Former Tranmere Rovers’ forward Iain Hume hailed the achievement of his old Club after Micky Mellon’s men earned a back-to-back promotion up to Sky Bet League One following their Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final success at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Connor Jennings’ 119th minute header deep into extra-time sealed a third-tier return for Rovers, as they defeated 10-man Newport County under the arch to take their place amongst the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland in Sky Bet League One next term.
After a goalless 90 minutes, in which TRFC’s Welsh opponents had their captain Mark O’Brien sent off by referee Ross Joyce for bringing down James Norwood in the closing stages, Rovers took full advantage.
With the contest heading for penalties, Jennings was there unmarked to nod Jake Caprice’s cross from the right beyond goalkeeper Joe Day in front of the SWA to spark delirious celebrations from the Wirral side’s supporters.
And Hume, 35, who made 162 league appearances over two spells at Prenton Park, was delighted to see Rovers earn promotion at the home of English football for a second year in a row.
He said: “It’s amazing. Last year getting out of the Conference was massive, that was the main aim to get back in the league and to do two in a row is just phenomenal and it is a testament to everything that Mark and Nicola have done and what Micky has done, it’s just on the rise and it’s going to get higher.
“It wasn’t the greatest game to be fair but Micky and Jacko and everyone will tell you it doesn’t matter. You go to Wembley and just want the result and they got it.
“It’s going to be hard, Micky has played up there, Jacko has played up there in League One, it’s not easy, League Two isn’t easy and I think that next season is going to be tough as well but we are there and it’s about enjoying the celebrations with the fans and then getting ready for League One, which is a massive challenge.”
Hume was a part of the SWA who made the journey down to the capital to see Tranmere secure promotion and he paid tribute to the fans on how they backed Micky and the lads from start to finish.
He said: “It was brilliant, the fans come out as always. They did it in the Worthington Cup Final in 2000, they did it last year at Wembley and all of this season in the league and I expected nothing but the same from them yesterday and they were in great voice.
“Everyone who travelled down there and paid their good money to go and watch got their reward.”