Argus sports reporter ANDREW PENMAN was on the bus as Newport County AFC celebrated promotion to the Football League tonight

It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to join the Newport County AFC squad on their remarkable journey this season.

From Mansfield to Wembley via Braintree and Boston, Southport and Stockport and all the other Conference outposts it’s been a year to remember for everyone connected with the club.

Captain David Pipe and his teammates have spent a long time on the road but this trip, crawling through Newport city centre in an open-top bus, is the one they’ll never forget.

The celebrations have not stopped since Sunday’s thrilling victory over Wrex-ham sealed promotion to League Two and last night the city staged the mother of all parties.

Director of football Tim Harris almost missed the bus as he was stuck in the city centre traffic as the Amber Army turned out in their thousands to cheer their heroes on to a special civic reception arranged by Newport City Council at the Civic Centre.

This was a day, a week, a season that the people of Newport have waited 25 years for.

On a day when the nation paid tribute to perhaps the greatest football manager of them all, County boss Justin Edinburgh received plenty of plaudits from his adoring public.

“It’s a fantastic turnout and it just shows you what it means to everyone in the city,” said the delighted Exiles boss.

“It helps the players realise what we’ve achieved this season.

“We’ve created memories that will last a lifetime and that means more than anything.”

And chairman Les Scadding, not a man used to travelling on buses since he won the Euromillions jackpot, certainly enjoyed this particular trip.

“Days like today are what it is all about,” said Scadding.

“It’s been a fantastic effort from everyone throughout the year and you only have to look at people’s faces. There are smiles everywhere and it’s great to know that we’ve played a part in making people so happy.”

After the parade and the champagne reception, where Edinburgh was presented with a commemorative scroll by the mayor, it was back to Rodney Parade where the players showed off the Blue Square Bet Promotion Final trophy on the balcony of Rodney Hall and the party really got going.

“This is just the start for us,” added the chairman.

“The next time we do this we want to be celebrating going up to League One!”