Stuart Dallas said he had really enjoyed Brentford’s Sky Bet League One promotion-winning 2013/14 season, his breakthrough year.
The Northern Ireland international joined The Bees in the summer of 2012.
It was his first taste of full-time football having grown up playing in the part-time Northern Ireland league.
In his first season at Griffin Park he played ten games, six of them in League One, but he broke in to the First Team set-up this season.
Stuart played 21 games in all competitions and started for The Bees in six of the last seven games, scoring goals in the final two against Colchester United and Stevenage, his first for Brentford.
The winger said a loan spell at Northampton Town, battling to avoid relegation from Sky Bet League Two, before Christmas helped him enormously and Brentford Manager Mark Warburton had promised he would give him a chance.
He scored three goals in 12 games for Northampton before coming back and was involved in all but one match day squad after his return as The Bees finished second in League One and secured a spot in The Championship.
“I think the season has gone pretty well,” said Stuart, speaking to Bees Player last week.
“The best thing that happened to me was to go out on loan and get regular game time.
“It gave me regular experience at this kind of level.
“It was a different pressure at Northampton.
“I came back here, have really enjoyed the back end of the season, have scored two goals in the last two games and it has been great.
“I have really enjoyed it.
“The gaffer has shown he gives players chances, he said I would get mine and I had to be patient.
“I was patient and he put me in.
“I think I did OK but the main thing was to get promoted.
“Thankfully we did.”
Stuart said winning promotion against Preston North End on Good Friday and then being presented with medals to mark the achievement after the final game against Stevenage were days that footballers lived for.
He said it made living away from his Northern Ireland home worthwhile.
“It meant everything, you play football for days like that,” said Stuart.
“You grow up wanting to be a footballer, I got the chance and days like that makes everything worthwhile.
“Being over here, away from home, away from my friends and family, can be tough.
“You miss Christmas and birthdays and occasions like that.
“Days like Stevenage make it worthwhile.”
Stuart said the sky was the limit for this Brentford team.
“Playing in The Championship will mean a lot to me,” he said.
“You want to play at the highest level you can play at.
“The Championship will be the highest for me so far.
“It will be a tough challenge but we are looking forward to it and the boys will adapt and do really well.
“The Club is going forward, the team is going forward and the sky is the limit.
“We have a great coaching staff, a lot of good young players and experienced ones.
“We have a great mixture and it bodes well for the future.”
Stuart said former Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler and current boss Mark Warburton had helped him develop from a part-time footballer to a professional.
He said he would come back for his third season raring to go.
“When I first came over Uwe used me sensibly and well,” said Stuart.
“I played a few games and then went on loan this season.
“They have used me in the right way.
“Every player wants to play every game but for your own development you can’t be thrown straight in at the deep end and be asked to play week-in-week-out.
“Over the two years I have enjoyed my time and will be coming back in pre-season ready to go.
“I will be back on June 25 and look forward to pre-season.”
Northampton avoided relegation from League Two on the final day of the season, which delighted Stuart.
“After our results, I look for Northampton,” he said.
“I went there and we weren’t in the best situation.
“Some people think loan players don’t care about the club they have gone to.
“I went there and it hurt me to get beat.
“I hate losing and I have looked out for them.
“I am in contact with a few players and I am delighted they stayed up.”
A full post-season interview with Stuart Dallas is available here for Bees Player subscribers