PREMIERSHIP bound Glen Little has revealed that promotion with Burnley six years ago still ranks with achieving his top-flight dream with Reading.
Little and his Royals team mates have put the champagne on ice for a few more weeks before fully celebrating joining the Premiership elite.
Injury unfortunately ruled the winger out as Steve Coppell's side cemented their promotion with a draw at Leicester last weekend.
And that has given the former Turf Moor favourite plenty of time to recall the special day his volleyed winner at Scunthorpe in May 2000 helped Burnley back into Division One to end five seasons in the lower leagues.
"This promotion is special because the reward is the Premiership, but Burnley will always be as special because it was my first promotion," said Little.
"Comparing the two, I still think the best way to go up is the last day of the season. It's more nerve-wracking, but much more of an adrenaline rush.
"We were thinking about the play offs at best because we had to win seven of the last eight to have any chance. But incredibly, that's what we did.
"When it came down to the wire we still had to win at Scunthorpe and second-placed Gillingham had to slip up at Wrexham - and I still can't really believe both things happened.
"After the game we were out on Saturday and Sunday and then on the Monday there was the open top bus around Burnley. It seemed to be one thing after another, whereas this year, we've had time to get used to a likely promotion.
"However if you had said, at the start of the season, that Reading would be breaking records and dominating the division, you would have been carted off to the mental home!"
Reading's promotion - the fastest ever achieved thanks to a record-breaking 33-match unbeaten run - means Little, who began his career under Coppell at Crystal Palace, will now be gracing the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates Stadium next season.
More celebrations will be sparked today if the title is sewn up with a victory over Derby, provided Sheffield United drop points at Stoke.
And after missing out on last weekend's events, Little is hoping to play more of a central role as the Madejski Stadium gears up for the party of all parties.
He explained: "The champagne was flowing on the coach home from Leicester last week and we all went out in Windsor to celebrate.
"It was a good night, but from a personal point of view there is a slight regret that I wasn't in the team when we finally crossed the line.
"You always love to be out there and I have hardly missed a game until the last month. It's a shame because the celebrations had to be put on hold because the injury meant I was in the ground the day after for treatment.
"Now we still need the Stoke result to go our way today, even if we win. But I'd like to think it would be over then we could have another party!"
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