Martin overwhelmed after winning promotion
An emotional Russell Martin was filled with pride after watching his team win promotion to the Premier League in the Championship play-off final.
Saints made an instant return to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Wembley, as Adam Armstrong's 24th-minute goal proved the difference, as Martin ended his first year in charge with a moment to treasure forever.
"I feel immense pride and gratitude for the players, the staff, the supporters, the coaching staff," he said. "I feel really overwhelmed by it all, really.
"I feel emotional, I feel so happy that everyone had this day and hopefully it will be a day to remember forever. I'll remember it forever. It's one of the best moments of my life and career to do that today and have so many people who I love, and have love for me hopefully, in the crowd – amazing."
Martin added: "It's an amazing club, amazing people. The owners have given me an opportunity, Jason [Wilcox], Phil [Parsons], have given me an opportunity to manage this amazing club.
"To come in and lead the team today on such a big occasion, I just felt grateful all week, really. I loved the feeling of the players and staff this week and how they've embraced it, and the fans last Friday against West Brom was one of the best things I've ever seen for sure in the game, so I'm incredibly grateful to them."
Speaking about the performance, the Saints boss said: "There were some brilliant moments, and there were also some times where we had to suffer together and they did, and they defended so brilliantly. Arma running back in the 98th minute, sprinting to double up with Kyle Walker-Peters sums up the team and how together they are.
"Watching them grow and as a family really, and come together as a group, honestly it's been obviously a huge privilege and a pleasure. I hope we can continue to grow and keep as many of them together as we possibly can."
It was also fitting that Saints sealed promotion with a goal of real quality.
Martin said: "Yeah, it was. And it was something we've worked on and spoke about, and for them to carry out in the way they did was amazing. I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have or could have because I was waiting for VAR and seeing what would happen with that. It was the first time we've had that. But I'm really delighted with the standard of that goal and the quality of it."
