HOLLAND-based Huddersfield Town fan Keith Lonnen reckons the club will be able to keep star striker Jordan Rhodes and other young prospects now they’ve reached the Championship.

The 57-year-old lifelong fan from Slaithwaite – who works as an engineer in Breda – made the trip to Wembley via ferry and train and, after enjoying the match and the celebrations, made it back home at 9.30am on the Sunday morning.

Lonnen sponsored Danny Ward and ‘Boom Boom’ Jamie McCombe last season but was delighted for Alex Smithies to emerge the penalty shoot-out hero of the League I play-off final after sponsoring him two seasons ago.

“I watched the semi-final against MK Dons in Eindhoven, but there was no way I was missing the final,” said Lonnen, pictured, who was last at the Galpharm for the Yeovil match and the Player of the Year presentations which followed.

“It meant getting the ferry from Hook to Harwich overnight and then the train, but then I had some breakfast in the City of London, a few pints as well and then I was in my seat at Wembley by 2.30pm.

“From my point of view we were the better team in the final – at least we created some chances – and while I couldn’t watch the first penalty, I never can.

“I didn’t watch the first penalty at Cardiff in 2004 and we won, so maybe it was a good omen.

“It was fantastic when we won, and I was delighted for Smithies.

“Credit to him for smashing his penalty because Steve Simonsen dived the right way and got his fingers to the ball, but his fingers were bent back by the power and he couldn’t keep it out of the net.

“When he followed up by blasting his penalty over the bar it was a brilliant feeling. Brilliant. And it means so much to everyone.”

Lonnen believes the club needed promotion as a vital shot in the arm for everyone involved – especially the supporters after 11 years in the third tier.

“It means we’ll keep Jordan Rhodes in my opinion, and the Scotland Under 21 manager (Billy Stark) has said pretty much the same,” he explained.

“We know there will be changes in the squad and signings made, but I’m sure we will hold our own in the Championship and then build.

“I don’t think we will be in the relegation area and I would be very happy with a top 10 finish.

“The fixtures are brilliant for the fans – so we will get big attendances home and away.

“From an average attendance at the Galpharm of 13,000, I think we will be towards 18,000 next season and that’s great for everyone – especially Dean (chairman Hoyle), who has put his money in and backed the club and, finally, gained some reward.

“There are only eight or nine decent trips to places like Cardiff, Brighton, Portsmouth and the London clubs, then there are a handful in the Midlands, but the rest are all in the north and that means big travelling support for Town.

“It’s going to be great and, personally, can’t wait to find out when we play Leeds!”