Going up! Class of 92 celebrates as Salford City earn historic promotion to English Football League
Salford City, the non-league club part-owned by a host of Manchester United legends, sealed promotion to the English Football League for the first time in their history after a 3-0 win in the National League final at Wembley.
Salford defeated fellow promotion hopefuls AFC Fylde thanks to goals from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, Carl Piergianni and Ibou Touray to secure the club's promotion to the Football League to cap a remarkable rise since the club was taken over by a group of United legends.
Members of United's famed 'Class of 92' Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs own a combined 50% of the club, with David Beckham coming aboard in January to take a further 10% share.
Singapore businessman Peter Lim owns the remaining 40%.
And all seven part-owners were celebrating in the stands as Salford completed an historic day for the club.
Dieseruvwe put 'The Ammies' in the lead when a free kick clearance fell fortuitously at his feet after 15 minutes. Then Piergianni's thumping header from a corner doubled Salford's lead eight minutes into the second half.
Carl Piergianni is there again!His 1️⃣2️⃣th of the season and second in the play-offs!Salford have one foot in the Football League! pic.twitter.com/2yoTXoei9l
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 11, 2019
Salford's win was sealed with Touray charged down the left flank and curled an unstoppable effort off the far post and into the net to send Salford - and their high-profile owners - into wild celebrations in the stands.
When it's your day, it's your day!Touray scores a fortunate third but the Class of '92 don't care!Salford are on the brink! pic.twitter.com/MYeAw4KzTM
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 11, 2019
Salford had finished the season in third place in the National League, just four points behind champions Leyton Orient.
But 'The Ammies' beat Eastleigh 4-3 on penalties in the promotion playoff semi-finals to book their place in the promotion final at Wembley, where their 3-0 win over AFC Fylde booked their place in League 2 next season.
