Brighton and Hove Albion will play in the English Premier League next season after Monday’s results in the second division Championship assured them of one of the two automatic promotion places.
The Seagulls have not played in the top flight since 1983 but will be locking horns with the elite teams once again next season.
Championship leaders Brighton beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 and their promotion was confirmed when Huddersfield could only manage a 1-1 draw at Derby in the day’s late kick-off.
Fellow competitors Newcastle lost away to Ipswich town to slip further away from winning the Championship but may qualify in second place depending on how the other results go.
The long wait is made sweeter after three failed attempts to claw their way back into the Premier League.
Brighton have reached the playoffs in three of the last four seasons as Seagull supporters have suffered heartbreak after heartbreak in recent years.