MJ Williams didn’t know that promotion with Bolton Wanderers would leave him in the back of a police van!

The midfielder revealed how Ian Evatt and his squad were smuggled past the crowds on Saturday night before those joyous scenes in front of the hotel reception.

After sealing a top three spot at Crawley, Williams admits the celebrations hit top gear on the motorway inside the team bus.

But the large crowds gathering in front of the stadium were a concern to the emergency services – so they had to find an inventive way of getting the squad into the building.

“The past few days have been mad,” he said. "There was a lot of singing and a lot of beer drunk on the five-and-a-half-hour coach journey back. Then we had a little party in Manchester on Sunday.

“When we got back to the ground about midnight on Saturday there must have been about a thousand Bolton fans there. The police wouldn’t let us off the coach because of safety concerns.

"They took us 10 minutes down the road and we had to get off the coach and into the back of these matrix vans. The first one I’ve ever been in!

"The fans didn’t know we were in them so we got into the ground that way and then we could run out the front to share the moment with them.

"It’s the best feeling I’ve had in football for a very long time. Probably since I made my debut for Liverpool.”

Speaking to The Athletic, Williams also said there was a clause in his contract which will trigger another year if he plays a certain number of games in League One next season.

The former Blackpool ball-winner, who started his career at Anfield, admits he had no idea how well the move would work out when he signed on transfer deadline day at the start of February.

“The manager Ian Evatt was one of the main reasons I went there,” he said. “He really sold it to me.

“I wanted to be part of something special. I don’t think either of us thought it would go this well but I’ve absolutely loved it. I love playing for him, he’s a top manager and a top guy.

“I signed for 18 months and if I play a certain number of games next season it will secure me an extra year. We’ve got ourselves back into League One and the fans deserved that after everything they’ve been through.

"Now the club is on the way back up and we want to go even higher. The target now is to get into the Championship. I’m sure next season when the fans are allowed back in the place is going to be rocking and I can’t wait for that.”