Thanks for all the congratulatory messages guys. I've just woken up after a looooonnnggg night of celebrations.
What a performance, what a manager, what a squad of players and great credit should go to the owners, who have backed Kieran when he's needed it but let him and the CEO run the club with zero interference. The club is 100% together, on the same page with the same values and is so inclusive with the fans and the community. After 20 years of utterly crap ownership we're now where I believe we belong.
As Butch, I remember and was there when we were probably the best starting XI in the country, winning the FA Cup and UEFA cup. I was at both and travelled round Europe, going to fantastic stadiums in Barcelona, Madrid, St. Etienne, Cologne and also to obscure places like Lanscrona and Helsingborg.
In 81 we were so close to the treble - League, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. But squad depth hurt us when players like Kevin Beattie (the best player I've ever seen, imho) got injured (he broke his arm in the FA Cup semi against Man City. That was the first season they introduced extra time and Paul Power scored a terrific free kick to knock us out in that extra time.
We should really have won the league that year, but were pipped by Villa. We actually beat them 3 times that season - home, away and knocked them out of the FA Cup. Injuries at the end cost us, but we rustled up enough to win the UEFA Cup. We played 66 competitive games that season and Russell Osman played in every one of them.
Anyway, we're back to the promised land. With our brilliant manager and the resources we have I am confident we'll do ok.