Jake Bidwell said it only really hit home that Brentford had won promotion from Sky Bet League One when they played their final game of the season.
The Bees clinched a place in The Championship with three games remaining, after beating Preston North End at Griffin Park on Good Friday.
They had away games against Milton Keynes Dons and Colchester United before a final day clash with Stevenage.
Jake said there was a party atmosphere at Griffin Park that day, with The Bees being presented with medals to mark promotion and Club Captain Kevin O’Connor making his 500th Brentford appearance.
He said the aim at the start of the season was to in promotion and it was a great year.
“It took until Stevenage for it to hit home to be honest,” said Jake.
“We came in to the ground and there was a party atmosphere.
“Before that we were getting on, business as usual.
“That day, with Kev making his 500th appearance, it hit home.
“We wanted to finish with a win and thankfully we did.
“It was a great day.
“Promotion was the highlight for me; there wasn’t one moment that stood out.
“At the start of the season everyone’s aim was to get promotion.
“We did that, it was a great season.”
Jake played 41 games for The Bees in 2013/14.
Along the way he was named Football League Young Player of the Month for January and was also voted in to the PFA Sky Bet League One Team of the Year.
“I was delighted with that,” said Jake.
“It means a bit more when it is people you have played against week-in-week-out.
“To get that was a nice way to top off a great season.”
Jake signed permanently for The Bees last summer, having spent the previous 18 months at Griffin Park on loan.
He has now played 116 times for the Club in all competitions.
Jake hailed the way Brentford bounced back from losing the Play-Off Final last season, pointing to the teams that missed out in other divisions – Northampton Town, who narrowly avoided relegation from League Two, and Watford, who were mid-table in The Championship – as to what could have happened.
“Having been here for 18 months before joining permanently, I had a good feel for the Club,” he said.
“I had an idea which direction it was going in.
“Thankfully my judgement proved right and this season has been unbelievable.
“When you look at last season and the other teams that lost in Play-Off Finals, Northampton have struggled, Watford are mid-table, nowhere near.
“The way we bounced back, I am delighted to win promotion and looking forward to The Championship.
“I signed initially for a month, to be here two and a half years later and in The Championship is brilliant.
“I have played 120 odd games for Brentford, mostly in League One.
“The Championship is the next step, and it is the next step for the Club.
“I am delighted to make it.”
Jake said Brentford could look to AFC Bournemouth, who went up from League One last season and pushed for a Championship Play-Off place this term, for what could be achieved.
He said a young Brentford squad was taking the next step and he felt the players would continue to improve.
“If you look at Bournemouth, they were top half, pushing for Play-Offs,” said Jake.
“They didn't mount a serious challenge but were in and around it.
“I think we can do the same with the squad we have got.
“The players here are making the next natural step to the next level.
“If we keep getting games under our belts we will continue to improve.
“It will be a challenge next year; we recharge the batteries and then get ourselves right for it.”
Bees Player subscribers can see a full video interview with Jake Bidwell here.