Promotion achieved, the best debut in Millers history and too many beers for Paul Warne ... the story of Gillingham 0 Rotherham United 2

Georgie Kelly's shirt was off, fans were on the pitch, flares were exploding in the tumult of away end, the striker had just bagged a goal only minutes into his debut.

Rotherham United were winning automatic promotion.

The alcohol would flow later. For now, all manager Warne could do was watch in tired satisfaction as a record-breaking League One campaign of stunning highs and stomach-twisting lows reached a glorious last-day conclusion at Gillingham.

The spring sun bounced off Kelly's shaven head, 2,255 Millers supporters bounced off each other as the pungent odour of the flares hung in the air along with the sweet smell of long-fought-for, well-deserved success.

Warne, leading the club back to the Championship for the third time in three attempts, just wanted - needed - a sleep.

Kelly, a part-time centre-forward in Ireland until January, had been thrown on the 80th minute as Rotherham chased the clinching goal that would see them come through their March and early-April wobble to secure the spot in the second tier that had been theirs for the taking since October.

By the 89th minute he'd run on to Chiedozie Ogbene's square pass and swept a first-time, 18-yard shot into the Gills net right in front of the mass of red and white.

"It was Roy of the Rovers stuff that he scored," Warne said. "He will be remembered forever. He's just been interviewed by Sky TV and he's played only about nine minutes in his Rotherham career!"

St Georgie's Day

There was a delay of nearly an hour after Saturday's final whistle before the Millers squad could re-emerge from the dressing room but finally they were there, basking in their glory and sharing the sense of achievement with the massed ranks of followers who'd stayed behind.

A number of fans were in fancy dress. Banana men were on the pitch taking selfies with the players, characters from Squid Game patrolled the penalty area, a human-sized beer bottle wandered by, Elvis was in the building.

Second-placed Rotherham, having claimed the victory that kept MK Dons in third by a single point, were climbing a division less than a month after lifting the Papa John's Trophy.

"To get automatic promotion and a cup win in the same year is something this club have never done before and it will go down in folklore," Warne said. "I'm really proud to be a part of it."

At one stage, as white-suited Elvis happily watched on, Kelly was allowed to stand in front of the rest of the group to receive the supporters' acclaim.

Oh Georgie, oh Rotherham, the wonder of you.

THE GAME

Warne's men were in a match. Gillingham, needing a result to stay up, got heads on most things at the back and launched the ball towards the visitors' box whenever they could.

The Millers, though, were better, stronger, faster, sharper. Even though they were tested at times, generally they were in control.

Rarmani Edmonds-Green, having earlier been thwarted close in by Rotherham-born goalkeeper Aaron Chapman, applied a better finishing touch when Michael Ihiekwe rose highest at a 34th-minute corner to give the away side the lead.

Celebrations were still going on in the away end when Michael Smith wasted a golden opportunity to double the advantage, shooting horribly wide after a searing run and supply from Ogbene.

"We knew what Gillingham's threats were," Warne said. "Neil (new manager Harris) has got them really organised them.

"They were well out of the league before he took over in January and the fact they got to this game with the chance to stay up was credit to him."

The Gills would have only two clear opportunities before Warne was left to contemplate the festivities ahead. He knew his limits, unlike his over-achieving team who have spent most of the season exceeding theirs.

"Hammy (Matt Hamshaw) has already told me I need to improve my promotion emotion so I'm going to go out in Sheffield, I think," he said.

"However, I'm a very bad poor drinker. It will be three beers only or I'll be asleep in a bus shelter at ten o'clock."

Just before the break, Gillingham should have equalised when Olly Lee beat Viktor Johansson but not the bar and not long after the interval, when they were having a 20-minute spell of pressure, Max Ehmer couldn't hit the target at the back post.

From then on it was all Rotherham.

Ben Wiles had a shot kept out and Ogbene headed the rebound over, Wiles went for it from distance and Chapman produced a flying stop, Ihiekwe headed too close to the keeper and Wiles' vicious volley forced the save of the day.

Rarmani Edmonds-Green opens the scoring

"We just couldn't get the second goal," Warne said. "While you haven't got the second goal there's always that chance that a long throw into the box or whatever will cost you. Gillingham didn't really trouble our goalkeeper but there's always that chance."

It was left to Kelly, making the most dramatic debut in Millers history, to seal the deal.

"It's not a bad start, like," he laughed in his rich Irish accent. "I'm over the moon."

THE HOLD-UP

Warne had to perform his media duties in a dimly-lit gangway at Priestfield Stadium, next to the team bus and within earshot of the raucous goings-on in the Millers changing room just around the corner.

Gillingham fans had invaded the pitch at the same time as Rotherham's and a brief flurry of trouble had broken out on the halfway line.

The policing and stewarding left something to be desired and it took a while for the tension to ease and the delayed coming-together of Millers players and supporters to begin.

"Nothing's going to taint the lads' enjoyment today," the manager said. "We've got to the Championship - and we know the size of our club."

Some of the 2,000-plus Millers fans

Warne was more weary than giddy, planning a power nap on the coach on the way home before heading out for his version of a night on the tiles.

"I'm not really a celebrator," he said. "My missus has already told me off, as has my mum on the phone, because they weren't happy with how downbeat I was in a TV interview.

"It's just relief for me, thinking there's a couple of days now where I can just be a dad."

His head was in a spin but not as much as it would be further into the evening.

Ecclesall Road had been the management team's intended location but the coach was late back so Warne and his staff finished up out in Wickersley with the players.

They all drank to an epic battle dominated by new bests: a 21-game unbeaten run, 27 clean sheets, only 11 away league goals conceded and the one great prize at the end.

Yet on a crazy, unforgettable final day, certain numbers stood out more than others for the man who led it all.

Three points. Three promotions. Three beers.

Gillingham (5-3-1-1): Aaron Chapman; Ryan Jackson, Conor Masterson (Dan Phillips 74), Max Ehmer, Jack Tucker, David Tutonda (Gerald Sithole 87); Olly Lee (Mustapha Carayol 67), Ben Thompson, Stuart O'Keefe; Ben Reeves; Vadaine Oliver. Subs not used: Pontus Dahlberg, Havey Lintott, Christian Maghoma, Josh Chambers.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Richard Wood, Michael Ihiekwe; Wes Harding, Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser, Ollie Rathbone, Jordi Osei-Tutu (Joe Mattock 67); Chiedozie Ogbene, Michael Smith (Georgie Kelly 80). Subs not used: Josh Chapman, Jamie Lindsay, Hakeem Odoffin, Tolaji Bola, Josh Kayode.

Goals: Edmonds-Green 34, Kelly 89 (Rotherham).

Referee: Samuel Barrott (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 8,542 (2,255).