INCE, Pead, Fox, Gerrard, Westwood, Roper, Wrack, Dobson, Butler, Sam, Bedeau, Keates, M. Wright, Taylor, Kinsella, Cederqvist, Picken, Fangueiro, T. Wright, Constable, Harper, Cooper, Demontagnac, Gilmartin, Nicholls, Deeney, Dann, McDermott, McKeown, Bradley, Smith, Lyall, Benjamin and Bossu have joined a very exclusive club after The Saddlers clinched only our second-ever Championship courtesy of a 1-1 draw at sunny Swindon.

They join Christie, Haddington, Guttridge, Billingham, McPherson, Rawlings, Davies, Faulkner, Richards, Hodgkisson, Taylor, Jones, Rowe, Sharples, Walker, Askey, Dudley, Ball, Hill and Foster who secured the Division Four Championship way back in 1959/60.

It's been 47 years in coming but Richard Money's men certainly deserve the honour after a consistent season which has seen us lose just seven of our 46 League games and sit in the top two since September.

It was the home side who looked to make a positive start as they had their own promotion agenda on their minds and on five minutes Jack Smith's effort was deflected for a corner which was met by a towering header from Jerel Ifil, however Clayton Ince made the save look easy.

The Saddlers had their first chance on nine minutes when former Saddlers' loanee, Jamie Vincent fouled Trevor Benjamin out wide and this allowed Dean Keates to curl in a free-kick invitingly into the danger zone which Phil Smith in the home goal touched out for a corner.

The resulting flag-kick came to nothing as the next chance fell to The Robins after Chris Westwood was penalised for handball near the touchline. Sofiene Zaaboub put in a dangerous free-kick that was headed out for a corner by Anthony Gerrard.

As the ball was half-cleared to Zaaboub, he tried his luck with a low drive that Ince did well to hold on to as Lee Peacock looked to pick up any scraps in front of goal.

Just before the half-hour, Daniel Fox knocked a dangerous ball back into the mix from a corner as The Saddlers managed to force a corner which was halted when the referee spotted a foul in the goalmouth.

A mix-up between Ifil and hhis 'keeper shortly afterwards almost presented Benjamin with a chance, however he failed to break free from the attentions of the centre-half as Smith recovered to grab onto the ball.

There was a half-chance for Kevin Harper as he tried his luck with a powerful low volley which curled off target before Harper's marauding run into the area ended with him crossing low only for Vincent to be alert to the danger and clear his lines.

It was a purposeful end to the half for Walsall who were getting plenty of vocal backing from the 3,400-strong travelling contingent, many of whom were in fancy dress or armed with inflatables.

The last chance of the half fell to the home side when Christian Roberts' corner was met by the head of Andy Nicholas at the far post but he was off target.

Swindon came out of the blocks quickest in the second period and the lively Roberts found space on the right only for his cross to be cleared by Craig Pead. The resulting corner caused problems as Ince touched the ball onto the post and a combination of Gerrard and Pead completed the clearance.

The opening goal finally arrived for The Robins when Zaaboub delivered another inviting corner kick and Ifil was not picked up as he met the ball with a powerful header that flew past Ince.

As the home side looked to turn the screw and add to their lead, Richard Money was sent from the dug-out on 58 minutes after The Saddlers were denied a free-kick following a clear foul on Demontagnac on the touchline. The referee appeared to reverse his decision in favour of Walsall to instead award a throw-in to Swindon.

Shortly afterwards Keates saw yellow as tempers started to fray in the Swindon sunshine.

After Peacock had planted a firm header over from another good Zaaboub cross, The Saddlers made a change with Hector Sam replacing Demontagnac.

There was a deserved booking for Gerrard as he clattered into Roberts who looked to catch The Saddlers on the break as we searched for an equaliser.

With 20 minutes to go, Blair Sturrock caused problems for Fox before hitting a low shot that Ince was equal to.

There was another change as Darren Wrack replaced Benjamin whilst Michael Dobson fired a rare second half effort over the crossbar following a Fox throw-in on the left.

As the clock continued to tick down, Martin Butler was denied from close range after Harper had threaded him through. However, Smith made a smart stop as he pushed the ball away to safety.

With news starting to filter through that Hartlepool had gone 2-1 down at home to Bristol Rovers, there was more reason for celebration as Player of the Year Dean Keates unleashed a sweet strike from the edge of the area that simply flew beyond Smith to send the Walsall contingent wild with delight.

It was a fitting end to the campaign as local lad Keates, who is leading goalscorer, led the Championship party.

Richard Money and his team of heroes will now receive the League Two Trophy at a special Civic Reception on Tuesday evening that will start with an open top bus journey from Bescot Stadium to the Town Hall. It all starts at 6.30pm, more details to appear here on www.saddlers.co.uk.....