IT would not be an Albion season without a little bit of heartache and this year it came in almost the last minute of the last game.

But for the 6,500 Seagulls supporters watching the game at the Amex yesterday, the disappointment of missing out on the title will soon fade, whereas the memories of a historic promotion will linger long in the memory.

An initial hush after Aston Villa’s late equaliser was soon replaced by joyous singing as fans held another party to mark the club’s return to the top flight after 34 years away.

Ian Gardner, 55 from Brighton, said: “I really thought we were going to do it but at the end of the day we are in the Premier League.

“It is a shame but what the players have done this season, they have made us all very proud.

“It would have been nice to have that Championship but we have got to be happy we are promoted. In the concourse everybody was happy, everybody was singing.”

Claire Byrd, from Saltdean, said: “To lose it like that in the last few minutes was pretty heartbreaking. But thinking back to a year ago and everyone was crying because we weren’t getting promoted.”

Adrian Newnham, 48 from Saltdean, said: “Putting it into perspective, everybody was expecting Newcastle to take the title.

“Getting promoted is success, the goal at the start of the season was to get promoted.

“The three games since promotion have been disappointing but you couldn’t say today we didn’t make a go of it. We have gained promotion without selling our soul, we have got a lifelong fan running the club, not an American owner or a Chinese owner or a Thai betting company, and we have a stadium sponsored by a local employer.

“We have done it with the style associated with Brighton and Hove.”

His ten-year-old son Teddy, who went to his first Albion game aged just six weeks old, said: “I am really proud that we got promoted but I am a little disappointed we didn’t get the title.

“I thought we played really well and there wasn’t much Stockdale could do, he has been good all season.”

Fans are also not concerned that the promotion hangover of three game without a win will spill over into next season.

Mr Gardner said: “I don’t think it will matter for next season, not at all. I just think the players were on such a high after getting promoted.

“I will be there next season and there will be some big clubs coming to the Amex, it will be brilliant.”

And fans are looking forward to another big party next Sunday when thousands of supporters are expected to turn out to cheer the club’s promotion heroes as they parade along the city seafront.

Mr Gardner said: “It will be absolutely brilliant, such a great day. It means so much for the club after getting so close over the last four or five years.

“Promotion is going to be great for Brighton, not just for the club but for the whole city.”

Ms Byrd said: “It will be a hugely emotional experience, especially for those of us who have fought to expose what was going on at the Goldstone and to bring the club back to the city.

“It is more than just football, it was for the whole community and we will reap the benefits going forward.”