Ex-Latics youngster Alfie McCalmont won promotion to League One with Carlisle at the weekend following a dramatic play-off final at Wembley.

Leeds loanee McCalmont was named in Paul Simpson’s starting line-up and played just over an hour as the Cumbrians overcame Stockport.

There was nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes, with Omari Patrick cancelling out Jon Mellish’s own goal.

Taylor Charters held his nerve to score the decisive spot kick after Tomas Holy had denied Ryan Rydel from 12 yards.

“It was unbelievable,” said McCalmont, who impressed during a loan spell at Boundary Park in the 2020/21 season.

“Getting to Wembley is something that doesn’t happen often and something we worked hard for.

“When I signed here, the aim was to get promoted and to do it at Wembley is even more special. I am over the moon.”

He added: “I love being here. Since I’ve come in, it has been a really enjoyable place to work every day. It is genuinely one of the best dressing rooms I have been in, I have really enjoyed it.

“We all know how big it is for the town and the club, we worked hard all season for the opportunity. You work hard your whole career for days like that.”

Carlisle will now join Leyton Orient, Stevenage and Northampton in making the step up to the third tier next season.

“I’m delighted for all the players,” said former England Under-20 boss Simpson. “They’ve shown the desire to really dig in during that second half, because we had to earn the right to take it all the way.

“We had to hang in there a little bit, but I’m so pleased we’ve stuck at it and taken the game all the way.

“We’ve done that all season, and to be honest that began on June 22 last year when we started pre-season.

“Someone has said we were eighth favourites to go down, but after this I’m just so unbelievably proud of the group, the whole football club and of course the supporters.”