Wolves winger Michael Kightly is hoping to attend a unique promotion celebration – as one of six former Grays players who have won promotion in the Football League this season.

While Kightly is basking in the Championship title win that has guaranteed Premier League status, he’s also delighted for his old mates – plus his old management duo – who also sign off with that special feeling after graduating to the professional ranks.

The Wolves wide man said: “My manager and assistant at Grays when I was there – Mark Stimson and the former Wolves goalkeeper Scott Barrett – got promotion through the (League Two) play-offs with Gillingham.

“They’ve signed Dennis Oli and Jonathan Nutter, so they obviously went up as well.

“My old room-mate Gary Hooper went up with Scunthorpe and Aaron McLean, who’s a good mate of mine, got promoted with Peterborough.

“Glenn Poole also got promoted with Brentford.

“All of those were my team-mates at Grays and I got promoted as well, so it’s been quite a summer for all of us.

“We were all on the Blackberry Messenger the other week having a chat. It’s hard for us all to meet up because of holidays and everything, but I’m really close to Aaron McLean and will be going away with him and his girlfriend this summer.

“When the other boys get back for pre-season, I’m sure we’ll try to fix up some sort of celebration together.”

Kightly hopes the achievements of the Grays lads can act as an inspiration to other non-league players as to what can be achieved.

He said: “Hopefully it’s an inspiration to other players from non-league to think that if I could do it they can do it as well.

“I definitely think there are players at that level who could play higher up.

“That’s six of us with Grays who have got promoted – as well as the manager and assistant manager – and all of the players mentioned have been top players in their teams.

“I’m sure they’ll all have the chance to play at the top level soon.”

As the player who has achieved the ‘big one’, it would be easy for Kightly to milk his achievement with his old team-mates.

But the 23-year-old remembers it was only three years since he shared play-off disappointment with them and hasn’t forgotten where he came from.

He said: “I’ve certainly not given it the ‘big one’ about the fact I’m going into the Premier League – that’s not me at all.

“There were a few messages flying around ‘bigging’ my promotion up, but I’m not like that and have stayed away from it.

“It’s great to see so many players from Grays having gone on to achieve in the League.

“I’ve said before that it’s almost unbelievable for me that the gaffer took a punt on me for 25 grand and then two-and-a-half years later I’m in the Premier League.

“It’s a fairytale and one I hope will carry on.

“It does feel like I’ve been at Wolves for years, 10 years almost, I feel so at home here.

“But when you do think back and realise that three years ago I’d suffered the heartache of being knocked out of the Conference play-offs with Grays and now I’m looking forward to the Premier League, it’s unbelievable.”

While Kightly is delighted for his former team-mates, he’s also happy with his current ones, as Wolves colleagues Kevin Foley and Andy Keogh prepare for action for the Republic of Ireland tonight.

The winger believes Keogh has Premier League pedigree.

He said: “He’s got everything – he’s quick, he’s strong, he’s decent in the air and he’s got one of the most important things to have in the Premier League in his footballing brain, so I’m sure he’ll be fine.

“Keogh’s an unbelievable lad and a great footballer with a great brain who can play anywhere.

“Wherever he plays, he does a good job. It would be nice to see him play up front for Ireland, because I think he’d do really well there.

“Everyone knows how much Giovanni Trapattoni thinks of him and to have someone like that think so highly of you is a nice feeling.

“I think that’s helped Andy in the months previous because when he’s been away with Ireland and come back, he’s been different class for us.

“We link up really well together and that’s because I feel we’re on the same wavelength.”