On this day: One that lives in the memory for Walsall fans

In front of 50,496 supporters at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Ray Graydon's side beat Reading 3-2 in the play-off final, to reach the old Division One – now the Championship.

Striker Darren Byfield, who spent four years with the Saddlers over two spells from 2000-2002 and 2009-2011, scored the winning goal on that day.

After leaving Aston Villa, the young forward joined Graydon's side in the summer of 2000 in his first permanent move away.

Walsall had just been relegated from Division One after automatic promotion from Division Two in 1998/99.

Byfield had to fight for a place in the squad with Jorge Leitao and Brett Angell already in the first team. This job was made even harder when Don Goodman joined in March 2001.

In the end, Byfield netting 11 goals in all competitions in what was a 'big learning curve'.

"It was my first season coming out of Aston Villa and it was time for first team football playing regularly," he said.

"I came in and thought, I'd come from a Premier League football club and I'll walk into the team, but it's not the case.

"It was a shock to the system really, I wasn't used to the rough and tumble of the big centre halves, it was a big learning curve for me that year.

"It was one I enjoyed and I was able to adapt quickly.

"I found myself on the bench throughout the season but for me personally it was a big season."

After a successful season under Graydon, Walsall finished fourth and played fifth-placed Stoke in the play-off semi-finals.

A 0-0 draw away was followed by a 4-2 win at the Bescot Stadium, setting up a final against Reading who had overcome Wigan.

Fitzroy Simpson picked up an injury in the first leg against Stoke, meaning Dean Keates came into the starting XI and Byfield took the space on the bench in the second leg and going into the final, the striker still had to wait and see if he would make the squad.

"I didn't know if I was going to be involved. If Fitz had passed his fitness test then Keates would have been on the bench and I don't think I would have made it," Byfield added.

"I found out either the day before or on the same morning, I can't quite remember.

"I remember Fitz telling me he didn't pass his fitness test and once I found out I text my family to say I'm involved.

"I believed, even before I knew I was on the bench, that I would score the winner. To this day I remember having that belief.

"A few of the other lads said it to me as well.

"I wasn't nervous, those that were nervous were the ones starting the game.

"On the bench I was just desperate to get on the pitch and that was it, no nerves."

Going into half-time in Cardiff, Walsall were losing 1-0 due to a Jamie Cureton strike before Goodman equalised within three minutes of the second half.

The next goal did not come until extra-time when former Walsall striker Martin Butler put Reading ahead in the 91st minute.

In the 98th minute, Graydon made all three of his substitutions, including Byfield who replaced Leitao.

"I was so eager to come on, I knew I could make a difference to the game," he said.

"I remember earlier in that season beating Reading 2-1 at home and I scored.

"Playing against Viveash and I was goading him throughout the game, I was really in his ear.

"After that, I knew if I got on in the final that he'd be a little bit scared because I ran him ragged for 90 minutes in the league.

"As good as a defender he was, he wasn't blessed with pace and that's why I scared him.

"I couldn't wait to play against him to be honest."

A second equaliser finally came for the Saddlers in the 107th minute when Keates' effort took a deflection off Tony Rougier – going down as an own goal.

Within two minutes of that goal, Walsall then took the lead with a long-range effort from Byfield.

"Once Gads (Matt Gadsby) picked that ball up the natural run for a striker is to go down the sides," Byfield added.

"I made the run and then came back and thankfully Gads saw it, so he played it and I now had a yard.

"It was just instinct from there. It wasn't a piledriver of a shot but it was wet and skidded off the surface and went in.

"If it was a yard to the other side the goalkeeper probably controls it with his foot, but it was right in the corner and skidded in.

"It was a hard feeling to describe. At that moment you believe you've scored the winner, regardless of how much time of extra-time is left.

"It took an eternity to go in and I just ran, I looked up and saw red and starting running. My family was there and the celebrations were amazing.

"We then had to hold on from there and we did."

At the final whistle, after 120 minutes, Byfield's goal was enough to secure promotion back to Division One.

The forward was swamped by his team-mates as thousands of Walsall fans were delirious with joy.

It was the perfect end to Byfield's first season at the club and 19 years on from that day, the former player still regards it as his 'greatest ever day in football'.

"The celebrations after make it all worth it," he said.

"You train and work hard every day through the season for days like that.

"Players sacrifice socialising with mates and family, living in hotels at Christmas and New Years.

"When you get to a play-off final in front of 50,000 fans in a beautiful stadium, it made everything worth it.

"It's something you grow up dreaming of.

"Ask any manager or player how they would like to get promoted, a play-off final would win, it's such a great day in front of thousands of fans.

"I went to another two play-offs, one final and one semi and I lost both.

"With Sunderland we lost to Palace in the semis and I missed it through injury and then I got beaten for Bristol City against Hull when Dean Windass scored that cracking goal to get them to the Premier League.

"Looking back, the win with Walsall was my greatest ever day in football."