Cody Drameh admits it was celebrations galore when he watched Oli McBurnie tuck home the winning goal in the play-off final at Wembley last month.
Drameh was introduced into action in the second half by boss Sergej Jakirovic, replacing the stricken Ryan Giles, who had been forced off with cramp, and his arrival was crucial in the Tigers going on to win the game against Middlesbrough a little over three weeks ago in the blazing Wembley sunshine.
The full-back made the most of those celebrations, and again when he was part of the squad that enjoyed Bank Holiday Monday’s open top bus parade, and civic reception on the balcony of City Hall in Queen Victoria Square.
Like many inside Wembley with the scores level deep inside added time at the end of a typically attritional Championship play-off final, Drameh thought the game was heading to another 30 minutes of extra time, until Sol Brynn flapped at Yu Hirakawa’s teasing left-wing delivery and palmed it into the path of Oli McBurnie.
Time appeared to stand still for an eternity before the golden matchball fizzed into the back of the Boro net five minutes into added time, and promotion was secured.
“It was a wonderful city to see all the Hull City people united. It was a sea of amber and black, which is very nice, very nice,” Drameh told Hull Live.
“It’s unreal. I thought it was going to extra time, so I was kind of just preparing for that, and then obviously I’ve seen the keeper drop the ball and Oli slot it in. I was just going crazy after that, just the celebrations galore. It was an unreal feeling.”
Life could have been very different for the former Leeds United defender had he moved in the January transfer window. Drameh appeared to be on his way out with Stoke City pushing hard to sign him from the MKM Stadium, but after a meeting with boss Sergej Jakirovic, the 24-year-old opted against moving on and instead decided to stay and fight for his place, and it’s a decision that he did not regret.
“It’s a good feeling,” he continued. “It’s nice to be back there again. For myself personally, I’m very happy that it’s ended in glory for all of us, just happy for the team, the coaches, and the supporters as well. I’m very happy.”
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