It was a scene that will live long in the memory. As the full-time whistle blew at Wembley Stadium to signal the end of 23 long years of waiting, around 37,000 Nottingham Forest fans leapt into the air to celebrate with joy, passion and perhaps even an element of relief.
It was far from a classic at the National Stadium. In a game with limited goalscoring opportunities, it was a few moments of fortune which resulted in Forest lifting the Championship play-off final trophy after a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town.
First, Jack Colback's timely duck forced Huddersfield's Levi Colwill to act hastily and inadvertently clip James Garner's cross past his own goalkeeper Lee Nicholls as Forest took the lead before half-time.
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Forest fans have been left disappointed by penalty decisions which have gone amiss this season, most notably one in a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth just a few weeks ago. But they will feel the footballing Gods looked down on them with some favour when Premier League referee Jon Moss - making his final refereeing appearance before retiring - chose not to award the Yorkshire side two penalties.
Colback was caught by the Sky Sports cameras crossing his chest after he collided with Harry Toffolo on the edge of the penalty area. Toffolo was initially booked by Moss for simulation. VAR checked it. They felt there was no need to overturn the decision. Moments later Moss was called upon again when substitute Max Lowe appeared to bundle into a Huddersfield man. This time there was no decision from the match officials and VAR had no intervention too.
It was a nervy final 10 minutes - along with six incredibly painful minutes of stoppage time - but Cooper's side held on and it was scenes of ecstasy in the stands at full-time.
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These are the moments you might have missed as Forest won promotion back into the Premier League...
OJEDA LIFTING THE TROPHY
It has been a far from successful time for Braian Ojeda at Nottingham Forest so far. The Paraguayan, signed back in August 2021, has made only three appearances for the Reds totaling 237 minutes.
In fact his last appearance for Forest was in December 2021 in a 1-0 home defeat to Huddersfield Town.
There was a fairly special moment kept for him at Wembley though when, stood next to Cooper, he appeared fairly sheepishly and as though he was suffering from a form of imposter syndrome.
The Forest boss, however, made sure he had his moment of glory by ensuring he got the chance to lift the trophy to a chorus of cheers from the Reds fans.
SPENCE FALLS TO HIS KNEES IN TEAR-JERKING REACTION
Whilst Forest fans were busy jumping up and down in chaotic celebration, on-loan star Djed Spence fell to his knees in complete disbelief as to what he has been a part of.
Spence, 21, has a year left on his Middlesbrough deal but has become a firm fan favourite at the City Ground thanks to his brilliant pace and link-up play with fellow starlet Brennan Johnson.
The duo have formed an incredible partnership but whilst Johnson - who grew up in the shadow of the City Ground and has been a part of a club since he was a child - was busy celebrating with the Forest fans, Spence just collapsed in a heap with a Forest scarf round his head as he could not help but weep tears of celebration and disbelief.
He admits that he loves playing for Forest. He's told NottinghamshireLive that he hopes to be on Trentside again next season, if that is to happen then it would be some coup for Cooper given interest from Tottenham and Arsenal among plenty more of Forest's now Premier League rivals.
RYAN YATES' CELEBRATION
"If Yatesy scores, we're in the Trent". It's been a chant sung by Forest fans with little explanation but plenty of enjoyment.
Yates has been with the club since he was eight years old and is one of the current crop of players who has grown up at the City Ground.
The popular midfielder has contributed nine goals to his game this season and came ever so close to rounding it to ten when he flicked a Garner freekick narrowly past the post during the first-half.
That chance was preceded by a chrous of Yates' infamous chants and whilst he was unable to convert on the pitch, he took a brief moment to celebrate Forest's promotion by throwing himself to the ground to mime swimming actions in-front of the 37,000 Reds at Wembley.
COOPER'S EMOTION
Steve Cooper is normally a fairly grounded man. In his pre and post-match press conferences he only ever tends to look at the immediate next game and no further.
One heartfelt moment was when a young boy - understood to be of family relation - ran from the touchline and leaped up into the arms of Cooper. It was probably a feeling that many Forest fans were sharing too.
After the game, however, he looked unable to hold back his emotions as he began to contemplate the achievement that he has led with Forest.
In his post-match press conference - drenched in what would almost certainly be a mixture of water, beer and champagne - Cooper said: "It's been a brilliant season in terms of the attitude and culture, it's such a good laugh at the training ground and there is such a pride and togetherness there. It's been brilliant to be a part of it from day one.
"I'm just really proud to be at Nottingham Forest. It's such a brilliant, nostalgic, massive club in the country that everyone knows and I'm just pleased that I've been part of the journey that has got us back into the Premier League. That sounds great!"
MUSICAL WONDERS
As the celebrations unfolded across the West End of Wembley, there will have been one person in the events department of the EFL/FA/Wembley who must have been sat fairly pleased when they saw how their musical playlist was being received.
It seemed as though almost every song could have a hidden meaning associated to Forest. First came 'Freed from Desire' as the party atmosphere started and volume noises were cranked up further.
Then, after a rendition of the recently adopted Forest anthem 'Just Can't Get Enough' by Depeche Mode', came Sigma's 'Changing'.
The line "I've been here for too long. Everything is changing" will have some emotive meaning to Forest fans. After a long, often painful, 23 years, everything is changing once again. Forest are back in the Premier League.
