Wild scenes as promoted Cardiff savour Reading revelry

That was abundantly clear at Reading, as the supporters serenaded the players and staff, singing and dancing, drenched in champagne.

Barry-Murphy had not allowed his squad to plan celebrations until promotion was confirmed, so he did not know how they would mark the occasion on Saturday night.

"I think it's the best way," he said. "Tonight will be unknown.

"I was at a fans' forum at Aberdare recently and they were pretty clear if we returned there after securing promotion, the response would be incredible, so maybe a stop-off there."

On Wednesday, Cardiff can enjoy a party at home when they host Port Vale in front of what will surely be a bumper crowd.

There will then be one more fixture at Cardiff City Stadium, against Northampton on Saturday 25 April, before the Bluebirds finish their campaign at Mansfield Town a week later.

This pressure-free run-in, the football season's equivalent of a lap of honour, is a rare luxury for Cardiff.

In previous eras, this stage of a campaign would prompt fear and anxiety among the club's supporters, who had become used to watching their team suffer the agony of play-off failures and the ignominy of late-season, promotion-busting capitulations.

This time, they can enjoy the ride and take in the sights of League One they hope not to see again for another two decades – or longer.

"It's great for the players," said Barry-Murphy. "We haven't had many players who have experienced this, so for many of our players to have the feeling of performing in the way that we did under such pressure was great for them.

"And it does lead you on to dreaming about next season and what we could achieve."