Sat 1st May - Oldham Athletic

So where exactly do I start?

Yes, we got the three points and yes we are promoted and yes we are a First Division Football Club for the first time in our history (granted, albeit on a name change).

We are a First Division Football Club. Excuse the repetition but it sounds pretty good.

So where do I begin? I’m not really sure. Success and Walsall Football Club have been such rare bedfellows over the years that I’m not overly used to writing about the good times. Today however the gates were open and success, for once, was good enough to come flooding through.

Hell, we’ve been through some hard times in the nineties - relegation in 1990, the receivers, the sale of Stuart Rimmer(amongst others), humiliation that bordered on disgrace at Halifax and Gillingham and Northampton and Scunthorpe and at home to Yeovil Town(amongst others) and last season generally (amongst others) but this was very much our day. A day we'd waited far to long to enjoy.

And it was truly fucking amazing.

For the record Darren Wrack opened the scoring from a tight angle following a challenge on the keeper by Rob Stiener before Chris Marsh appropriately got the second. His knee slide that followed the deftest of finishes was unbelievably fitting. Chest pumping with pride, head spinning with the intoxication of nudging us ever nearer to promotion and a home support going mental in front of him, only a slide of that magnitude would have sufficed.

Oldham threatened to spoil the day by halving the deficit before Siggy Eyjolfssen broke free, kept his nerve, beat the keeper and lifted the roof off the place with a beautifully taken third. Today wasn’t about individuals however.

Today, like the other eight and three quarter months was about a group of players. A group thrown together in August, given little chance by anyone, myself included, who have learned as they have gone along, moulded themselves into the tightest of units and shown character, discipline and belief in themselves beyond any reasonable belief.

A team who have responded to defeat by winning their next game nine times out of ten, players who have worn the red shirt with the same pride as the people who watch them wear it. Players who have grown together into one of the best teams to ever to represent the club and players who have tasted success elsewhere have now bought success to our now somewhat dizzy town. And possibly most importantly, players who have been honest enough to allow the supporters to feel part of the whole experience.

In 1987/88 when we did it last, the players appeared distant, almost aloof and didn’t appear bothered if the fans were with them or not. Being blunt, they were an expensive squad of mercenaries hired to get us up. This time was different and this squad of players should feel proud of this fact. “No big time Charlies” as Jimmy Walker described them.

I saw Martin O’Connor outside before the game, Blues weren’t playing until tomorrow and he's injured anyhow, but it was the kind of day when had they been playing and he been fit he may just have been unavailable for some reason or other. No longer a Walsall player but for me he was the flame that re-ignited this Football Club back in March 1993. For him to be here today in body rather than just spirit said it all. Once a Saddler, always a Saddler, forever a Saddler.

Apart from the goals noted above I have no real recollection of the actual game today apart from the fact that the first fifteen minutes flew by and the final fifty nine took an absolute age. Quite why the referee decided to play four minutes extra is anyone's guess. The game was well over by then and the biggest party the Town has seen for years was being delayed.

However, at 4:51pm on Saturday 1st May, the referee's whistle sounded and we crossed the finishing line. It was time to gather our belongings and move on as the fat lady and many thousand Saddlers fans burst into voice. WE ARE GOING UP.