Nathan Blake recalls Wolves glory 12 years on

The 43-year-old former striker scored one goal and had a hand in the other two as Wolves beat Sheffield United 3-0 in the play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, to end the club's 19-year wait for top-flight football.

And Blake, who is now a non-executive director at Newport County, said: "I won five promotions in my career but this was the best.

"It was the only one that I won in a one-off game, so it was the greatest day of my career.

"I had a hand in all three goals and I won in my home town against one of my former clubs as well in front of a load of family and friends, so I was quite emotional."

Former Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Wales forward Blake still beams with pride at helping Wolves reach the Premier League for the first time.

He said: "Myself and about 10 mates get together every Sunday and have a kickabout with our kids who range in age from 12 or 13 up to about 25. "We were all sitting around afterwards and one of my mates, whose kid is a bit in awe of me said 'look at the TV, that's Nathan Blake.'

"He was overwhelmed. It's things like that which mean so much, not the win bonus."

Blake recalls the bus ride to the ground and knowing Wolves were going to win – because of the overwhelming support.

He said: "Even now the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end thinking about it. We turned a corner into St Mary's Street and there was just a sea of gold and black for as far as you could see."

Goalkeeper Matt Murray, who brilliantly saved a penalty just after half-time with Wolves 3-0 ahead, also recalled the scenes afterwards.

Murray said: "Us younger lads such as myself, Nayls (Lee Naylor) and Kenny Miller were all dancing and I remember seeing Paul Ince as the most chilled man in the world.

"He was just sitting in the bath, smoking a fag and drinking a can."