Former Blues keeper Tomas Holy was the penalty shootout hero as Carlisle United won promotion to League One after a 5-4 League Two play-off final spot-kick victory over Stockport following a 1-1 after-extra-time draw at Wembley.

Holy, who was with the Blues between 2019 and last summer, saved Ryan Rydel’s penalty, the only one missed during an impressive shootout.

The 31-year-old Czech, who made a superb save from Jack Stretton’s strike in extra-time, dismissed suggestions that he was the hero.

“I am not the hero, these guys are the heroes,” he told Sky Sports, pointing to his outfield teammates.

“They ran around for 120 minutes, I just did my little part, but these guys are the heroes.”

Former Blues striker Joe Garner was also in the Cumbrians’ side, playing the first 61 minutes.

Elsewhere, Blues loanee striker George Hirst's parent club Leicester City were relegated to the Championship on the Premier League's final day, despite defeating West Ham 2-1.

Whether the Foxes' relegation means Hirst is more or less likely to be available for Town to sign on a permanent basis this summer remains to be seen.

Leeds United - beaten 4-1 at home by Spurs - with join Town and Leicester in the second tier next season with Everton escaping the drop having beaten AFC Bournemouth 1-0.

Photo: Matchday Images

itfchorry added 20:31 - May 28 Really Top Man - All the best to him
9

OldClactonBlue added 20:37 - May 28 Well done Tomas. I think he's a lot better than what we saw at PR.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 21:09 - May 28 Great guy, who didn't let us down. Good luck, Tomas.
6

leftie1972 added 21:19 - May 28 Good for him. Think he was quite harshly judged by some fans on here.
0

Gforce added 21:32 - May 28 Congratulations Tomas 🎊 on your promotion, but very glad we haven't got the long trip to face you next season.
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troyparrotsleftear added 21:33 - May 28 Pleased for him
1

Europablue added 22:14 - May 28 Holy cow!
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Len_Brennan added 23:35 - May 28 I liked Holy as much as anyone here did, but I'm not sure that he was harshly judged. He is a decent keeper for a first or second division side, but we were an ambitious & expectant club, playing at a level below where we have been for most fans' lifetime; promotion back to the Championship was the aim even before the Gamechanger team arrived. We were promoted this season, by just 2 points & needed 98 to do it. Christian Walton had 23 clean sheets; that's half our league games, & unsurprisingly he conceded the fewest goals overall. And even at that, we just got over the line. Good & all a keeper as Holy is & decent & all a bloke he is, I don't believe he would have posted stats anything like that were he our #1 this season, and those margins are the difference between going up & staying where you are.

3

algarvefan added 08:36 - May 29 Well done Tomas, a giant of a goalkeeper, great to see him get success, I was always struck by what a nice guy he is. He reused to accept the label of hero after his save saying the outfield players were the hero's for running around for 120 minutes and that he only did is little bit. Top man.
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Nomore4 added 11:00 - May 29 Without doubt the weakest no1 our club has ever had. Although a great bloke and slotted straight into the cozy club.
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ITFC_Esquire added 17:18 - May 29 Top guy, really glad he's gone and found success elsewhere.
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YorkshireBlue1967 added 11:44 - May 30 Well done Tomas - a true fan's favourite! Yes, he should have come for more crosses, but a likeable guy who deserves to do well!
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ringwoodblue added 13:05 - May 31 Pleased for Tomas. It'll be interesting to see how he does in Lg1 next season against better attacking sides than he was playing against this year.
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