’s sell-out FA Cup third round clash with Aston Villa in January and earlier on in his career he missed out on a fifth round match at Chelsea after being sent off a week before while playing for Colchester.

The 22-year-old defender has re-established himself in the centre of defence for the Gills, starting the last seven games, and barring any unforeseen incidents he should finally get his day on the big stage.

He said: "They don’t come much bigger than a cup final at Wembley and I can’t wait for that and to walk out and get down to business.

"You have your highs and lows, but that’s just football, and you just need to keep cracking away until the opportunity comes again. You never know when that opportunity will come again and fingers crossed it has."

Walking out at Wembley will cap a season of mixed fortunes for Richards. He and Mark Bentley have competed for the right to partner Simon King at the back all season and that has meant as much time on the bench as the pitch for Richards.

"You are always going to have your blows in football - it’s a rollercoaster," he said.

"Things happen every season, this one more than any so far. It’s been very up and down, but as a player you have to stick with it and if you keep a good attitude then those sorts of players get their rewards in the end.

"It’s felt good to be back in the side and getting games under my belt. To go there and play would be a lot better than going there and sitting on the bench. It’s going to be a great day for us and we need to make the most of it.