The interview in the dark: Georgie Kelly, Gillingham, that goal ... the nine-minute making of a Rotherham United promotion hero

This isn’t the place Georgie Kelly should be celebrating promotion. Someone who has taken nine minutes to become a Rotherham United legend deserves better than this.

The centre-forward isn’t complaining. The sun is shining outside but it’s no match for the megawatt beam lighting up a dark pocket of Gillingham’s ground.

Kelly had been signed in January from part-time football in Ireland as a project for next year. Now he’d come on for a last-day debut in the 80th minute and announced himself in the 89th with a goal to seal the Millers’ rise to the Championship in front of a heaving away end.

“I woke up this morning and didn’t even know if I was going to be on the bench,” he says.

“This season could have passed me by. I was mentally prepared to not play and then start again next year.

“I’ve had ups and downs since I came here. I’ve had injuries and niggles and different bits, which has been frustrating for me.

“I’d been through the last three or four years without any injuries. Maybe it was the adjustment in intensity in coming up to a higher standard that caused it.

“To top it off like this ... you couldn’t write it, it’s unbelievable.”

We’re being forced to speak indoors because a pitch invasion by both sets of supporters  means the outdoor celebrations will take a while to get under way.

His words tumble out in a soft Irish accent that endearingly adds needless words at the end of sentences, if you know what I mean, like.

Close up, his physique is impressive. His socks are down to reveal thick calves and his thighs are so barrelled that one side of his shorts has ridden up and is showing no sign of going back down.

On the sleeve of his red-and-white Rotherham shirt is a badge saying ‘Sky Bet League One’. That won’t be there next season.

“To come from where I come from and hopefully be involved in a squad in the Championship is just strange,” he says. “I’m from a really rural area in Donegal where the main sport is Gaelic football. It’s a bit mad, it really is. I’m going to enjoy the next year and it will be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

“I’m working with a great, great group of people. It really suits me being here. I’m looking forward to having a really good pre-season because I know I’m still not at the level I need to be; I’m not at Smudge’s (Michael Smith), Freddie’s (Ladapo) or JJ’s (Josh Kayode) level.”

One sweep of his right foot, as he ran on to Chiedozie Ogbene’s supply, had pulled the trigger against the Gills and the ball was a blur of speed and curve as it flashed into the net. Machine Gun Kelly.

He’s still wearing the silver boots that produced the golden moment when he’s asked for his own take on a strike that will go down in Rotherham history.

“It’s funny,” he says. “In those moments everything slows down. Everything is just clear, like.

“You don’t think about where you’re at, you don’t think about what’s at stake, you don’t think about anything. You’re in the moment and instinct takes over.

“There’s a little flow and you’re in the zone. Nothing goes through your head. Chieo made it easy because the weight of the pass meant I had to just hit it. I could have taken a touch but that would have made things more difficult. The roar. Wow. The place erupted.”

Some Gillingham fans are still on the pitch and there’s no sign yet of anyone in the Millers camp being allowed to head out to acknowledge the massed away contingent.

Around us are the trappings of a football match. The team bus stands silently nearby and manager Paul Warne is sitting in a corner with only his thoughts and a beer for company.

Equipment containers are stacked across the hallway, coaches Richie Barker and Andy Warrington chat quietly together while around the corner the pandemonium of promotion is bursting through the open door of the Millers’ dressing room.

Suddenly a players’ version of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ booms out so deafeningly that the interview has to be paused.

“It’s a regular song of ours,” Kelly smiles. “Viktor (Johansson) always puts it on in.”

Supporters have been desperate to see the frontman  play and he says: “Their support has filtered through to me. When I went to warm up today I could hear the roars.

“I’ve always tried to tell them to be cautious. I’m sure what they saw when I signed was a 26-goal striker coming in who’s going to score goals. I’m thinking: ‘Listen, this is a big step up for me. I don’t know if I’m going to be fit to play at this level.’

“Fans have really high expectations because you’re a striker and there’s been a bit of interest in you in the transfer window. It’s added a little bit of extra pressure, like.

