Reading earned promotion back to the English Premier League on Tuesday after a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest sealed their passage.
The Royals, who were relegated from the top flight in the 2007-08 season, have stormed home in the second-half of the season to claim their spot in the Premiership and perhaps also the Championship title with Southampton three points behind them with two games to play.
Reading boss Brian McDermott was ecstatic, saying: “It feels unreal, like I’m looking down on a different bloke managing Reading! It was incredible. It was a night for the supporters and the players.”
Third-placed West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City on Tuesday ensured the Royals couldn’t be caught by the Hammers, meaning they’d secured automatic promotion and the celebrations began fittingly at their home Madejski Stadium.
McDermott added: “I was only aware of the score tonight because of the fans singing ‘one goal and we’re going up’ so I realised the game at Bristol City was finished because of that. You know what we’re like as a team, we never stop going.
“We were nowhere near our best tonight, we were nervous, of couse, but you know what, you have to get over the line. The bond the team have got between them, when you win something as one, you are friends for life. That’s the case in our dressing room and it’s so important to me.”
The Reading boss had painfully suffered promotion playoffs defeated 12 months ago to Swansea City, but concluded with his delight at his finest day as a manager.
“We are in the Premier League now, we are promoted, and I can celebrate for the next couple of months! I hope there’s some late pubs in Reading where the fans can celebrate. I might join them!” he said.
He continued: “After the worst moment of my career at Wembley, May 30 last year, now to this, my best moment. I just think of the resolve and the character that the players and staff have shown.”