Lee Bell said he was full of pride in everybody connected to Crewe Alexandra after his men qualified for the League Two Play-Offs.
The Railwaymen finished sixth in League Two after a 1-1 draw at Colchester United, and will now face Doncaster Rovers in a two-legged semi-final.
Crewe left it late to grab a point in Essex but Elliott Nevitt’s 92nd-minute strike got the job done.
Bell said: “I’m thrilled. We were tipped by many to be right down near the relegation zone, and the players and the staff have proved them wrong.
“We went through the wringer on the sidelines but I am extremely proud of the players, the staff and all the fans.
“I want them to enjoy this and celebrate what has been a really good season so far.
“I expected it to be a nervy game, and the Sky cameras being here added that bit of pressure.
“But we showed a moment of quality at the end to produce an equaliser, and I’m delighted about that. It’s no fluke that we have scored in the 92nd-minute.
“It’s brilliant to come off the pitch knowing we got what we needed and deserve to be in the Play-Offs through what we have done.”
Details regarding the Play-Off Semi-Final will be confirmed in due course.
