Paul Warne reaction: Alan Lee remembered as new boy Georgie Kelly seals a promotion hat-trick for Rotherham United

The January signing came on as a late substitute for his debut and got the party started with an 89th-minute strike that wrapped up a 2-0 last-day win at Gillingham.

Twenty-one years ago, Alan Lee was doing something similar at Millmoor against Brentford when Rotherham were promoted from the same level.

"It was just one of those 'Roy Race' moments and Georgie will be remembered forever," Warne beamed. "He's been interviewed by Sky TV and he's only played nine minutes in his Rotherham career! He's up there with Alan Lee status.”

The frontman was on the pitch only because regular striker Michael Smith had to go off injured, bringing to an end his colossal 25-goal contribution to a campaign which has seen the Millers finish second, behind Wigan Athletic, and take one of the two automatic-promotion places.

"Smudge has been playing with a broken foot for weeks, getting jabbed up all the time, bless him," said Warne.

"He's struggled with his quad as well but he's that good even on one leg that we try to keep him on because he causes defenders problems and helps us defend our set-pieces. He's fundamental to this club's success."

"He couldn't move. I could have put Josh Kayode on - he's been great for us as well - but I just thought the with the way we were crossing the ball Georgie's aggression in the six-yard box might get him a header.

"I say that but then he goes and scores with his feet! He's trained really well, deserved his chance and took it, so fair play to him."

Kelly superbly swept home Chiedozie Ogbene's square ball from the edge of the box, after Rarmani Edmonds-Green's first-half opener, to send the Gills down to League Two.

Rotherham had been in top or second spot for months until a March and early-April wobble threatened to prevent a hat-trick of League One promotions under Warne.

They came good in the last three matches to see off the challenge of MK Dons who ended up in third spot.

"We've had a good season and I don't think many people will complain that we've gone up, although in fairness MK have ruined the last six weeks or so of my life by doing really well to get into the position they have," the boss said.

"It's a pity we didn't top it off with the title. If we'd hung on (for victory at Sunderland) in midweek we possibly would have but it was not to be. I'm not complaining. I'm really proud of the lads.

Rotherham have made an instant return to the Championship after suffering a cruel final-day drop last term.

"Some clubs after relegation go down another league but we signed really good people who have the right intentions in life and 10 months' hard work has paid off," Warne said.

"My honest emotion is relief. We've been in a really good position for weeks and sometimes you feel the soccer gods are against you, but the lads have really rallied and finished the season off well.

"To get automatic promotion and a cup win (Papa John's Trophy) is something this club has never done before and it will go down in folklore."

The occasion was marred by a pocket of fighting on the pitch among rival supporters after the final whistle and Warne and his team had to wait for nearly an hour before they could come back out of the dressing room to celebrate with 2,000-plus Rotherham followers.

"Nothing's going to taint the lads' enjoyment today. We've got to the Championship and we know the size of our club," said the manager as he spoke to the media at the side of the team bus in a tunnel at Priestfield Stadium.

"We've played really good football at times this season. The lads deserve all the praise we can give them."