Steven Schumacher declared his pride with everyone associated with Wanderers’ promotion to the Championship as he delivered on the first stage of his mission with the Whites.
Schumacher complete his first full season as head coach by guiding Wanderers to a magnificent play-off final victory at Wembley.
And Schumacher was rightly delighted that a season’s work came to fruition in memorable style with the 4-1 win over Stockport County.
“Proud. That's probably the best way to describe it,” said Schumacher after some inspired substitutions and a superb second-half performance had ended Wanderers’ seven-year wait to get back to the Championship.
“I knew the challenge that I was getting into when I came to this football club. I knew the size of it. I knew what the objective was, so with that comes pressure and expectation. It's been a difficult journey at times, but it's a journey that I've absolutely loved, so I'm proud of all the players and I'm proud of all the staff.
“We’ve all worked incredibly hard to achieve what we wanted to and now we're on the next step in the journey, so I'm really looking forward to it. It's been a long 11 months, we've nearly been at this now and we've achieved what we wanted to, so we'll all enjoy the next few weeks.”
After leading early through a Ruben Rodrigues’ goal the Whites were pegged back at the break and needed to raise their game on a red-hot afternoon.
They duly did that to over-power a Stockport side which kicked off the season with a 2-0 win over Wanderers but had no answer once Kyle Wootton had been forced to put through his own goal, super-sub Sam Dalby scored a stunning third and Rodrigues converted a late penalty.
All three second-half goal came in front of 30,000 jubilant Wanderers’ fans who helped make it a famous day for Schumacher and his history-makers.
“It was so good today,” the boss told Wanderers TV. “I didn't even go out in the warm-up to have a look, I just wanted to walk out with the players and see them and when I saw a sea of white shirts it was incredible.
“To be involved in a game like that and to come out of it on the right side and win the game, it's an unbelievable thing and I'm so proud for our fans because they've been through tough times.
“Seven years ago this club was nearly out of business and thankfully Sharon (Brittan) and the Football Ventures group saved it. We're on a journey to try and get better and get to the level that we really need to be, so first step accomplished.
“It's been a whole team effort from everybody. It's been an incredible journey so far. I've loved every single minute of it and we're on the next step and we're looking forward to next year. Let's rest and recover and get ready to go and have a crack at the Championship.”