One year on: Peering behind the scenes of Sheffield United's Premier League promotion party

One of those on the guest list, photographer Simon Bellis, was responsible for capturing some of the most famous images to emerge from the event, including his own personal favourite; a snap of Kean Bryan, being roared on by Richard Stearman, videoing Kieron Freeman and Billy Sharp smothering two of their team mates as Marvin Johnson, David McGoldrick, Paul Coutts and John Fleck scream out loud.

“I just think it shows all of the emotions right at that moment,” Bellis says. “The joy, the excitement, everything.”

But there are others too, many of which have never been made available for public viewing, which he believes provide a flavour of the atmosphere inside Bramall Lane’s International Bar when, less than 24 hours after United had beaten Ipswich, Leeds’ failure to overcome Aston Villa meant Wilder’s squad were up.

“There’s one I love, of one of Chris Basham’s children staring up at everyone. You can almost read what he’s thinking. ‘What on earth is going on?’”

The story of that now legendary Sunday lunchtime session, which famously turned into a fortnight long binge, began the evening. Moments after Wilder and Paul Lambert, his counterpart at Portman Road, had completed their media duties following a contest which had seen United move six points clear of Marcelo Bielsa’s side with only a game remaining, whispers began circulating around the press room that the squad had arranged to watch their neighbours face Villa on television to next day.

Goals from Scott Hogan and Jack O’Connell had left Wilder’s men on the brink of reaching the top-flight. But their party would be put on hold if Leeds, who later drew a controversial encounter at Elland Road, were able to win their match in hand.

The rumours were confirmed when a long-serving and well-respected United employee asked several of those present if they wanted to attend. But on the proviso that, if the result 40 miles to the north did not go the right way, then they had to pretend the whole shindig had never happened.

When referee Stuart Attwell brought proceedings at Elland Road to a halt, it sparked joyous scenes inside the industrially furnished suite which overlooks the pitch where United had laid the foundations for their second promotion in three seasons.

Wilder, drenched in SKY branded champagne, described it as “one of the greatest days of my life” before venturing out into the stands, where he was later spotted staring out into the distance seated next to his wife Francesca, quietly coming to terms with what had just happened.

Twelve months later, with United chasing a place in Europe before coronavirus forced English football into lockdown, one wonders if he will be enjoying another later this summer.

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