Martin proud after play-off triumph

26 May 2015 09:47

Norwich captain Russell Martin said winning promotion to the Barclays Premier League through the play-offs was the "proudest moment" of his career after his side defeated Middlesbrough at Wembley on Monday.

Goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond put the Canaries 2-0 up inside 15 minutes as Norwich returned to the top flight a year after relegation.

Martin told Norwich TV: "It feels amazing to have it (the trophy). The way we've done it is the ultimate and this tops everything for me at this football club since I've been here.

"To lead a team out at Wembley and then to lead them up the steps to pick up the trophy, it's the proudest moment of my career and I don't think that will be topped.

"It's special to go up the steps at Wembley, it's the stuff you dream of and fortunately I've been able to do that as captain.

"You dream about stuff like that as a kid and just talking about it makes you feel a bit emotional seeing the yellow and green out there as you go up the steps - but to lift the trophy at Wembley, that was a cup final out there.

"It's an emotional day. I think after last year it is a bit of redemption. We've had our naysayers and our doom mongers this year but we've got through all that as a team, a squad - the staff as well.

"I think the football club this year has been more together than ever to prove people wrong and get back to where we belong and thankfully we've done that today."

Norwich boss Alex Neil, in charge of Scottish side Hamilton Academical before his appointment in January, told Sky Sports: "I believed we would do it, but it's one thing believing it and another thing doing it.

"Big players arrive on the big stage and you saw that in the first 20 minutes - we were unbelievable. We worked so hard to get here. The worst thing you can do is walk off having been scared."

While Canaries winger Redmond, who scored the second goal, was delighted with the team ethic within the side, he knows there is a lot of work to do over the summer.

The 21-year-old told BBC Radio 5 live: "It was about a team (effort). The boys did it. The passage of play before my goal was a team effort.

"I'm extremely proud of the boys. We'll have a good summer and we'll get back to work."

He also tweeted: "Still hasn't sunk in what we achieved yesterday afternoon. Time for a little break before meeting up."

Team-mate and fellow scorer Jerome wrote on his Twitter account: "Amazing day all round such a special moment to win promotion at wembley #ncfc #premierleague proud day for everyone associated with the club."

Source: PA