West Brom's Premier League men mark 11 years

The Baggies' official Supporters Club paid tribute to that famous first promotion to the reconstituted top flight.

It saw a club still fighting its way back from deep decline transported into a new world of lavish riches.

West Brom took full advantage of that momentous season, eventually emerging from the yo-yo years with a club rebuilt on and off the pitch and now able comfortably to hold its own in the top half of the Premier League.

While the football world is ready to put The Hawthorns at the centre of attention a week on Sunday when Sir Alex Ferguson's final match unfolds, last night was all about much more humble occasions.

But they were games pivotal in the club's modern-day story. And a sell-out audience lapped up the memories of the cast of 2002 led by captain Derek McInnes.

He had flown down from Scotland to join Andy Johnson, Darren Moore, Russell Hoult, Bob Taylor, Michael Appleton, Phil Gilchrist and the Chambers twins Adam and James.

The Battle of Bramall Lane, SuperBob's late winner at Nottingham Forest, the exultant celebration which came with victory over Crystal Palace.

This historic chapter in the club's story came, of course, alongside a narrative of despair for Wolves, who saw an 11-point lead devoured by West Brom's relentless march.

But West Brom have their own discomforts attached to the events.

Manager Gary Megson, who sent his apologies and a brief letter of appreciation, fell into dispute with the then chairman Paul Thompson – who did make a warmly-greeted return.

Thompson was subsequently ousted in a power struggle with young stockbroker and Megson acolyte Jeremy Peace – only for the manager to run into an even more bitter dispute with the man who had backed him.

The uncomfortable distance between these three key power-makers was echoed perhaps still further by the absence of any of the current squad from the celebration.

But that did not stop the players relishing the memories or Thompson generously acknowledging West Brom's progress since his exit.

He said: "I think we still are the only club that has got promoted to the Premier League and made a profit.

"We didn't want to – we wanted to sign two more players, but couldn't get them at the time.

"But running the club well was important and, to be fair, it has continued to operate in that fashion to great success and I am delighted to see it."

Supporters club chairman John Homer sprung a surprise by introducing referee Eddie Wolstenholme.

That's the official whose job it was to try to control the chaos of that infamous match at Sheffield United, abandoned when Neil Warnock's team were reduced to six players on the pitch.

Wolstenholme said: "Actually, it was one of the easiest games to referee – because the decisions were all so easy.

"Near the end of the season, I refereed a televised game between Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth and for the one and only time in my career got a standing ovation!

"I have got this club to thank for that."

Andy Johnson, felled by the horrendous avenging tackle from George Santos which kick-started the carnage, recalled the team's end-of-season trip to Marbella.

Johnson laughed: "Who should be there - but Sheffield United. Word soon reached me that George was looking for me so there was only one thing to do.

"I told Darren Moore I would be staying next to him for the remainder of the trip."

Defender Phil Gilchrist remembered the moment he felt West Brom were galvanised to chase down Wolves "when we heard them talking about Sir Jack Hayward taking them overseas for their promotion party."

And McInnes spoke of an inspired calm in the West Brom dressing room. He said: "We knew we would win the game. The momentum was too strong not to."

The impact of it all was best summed up by Homer, who said: "It was the season that changed the fortunes of West Bromwich Albion forever.

"It is a pity none of the current players are here, because the fantastic facilities and profile the club now enjoys would not be there were it not for the efforts of these gentlemen."

By Martin Swain