Ray Graydon celebrates 15 years since Walsall's historic play-off win

Today marks the 15th anniversary Ray Graydon's Saddlers defied the odds to beat Reading in the play-offs and clinch an instant return to Division One.

Graydon, or Sir Ray as he was affectionately known by supporters, was already a Walsall hero after guiding the club to promotion in 1999.

That year, despite being favourites for relegation, the Saddlers finished above the likes of big spending Preston, Wigan and Manchester City to go up alongside Kevin Keegan's Fulham.

But they narrowly fell through the trap door of English football's second tier the following season as they finished third bottom - three points behind West Brom.

Undeterred, Graydon made sure his team responded in the best possible manner with the Saddlers reaching the 2001 play-off final where they met Alan Pardew's Royals.

What followed, at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium, was one of most dramatic games in the history of either club.

In 90 minutes, Don Goodman had cancelled out Jamie Cureton's opener to send the tie to extra time.

But all looked lost for the Saddlers when former player Martin Butler put Reading back into the lead.

Hope was restored when a bizarre own-goal by substitute Tony Rougier brought Walsall back into the game before Darren Byfield grabbed the winner to send the travelling Saddlers wild.

And Graydon says that moment - together with when he scored the winning goal for Villa in the 1975 League Cup final - was the pinnacle of his career.

"That is the moment that sits right at the top when I look back on my managerial career," he said.

"The victory was so special because I could remember the game at Ipswich when we went down the year before so clearly.

"I remember walking over to face the Walsall supporters with the team and we were given the most fantastic reception.

"Tears were rolling down my eyes. We had been relegated after we fought so hard to get up.

"I said to myself at that moment - I made a promise - I was going to give those fans everything I could to give them some excitement back.

"And when I look back, the way we did win promotion, it couldn't have been more exciting."

Graydon admits he will never forget the drama of the day.

"Not only was it a fantastic thing for myself - it was also fantastic for my family," he said.

"Being there you could just feel it was one of the biggest days in Walsall's history.

"We had gone up but we had done it in such an enjoyable way.

"We were losing in extra time and to pull it back and win it against a very good Reading side was no mean feat.

"And to see the Walsall fans celebrating like they were. It was fantastic.

"We had a really steep hill to climb but we did it."

Despite having won promotion, Graydon chose not to celebrate immediately and instead embraced Pardew and shook the hand of each Reading player, including former Walsall captain, Adrian Viveash.

"When the whistle blew I felt fantastic and was overcome with emotion," Graydon added.

"But I was very aware that 10 minutes earlier it looked like I would be the one walking down the tunnel defeated.

"Tony Rougier had been taken off with concussion so the first thing I did was check to see if he was okay.

"Then I put my arm around Pardew because I felt for him.

"I thanked him, told him his team played very well and that on the day their can only be one winner.

"I told him he was a good manager at a very big club and he could be very proud.

"Then I went off to see our fans. Little old Walsall had done a trick on them - but that is exactly what we set out to do."