“They were saying: ‘We can’t wait to see you play.’ I was saying: ‘I’m not a Smudge. I’m not at that level yet.’ I need a lot of work, and the staff know that as well. The fans have been great with me.”

A few minutes later, muffled roars from outside come sweeping down the corridor. The Gills obstacle has been cleared and the Millers squad are finally going to their fans.

Kelly is obligingly prepared to remain in the grip of journalists, but this is his day, not theirs.

“Come on,” I tell him. “You need to be out there. We can talk as we walk.”

We hurry towards the away end as he reflects on an eye-opening first few months with his new club.

“I couldn’t get over how difficult this league is,” he says. “One of the first games after I’d come here was Morecambe at home. They were near the bottom but they were a good side and could easily have won the game, like.

“I’m thinking: ‘This league is unbelievably difficult to get out of.’ There are some huge clubs and no easy games. Gillingham today were a decent side.

“To get automatic promotion in a league like this on the resources the management have had is an unbelievable achievement.

“They have the ability to pinpoint and sign players. It’s incredible what they’ve done for this club.”

Kelly, having just done something incredible for this club, stops in his tracks as we reach pitchside, unable to believe how many Millers supporters have stayed behind. They spot him and chant his name.

He steps out into the sunlight.

Not for the first time this crazy afternoon.

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WHAT THEY SAID

“IT’S my third Rotherham promotion and it’s an unbelievable feeling. Before I came here I was in a dark place in my career.

“We’re always fighting for something here. We’re either fighting for promotion from League One or fighting to stay in the Championship. These promotions have given me memories that will last a lifetime.

“This is probably the best one, particularly when you see all the fans here today. Last time we got promoted it was a Covid season that was cut short and no fans were there. It’s brilliant to be able to share it with the fans.

“It’s not often I come off injured. It was just the culmination of playing 54 games! My quad was sore. I’d felt it at Sunderland a few days earlier. My foot has been sore and I’ve been having injections before games and at half-time. I’m glad I won’t have to see a needle for the next few weeks.

“We’ll see what happens about me and next season. There are conversations to be had. I’ll enjoy tonight and the weekend then see what happens.”

— Michael Smith

“WE did it the Rotherham way, didn’t we? We made it tough for ourselves but we got there in the end.

“Gillingham had so much to play for that it was never going to be an easy last match.

“Sunderland on the Tuesday night had been a structured game where we knew what they were going to do. The Gillingham approach is difficult to play against. All those long throws and set-pieces can drop anywhere.

“We had to control as much as we could and give 100 per cent. I thought we were brilliant in the first half. Second half, of course there’s going to be some nervy moments. We’re only human.

“We all stuck together, everyone put a shift in, and Georgie’s goal at the end was just the perfect way to get the job done. What a finish from him! Credit to him for that.

“The management work us really hard in pre-season and the gaffer always says it’s for moments like this.

“This is the fittest team I’ve ever played in. So much credit has to go to the staff for that and also to the players for putting the effort in.

“We eat well and drink well all the season. That will go out of the window not just tonight but for the next week or two! It’s been a long, hard season.”

— Michael Ihiekwe

“I’M overwhelmed, to be honest. It’s been a really long season. It feels like we’ve played loads of games.

It’s been tough having to go every single day. It’s not just the matches, we work hard in training as well

“At the end of it all, we definitely deserve to be where we are. We all need to enjoy it now.

“The players will get all the credit but the staff behind the scenes do an amazing job. It’s been a massive effort from everyone involved.

“I hope the fans have enjoyed the day because they have been brilliant with us all season. They missed out on it all (because of the Covid pandemic) when Rotherham last went up so hopefully they can make up for it now.

“My first season at the club couldn’t have gone much better. I remember playing for Rochdale against Rotherham in a friendly in July. If somebody had said then that all this was going to happen I think I would have taken it!

“We’ll be treating ourselves this evening. We haven’t had many chances to do that this season. I think there will be a few beers.”

— Ollie Rathbone