Reading boss Brian McDermott can finally make an appearance at Wembley after a career of missed opportunities. The Royals won their Championship semi-final 3-0 at Cardiff to progress to a Wembley showdown with Swansea in the npower Championship play-off final on May 30, with a place in the Premier League the prize for the winners.
McDermott said: "I've been to Wembley in 1978/79/80 with Arsenal and never played. I was at Oxford and never played when we won in 1986.
"I missed out in an FA Trophy semi-final against Southport, I missed out to go to the semi-finals against Aston Villa and against Manchester City.
"So that's what it means to me.
"To go out there, walk out with the team, our supporters behind us, I'm just delighted for the staff, players and supporters."
McDermott added: "Swansea are a good side, they've done really well. Everybody knows they're a good side, they've been a good side for the past four or five years.
"It's a game we'll really look forward to and relish and I'm sure they'll do the same.
"We're strong and powerful, we play with great tempo and desire, so you've got two teams who will have a real go at each other and Wembley is a fitting place to play the game."
Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones was left wondering for the second successive year what 'might have been,' after last May's dramatic 3-2 play-off final defeat to Blackpool and also over his future in the Welsh capital.
"At the moment I feel lower than a snake's belly," Jones said.
"I'll take stock of my life, my position and whether I want to (continue).
"And it's whether the owners and the hierarchy of the football club want you to."
He continued: "If they think there's someone better to take it forward then fine, I haven't got a problem with that. I'll always back my own ability, my CV proves that."
Jones added: "It might not be a decision by the owners, it might be a decision I make. It will be done in the cold light, it will be calculated and it will be a decision I make as well as the owners make.
"They might say 'yes' and I might say 'no' and vice versa, but one thing about me is the fire is still burning and always will because I love what I do."