It’s taken Sam Russell almost 10 years to get back into the Football League – and now that he’s there he wants to make the most of it.

The 34-year-old Forest Green Rovers goalkeeper has been an ever-present this season as the Gloucestershire club realised their ambition by beating Tranmere Rovers 3-1 in the National League play-off final at Wembley yesterday.

Russell was speaking to The Local Answer today just as he was climbing onto the team bus to head back to Nailsworth after their outstanding achievement when they upset the odds to claim victory in front of more than 18,000 fans.

The players and officials stayed at the Hilton, next door to Wembley Stadium, last night and Russell admitted: “Yeah, it was some party. The chairman Dale Vince looked after us really well and we had a great time.”

It was the culmination of 10 months’ hard graft for Russell, who, in his second spell with the club, played 60 games in total in 2016/17.

Russell, who signed a one-year contract at the start of the campaign and is desperate to stay with the club, said: “It’s been an amazing season. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, it’s all been a bit of a blur. It will probably kick in what we’ve achieved in a couple of weeks but we’ve made club history by getting Forest Green in to the Football League. It’s fantastic.

“It has to be right up there with my best moments in football.”

Middlesbrough-born Russell played more than 100 League Two games for Darlington in the mid-noughties and also enjoyed spells with Scunthorpe United on loan and Rochdale.

He left Rochdale at the end of 2008/09 season and dropped into the National Conference with Wrexham and since then the aim has always been to get back into the big-time.

“I’ve played for a lot of clubs and been all over,” Russell said. “I’ve always signed for clubs who have just been relegated or have ambitions to go up. 

“Forest Green showed that ambition and although it took a couple of years longer than we wanted we’re there now.”

So how does Russell reckon manager Mark Cooper’s team will fare in League Two?

“I think we’ll be okay,” he said. “There are some big teams in the division but I’m sure there will be a few quality players coming into the club. Ability-wise I don’t think there is too much between the two divisions, it’s just everything that goes with it – the grounds are much bigger, so are the crowds, and there is a lot more coverage in the media.

“A lot of the games are more attractive as well so it’s exciting times.”

After the season he’s just had Russell certainly wants to be part of the Forest Green history-making journey in 2017/18.

“I want to stay, definitely,” he said, before laughing, “the gaffer’s just got on the bus so, yes, I 100 per cent want to stay.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant this season. I’m the type of person who wants to play as many games as possible, I’m not someone who is happy to be number two. I had to fight for my place at the start of the season and now I’ve got what I wanted.”

Russell was with his hometown club Middlesbrough as a youngster and also had a season with Gateshead which sandwiched his two spells with Forest Green.

His first spell in Gloucestershire – Forest Green are the only club he has played for that is south of Birmingham – saw him make almost 150 appearances for the club from 2012 to 2015.

So what’s so special about Forest Green?

“Certain clubs just seem right,” said Russell, who has been living in Stroud. “I’ve settled in really well here and they’re a great bunch of lads. Everybody’s buzzing.”

Russell will head back home to Middlesbrough this summer but before that there is tonight’s party at the New Lawn where the players will celebrate their success with their fans.

Russell, along with the rest of the players, has worked incredibly hard to achieve his goal this season. He, surely, will be back for the new campaign.