'To win promotion in front of our home fans on a sunny day with my family there, it was right up there'

A WEEK of partying began for Argyle after they beat Burton Albion 1-0 at a noisy, sold-out Home Park to guarantee a top-two finish. Seven days later, Edwards struck the second goal in a 3-1 win at Port Vale that clinched the League One title.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Reflecting on that sunny day, when the Pilgrims clinched promotion at a packed out Home Park, Edwards said: "It's an amazing feeling. We have worked so hard this season to achieve this, and to do it on a Bank Holiday weekend Saturday in Plymouth, in front of the fans, is something special and something we dreamt of.

"Just to celebrate with them is amazing. It's a special feeling when the fans come on and you see how happy they are and how much it means, it's brilliant.

"They don't just come here. They travel all over the country to follow us, miles and miles more than any other club. We really appreciate them and it's a special feeling to do it in front of them."

Argyle's promotion to League One in 2020 came during the Covid-19 pandemic and on a points-per-game basis after the season was not completed.

Edwards said: "That was my first season here and I remember speaking to the lads who were here before. Before it got cancelled, you were just waiting to see what it was like when you got promoted - down on the Barbican, and in and around the city. It's nothing like anywhere else really.

"Unfortunately, we didn't get that, so to have it now on a sunny Bank Holiday is something you can only dream of."

Edwards continued: "It has been a really good journey. I came here four years ago and we got promoted in our first year, and that was what we set out to do, but like I say we didn't have the celebrations we wanted.

"We missed out last year and obviously the boys were really disappointed. Credit to the gaffer (Steven Schumacher) he has been unbelievable since he has come in and he fully deserves the accolades he's getting.