AS the champagne fizzed in one luxury coach speeding back to Huddersfield from Cardiff's Millennium stadium on Monday, few people were savouring Town's win more than Alison Jackson.

As well as a victory for the Terriers, it was a sweet personal triumph for her husband and squad manager Peter.

If, based on watching the outrageous ITV series, you think being a footballer's wife is dramatic, just try marrying the team boss.

In a job notorious for its ups and downs, Jacko's managerial career has been picked out by sports journalists in the national press as one crammed with particular extremes.

Alison supported Peter as he forged a promotion-winning side following four years in the managerial wilderness.

Sacked five years ago by Town to the disbelief of fans, Peter has again brought his successful formula and total commitment to the club.

"He's proved himself again the second time round," said a delighted Alison, who has been enjoying every second since Town leaped into the Second Division on Monday.

"He's a fantastic man-manager. The players would do anything for him.

"It's a big club and should never have been in the Third Division."

Thursday night's triumphant parade through Huddersfield saw thousands of fans cheer on the squad.

But Alison knows the hard work begins again for her husband in just a few weeks' time.

Jacko can only expect players to give their all if he leads by example.

That means labouring harder and longer than anyone else to get the results which matter.

He is helped in that thanks to an understanding Alison and the support of his children Charlotte, 21, who has just finished a media degree at Huddersfield University, and Oliver, 17, who is shortly to start work at a car salesroom.

"I am just 100% supportive," explained Alison. "I never, never interfere. I leave the football completely up to him."

During the two weeks of the play-offs, when she expected her husband of 23 years to be more on edge than ever, he was quietly confident his young team would win through.

"It has been fantastic at home. For most of the season, to be honest, he's been absolutely horrendous to live with. We have had to put up with it all.

"But for those two weeks, which you would have thought would have been the most stressful, he has been completely relaxed and confident and back to his normal self. A pleasure to live with."

Alison, herself a successful businesswoman who works as a corporate sales manager at a Jaguar showroom in Bradford, has seen first-hand the work-rate necessary to achieve success in soccer management.

"It's 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without fail. He puts 100% into it and that's why he's been successful."

Alison and the children must accept the demands of his job.

"It's just part and parcel of being married to a footballer. The children are growing up with it and they realise that too."

With little cash for scouts, for example, Jacko travelled to dozens of matches himself, looking for talented players with which to rebuild the side.

He scrutinised other teams' tactics and watched games continually to pick on opponents' weaknesses.

His passion for preparation has been vital to Town and was fully appreciated by the 23,000 fans who came away in ecstasy from the Millennium Stadium.

In the past five years Town have had a clutch of managers, been through two relegations, a promotion, and come out of administration.

After Jacko's sacking five years ago he became a sought-after media pundit and got involved with football agency work.

He also declined several managerial positions until the post at Town came up again.

"You can't dwell on it. That's life," said a philosophical Alison.

The former nurse in a chemotherapy ward retains a healthy perspective on life.

Alison was raised in Halifax and met Peter when she was working at Bradford Royal Infirmary and he was playing for Bradford City.

She herself has become a bit of an expert on the game: "I go to all the home matches and I go to the away matches if they have got a nice ground!"

And as the stadia become more salubrious the higher up the rankings the team climbs, she expects to visit many more next season.

Oliver also avidly follows Town.

In their precious free time away from the game, the Jacksons, who live in Brighouse, like to socialise with friends and their large families.

Alison lists her favourite hobby as shopping ("Thank God for Leeds city centre!") and, with Town on the up, is looking to improve her selection of diamond jewellery.

"I'm hoping the higher up the tables we go, the diamonds I'll get will be more like those in Footballers' Wives!"