Blog: A famous night that was so deserved

Now we can finally use the w-word and you know what? We're going to use it a lot between now and March 22.

Manager Dean Smith and the team have genuinely created history and they thoroughly deserve it.

Tuesday's nervous and attritional result against Preston was the culmination of a campaign that has seen us play four games against teams above us in the league without conceding a goal.

We played our natural game, worked phenomenally hard and didn't sit back and invite pressure.

Sure PNE had some big moments towards the end, they are a decent team after all, but we'd had enough chances too and once we'd passed 85 minutes I knew they were spent (I kept this to myself naturally).

And matchday wouldn't be matchday without the obligatory wonder saves from Richard O'Donnell, would it?

So Wembley (there I've used it again) will finally be graced by the Mighty Saddlers. It was brilliant to see the Banks's rammed and rocking again, I can only imagine what the atmosphere will be like in 51 days' time.

We all have our own personal moments, memories and reasons why Tuesday night meant so much. For me standing in the centre circle with all three of my sons, my brother and nephew was pretty special.

Seeing one of my best mates with tears in his eyes, and I don't mind admitting I shed a few for the first time since Tom Bennett lifted the trophy at Cardiff 14 years ago, was emotional too.

It was brilliant to see plenty of old faces and fans who'd travelled from all over the country and it was also a night to remember absent friends.

Former players also took to social media to congratulate us, highlighting just what it means to be part of the Saddlers family.

So to Troy Deeney, Jamie Paterson, AndyButler et al, great to hear from you guys, come and join us on March 22nd if you can. Even Stan Collymore wished us well too.

Of course legends Darren Wrack, Dean Keates and Jimmy Walker went one better and were actually with us on the night.

Seeing the Class of 2015 celebrating in the stands must have brought back some happy memories for them.

All three were denied Wembley in 99, "Deano" and "Wacker" were in 98 too.

Athough it was a top top day that I wouldn't have swapped for anything, the move to the Millennium for 2001 also scuppered their chances of playing at the national stadium. Great to have you back though boys.

The link with the missed opportunities to get to Wembley is completed by the management duo,

"Deano" played in the 93 play-off semis while Richard O'Kelly was part of the triumphant '88 team who were two years too early for a Wembley final.

More importantly he was a vital member of the 1984 team denied by the then best team in Europe. He has earned his day at Wembley.

Which brings me neatly to Dean Smith, the architect of our triumph. He has undoubtedly moved our club forward so much in four years, without him we would never even be daring to dream.

Respected BBC journalist Pat Murphy added it was a measure of the man Dean is.

He talked about the impact reaching Wembley will have for the club, fans and the community rather than focussing on his own achievements. I couldn't agree more.

Sadly no manager is completely bullet-proof, Sir Ray ridiculously got a mere eight months after his final phenomenal success.

But you'd like to think that Deano will be able to follow up leading us out at Wembley for the first time with as long as he wants to continue building something special.

With apologies to subs, squad players, the injured and the backroom staff, the final tribute has to go to the players on the night.

Richard, James O, James C, Paul, Andy, Adam, Michael, Jordan, Romaine, Anthony, Tom and James B – thank you boys.

You've made history, you've made us proud, you did it.