SEAGULLS fans woke early yesterday morning with butterflies in the pit of their stomachs.

At first it was overcast but there was excitement and anticipation in the air.

Within hours they would find out if their 30-year wait to claw their way back to the top flight was over.

Albion flags lined the streets in Brighton and Hove and fluttered in the breeze. Good luck banners adorned buildings. The steady buzz of online chatter which had grown over the weekend was continuing.

Mid-morning the sun began to shine. Small clusters of blue and white striped shirts started to emerge around town and the pilgrimage to the Amex stadium began.

Crowds slowly swelled and lines of people snaked their way quietly, but confidently, through the gates and on to the concourse. The hum from fans dissecting the order of the day and weighing up the team selection which they hoped with all their heart would take them to victory grew louder.

From 2.30pm a nervous hush fell over the ground as everyone started to take their places, fans in their seats, staff on the sidelines.

Inside the dressing room the squad were carrying their last-

minute preparations before stepping on to the pitch.

Minutes before the 3pm kick-off the stadium erupted in song, huge cheers and of course a rendition of Good Old Sussex by the Sea as the players emerged from the tunnel. The stadium was sold out for the game, with the biggest home crowd to date of more than 29,600 people.

Spirits were high for the entire game. Each move on the pitch was matched with cheers, applause, and chants of encouragement. A banner was flown high in memory of well-known fans who had died.

It felt like a long 37 minutes – with plenty of Seagulls players taking charge of the ball and some agonising near misses. Each felt like a bitter blow to the fans but they responded quickly with more encouragement for the team to keep going. Suddenly, almost out of nowhere the first goal came.

A boom of shouts and cheering echoed around the ground. They did not have to wait long for a second goal and by then the crowds were confident – they had a taste of what was to come and they were ready to bask in glory.

The stadium fell silent when Wigan scored. Everyone swiftly turned their attention to the next chance of an Albion goal. Plenty followed but the fans were teased with many a strong attempt but none quite making it all the way.

But it mattered little because before anyone could tell where the time went, the final whistle was blown.

Pleas from stadium officials fell on deaf ears and fans stampeded their way on to the pitch, tears of joy in their eyes. They clung to their heroes and embraced their friends. And so began the celebrations that lasted long into the night.

Then the bars opened and the party really began, to adoring chants of “There’s only one Tony Bloom”. Many reserved their full elation for the end of the Huddersfield game when a capital P was placed next to Albion’s name on the league table.

Fans rushed back on to the pitch where they remained well into the night.

Player Lewis Dunk raced across the pitch, with fans in hot pursuit and the rest of the squad joined them to shower the pitch in champagne.

Matt Griggs, 41, brought his 11-year-old twins, Jude and Ellis, to the game from Worthing. He said: “It is an amazing feeling. It means everything to Sussex.”

Jude said he felt “elation” and was looking forward to seeing all the big clubs grace the Amex. Ellis said he felt goose bumps on his arms at the final whistle.

Olly Wood, 33, of Shoreham, said he woke at 6am and felt like it was Christmas.

He said: “This is everything we have always wanted. Tony Bloom is just amazing, he is a fan too. This is a real family club.”

Keith Lindseott, 51, of Patcham, said he couldn’t sleep he felt so nervous but added: “We knew it was coming for the last couple of days. We were ready to go up.”

Beryl Reeves, 74, of Hove, and Dot Allwright, 77, of Lancing, were dressed from head to toe in blue and white.

Mrs Reeves said: “We feel on top of the world, it’s fantastic.

“My grandson was desperate for me to be around still when they went up.

“I have been a fan for 60 years and even saw them in Newcastle when they got promoted to the old first division.”

Robbie Yates, 10, of Hadlow Down near Uckfield, who has held a season ticket for four years and has never missed a home game, said: “I loved the pitch invasion. My favourite player is Knockaert. It’s really exciting.”

He enjoyed the game with his parents Stephen and Ainsley and his uncle Allan Steel, of Eastbourne, and Millie Hutley, ten.

Pam and Dave Buckwell, of Mile Oak, have been fans since the Goldstone ground days.

Mrs Buckwell, 69, was so dedicated she used to catch the bus to Gillingham when the team had to play there.

She said: “It is wonderful news. We were quietly confidence. We have been through it all with them – Goldstone, Withdean and now here. They did so well to come back from last year.”

Mr Buckwell, 68, said: “The team have done so brilliantly. We were so sure they would do it. “Hughton is a great manager and we’ve got some good goal scorers this year.”

Now they wait for the icing on the cake – to win the Championship.