And so, after the disappointing defeat at home to Crystal Palace, the climax. Four games to go, four games there for the winning. Four wins would bring promotion - even possibly the championship.

It was now that the side showed their character with absolutely vital victories in the first three.

After going behind at Coventry, the side stormed back in the second half with goals by Fuller and Lawrence who, not fully fit, came off the bench to score the winner. Another half-time team talk had done the trick.

The next match, against promotion rivals Bristol City at home, was a real six-pointer if ever there was one.

(Mamady Sidibe heads home his first goal of the evening as the Potters secured a massive 2-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City)

With another noisy crowd urging the team on, Sidibe got back on the score-sheet with style with an invaluable brace to set things up perfectly for the penultimate match - away to already relegated Colchester who, though down, were far from out and were determined to make the last game at Layer Road an occasion to remember.It was - but for the Potters.

Cresswell's strike on the stroke of half-time meant that the Premiership door was now open. The Potters were about to walk over the threshold when news of a last-gasp winner by Hull City closed the door again and put the dream on hold for another week.

(City were dealt a blow with the news that Chris Riggott had been called back to Middlesborough)

Riggott, who had played impressively both at the heart of the defence and as a replacement for the injured Griffin at full-back, was recalled to Middlesbrough for the last match. It was another handicap to overcome, but Carl Dickinson, like Andy Wilkinson, will always wear his heart on his red and white sleeve, and the local lads did us proud.

It was ironic that the final match, against Leicester City, took place five years to the day after the club had had to win its final fixture - against Reading- to retain its Championship status at the end of Tony Pulis' first season at the club. I wrote in the match report for that game:

"Forget Harry Potter and Hogwarts. The best piece of wizardry of the year has been performed by Tony Pulis at the Britannia. In keeping City in Division One (now the Championship) the manager has proved himself to be the best magician since Merlin."

One point was enough, and one point was gained. As in Disneyland, the magic hasn't stopped!

(Danny Pugh celebrates with the fans after securing the point needed to fire the Potters back in to English football's top flight)

But on a serious point, these achievements have had nothing to do with supernatural powers, just the old-fashioned virtues of hard graft, footballing nous and team-work on and off the pitch. And in this latter respect, nobody should underestimate the partnership of Tony Pulis and Peter Coates. How they proved their critics wrong!

It had been a season full of drama.Excitement, anticipation, tension, disappointment, euphoria, goals: we had the lot.

Since the staff had reported back for training in July, no fewer than twenty-nine players went through the revolving door of the first team dressing room.

(Tony Pulis guided his side in to the top flight, and sits proudly alongside the clubs Runners Up Trophy)

It's an amazing number of arrivals and departures, and one which few would have anticipated last May, but the plans conceived by the manager nine months ago have come to term in style - a bonny, bouncing Premier League babe.

2007/08 will go down in the annals as a season to remember and be savoured - before more hard graft, footballing nous and team-work are required next August. See you then!

(WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE - 2008/09)