Painter proud after `special` night

13 April 2011 16:30
Brighton defender Marcos Painter insists that clinching promotion in front of the home fans at the Withdean Stadium made the occasion all the more special. The 4-3 win over Dagenham secured promotion to the Championship with five games still to play and a win at Walsall on Saturday will clinch the title for the Seagulls. Painter told the club's official website: "It was so special. I have never clinched promotion at my home ground and on Tuesday night we did that. It was amazing. "We were getting congratulated everywhere we walked and it was an unforgettable feeling to achieve what we have at Withdean, with it being our last season here. "The club has waited a long time to get back into the Championship. It's been well documented that they've had to put up with some tough years at Withdean but we have all worked so hard this season for promotion to reward the fans. "When you are looking at the game knowing you need the three points, those games never seem to go to plan. That's just the way football is, so we were just relieved to win in the end. It was great doing to the lap of honour to see all the smiling faces because we owe them so much too."

Source: PA