Tony Craig said to lift a trophy to mark Brentford’s promotion from Sky Bet League One in front of a packed Griffin Park was the stuff of dreams.
Tony joined Club Captain Kevin O’Connor to lift the trophy after The Bees beat Stevenage 2-0 on Saturday.
Brentford finished second in League One, clinching promotion to The Championship.
Tony said it was a day that was great for everyone at the Club.
But he said it was particularly great for Kevin O’Connor, who played his 500th Brentford game on Saturday.
“It is a great occasion,” said Tony, speaking after the match.
“It is great for the players, great for the fans and, most importantly, great for Kevin O’Connor.
“To make 500 appearances for one club is absolutely fantastic.
“I am pleased he got that accolade.
“He is a great man.
“To lift the trophy was the sort of thing you dream of when you are a kid.
“There was a full house here and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Tony had to come off with a head injury in the first half of the match, which Brentford won comfortably
Stuart Dallas and Alan Judge ensured Brentford ended with a win.
“We have had a fantastic season and we didn’t want to end on a low,” said Tony.
“And, as a defender, I wanted 20 clean sheets for the season.
“Thankfully we got that.
“We wanted to finish on a high and we did.”
Tony has won promotion before, with Millwall – through the Play-Offs, but said to go up automatically was better.
He said after Brentford narrowly missed out last season – finishing third in League One and losing the Play-Off Final – it made it sweeter.
“This ranks up there with my best days as a footballer,” said Tony.
“At Millwall we went up through the Play-Offs.
“To go up automatically is superb.
“This is a better way.
“After what happened last season, this is the icing on the cake.
“There was a lot of hurt this time last year, it makes this all the sweeter.
“Everyone was down then but it shows what can happen in a year.
“The celebrations were well deserved.
“Walking round with a trophy is the stuff of dreams.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is a fantastic way to end the season.”
Tony added he was looking forward to next season.
“I have a lot of celebrating to do in the next few weeks,” he said.
“I want to be a Championship player and I am thoroughly looking forward to next season.
“Hopefully I will be in the best shape possible.”
Tony Craig’s full post-match reaction is available here for Bees Player subscribers.