Sponsored by
Emotional day for the match-winner
POSH match-winner Dean Keates was an emotional man after his brilliant diving header secured automatic promotion from League Two.
POSH match-winner Dean Keates was an emotional man after his brilliant diving header secured automatic promotion from League Two.The goal, the win and the fact that League One football is on its way back to London Road confirmed that Keates had made the right decision to leave his hometown club Walsall last summer.
But the whole day also brought back some poignant memories for a man who earlier in the season harboured serious doubts about his free transfer move to Posh.
Keates said: "I scored for Walsall at Hereford last season the day after my mum's funeral and the memories came flooding back as soon as we got here.
"We won that game 1-0 as well so to go through a repeat this season was pretty special. Obviously people have under-estimated my heading ability as that's three I've scored now!
"Craig Mackail-Smith and Chris Whelpdale created the goal superbly and I just gambled on the ball sailing over Aaron Mclean.
"I've been really pleased with my form in the second half of the season because I did have some serious doubts whether or not I'd made the right decision to come here.
"The chairman and the manager did a superb job of selling the club to me. They are both very ambitious and that made my mind up, but it was a struggle for me to begin with.
"I'm an honest man and my form at the start of the season was very average. I was still living in the Midlands then and it's not easy getting up at 6am to get ready for work.
"But since I moved down here with my family I've settled down and started enjoying my football again. It's a superb place to be and there's no doubt in my mind now that I made a good move.
"The competition for places is intense and that's how it should be, but the manager has been very fair with his selections as he's always picked the man in form.
"And it's worked. We had a goal of promotion from day one and there is no doubt we deserve it. I can't compare it with last season as both promotions have been very special."
Full-back Adam Newton was the longest-serving Posh player on the pitch at Hereford and he made a bee-line for the fans at the final whistle.
Newton said: "We've had some tough times here during my time, but this more than makes up for it. It's a great day for the club and the fans.
"I ran over to them at the final whistle because I promised someone my shirt when I was taking a throw-in near them. But I couldn't see him so I gave it to someone else!"
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.