Rubin Colwill spoke to the assembled press following City’s 3-1 victory over Reading, a result that sealed the Bluebirds’ return to the Sky Bet Championship.
“I don't really have words, to be honest!” Rubin began. “It’s such a special moment for everyone involved. I’m really proud and I’m really happy.
“We knew how they were going to play; they were probably going to try and make the game difficult for us. But we were direct - we got at them really quick. I think we deserved the goal, and we did well in the end to get three points.
“There was going to be a lot of work to do; they’re a good side, a lot of talent, a lot of ability. We knew they’d come back at us hard. For them, to go 2-0 down, it sometimes frees them up to be a bit more attacking. It was a difficult game, but we deserved the win in the end.”
Reflecting on City’s promotion to the second tier, Rubin explained just how positive the season has been for both his own development and the Club as a whole.
“It probably would have been difficult to go any better. I think from where we were at the start of the year, there was probably a lot of noise about how young the squad is, how last season went. But we still had a lot of confidence in ourselves and our ability.
“It’s been a great reset for us. We've got loads of energy, loads of life in us, and I can’t wait for next year. We’ve put a lot of work in and worked really hard over the course of the season. It’s exciting times for us.
“We’ve got such a close group of players, loads of us in the Academy have grown up together and this has been our dream since we were kids, so for us it’s unbelievable. All the boys that have come in have been great.”
Brian Barry-Murphy and his staff have guided the Bluebirds to their first promotion since 2018, with Rubin quick to highlight the role of the coaching team within the Club’s success.
He said: “The staff have been unbelievable, brilliant with us. It’s a credit to ourselves and credit to them that we were able to do what we’ve done this year with such a young, inexperienced squad. It’s only been possible because everyone’s worked so hard and bought into everything.
“The way Brian is as a person is probably the biggest thing for me. He’s honest, he does what he says, he wants the best for all of us, I think that’s the most important thing.
“Obviously tactically, and the things he does in training, is unbelievable, but I think the thing that stands out with him is the person he is.”