What a day - certainly made up for the 4 hour drive home today, although tuned into Radio Nottingham for the promotion party and really impressed by the comments of Mr Marinnakis!!!
Back to yesterday, woke up at 5-30 am somewhat tentative of what lay ahead, picked Dad up at 6-50 so 3 generations in the car as we drove down to London (had to stop for a nervous poo at the services just outside North Circular) arrived just before 10am and had first beer in the hotel bar waiting for others to arrive.
Stopped off at Marylebone to meet more friends and had a couple more pints, in 2 separate pubs, every bar, everywhere was just full of Forest!
Tube to Wembley central, couldn't get in any pubs on the high street all rammed - but amazingly got in the outdoor bar area, had a few more pints - saw so many old friends and familiar faces - loads of singing, atmosphere was incredible.
We were in block 541, had to queue for 40 minutes to get in yellow zone L, bursting for a wee - then got inside - concourse was bouncing managed another pint, spoke to some policemen and they said they'd not seen anything like it!
Up the steps 10 minutes before kick off to be confronted by a packed out Wembley, Forest end anyway - never sat down, never stopped singing and nearly broke ribs when we jumped around with absolute joy when we scored .... being dead honest I'm going to have to watch the game back,. because that first half flew by.
Another pint & pee at half time, concourse was probably even rowdier!
Second half, we gave ball away too often, but delighted that VAR & Jon Moss got the penalty decision right, 6 heart attack inducing, breathless minutes of injury time - then crying like a baby as that final whistle blew, hugging Dad, wife & kids (& complete strangers) and we are premier league!!!
The singing was incredible, then to the presentation and you could see hundreds/thousands of Forest fans in the away end running around the seats to be near the players lift the trophy.
Loved the players celebrations - special mention to Yates swimming on the turf, eventually walked out of Wembley with everyone singing as we went down the stairs and outside into a sea of red & white smiling faces.
Waited for the others in our hotel to meet us, then off we went to The Green Man - absolutely rammed with Forest fans (worst pint of guinness in history), so had to make up with 3 or 4 Moretti's and lots more singing!
Walked back down the hill to the tube station, with Wembley's red arch shining proudly, got some whisky, wine & lager - then back to the hotel - singing to every Forest fan en route... can't remember what time I went to bed, but felt rough this morning.
Still too scared to check my online banking, but worth every single penny!
Breakfast, coffee, lucozade & then drove home, got emotional again listening to Radio Nottingham - struggling to focus on work, but absolutely efffing buzzing, still smiling like a loony - can't wait to see what unfolds over the next few days as we prepare for life in The Premier League!
So proud of Nottingham Forest, players, coaches, management and fans - what an incredible day and delighted to have been able to share that experience with my family and friends!
COYR!!
