ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Eric Whalley admitted it was a "dream come true" to see the Reds back in the Football League.
The chairman has made no secret of his ambition to get the Reds into League Two and he has finally achieved it - but he isn't stopping there.
"It is like a dream come true and I want to take it a little further before I let my family take over," said the chairman, who has owned the club since 1995.
"It is possible to do a Carlisle, who got promoted last season and are top of League Two now.
"Everyone says the adrenaline in the first year should help us.
"The manager says he wants five new players and I am sure we will get a few in and push on.
"It is one of those things that you set a target and mine was to get into the Football League in five years after we got in Conference. We have achieved it a little bit earlier so now we can push on. You have always got to keep setting targets.
"It was my aim all my life and now I have laid the ghost to rest and hopefully Accrington Stanley can look forward to a long life back in the Football League."
Whalley made sure he spotted the two fans at Woking on Saturday who had said "What a load of rubbish" to the chairman on the coach back from a UniBond First Division game at Matlock.
Whalley turned round and said: "You won't be saying that when we are in the Football League."
The chairman said: "They had laughed at the time but I made sure I found them at Woking and I have reminded them - they remembered it as well. I have got the last laugh!"
He admitted the feeling was of overwhelming relief with the victory on Saturday which finally clinched the Conference title.
But he knows he has his goalkeeper to thank for saving two penalties.
"Rob Elliot has made two penalty saves which were out of this world and when the whistle went it was such a relief.
"It is unbelievable. Whatever anyone says it is very stressful and now perhaps I can relax a little bit - before we start planning for next season."
