Prince William involved in 'strangest moment in football' after Aston Villa seal promotion
PRINCE WILLIAM was at the centre of what has been been described as 'one of the strangest moments in football' after Aston Villa won promotion to the Premier League.
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Prince William locked arms with Aston Villa legend John Carew to celebrate the promotion (Image: Sky Sports)
"Didn't see prince William at Rotherham away," wrote another.
An emotional Grealish, who turned down a move last summer to spearhead Villa's promotion bid, earlier admitted: "I'm speechless. It was such a hard game, but when I look around and I've got John, Anwar I believe.
"It means the world to go up, we know where this club belongs. I've stayed here and we're back there now. I've led my boyhood team to the Premier League."
Villa's promotion push was masterminded my boss Dean Smith, who started the season as Brentford boss and ended it at Villa - the team he supports. Chelsea legend John Terry has served as his No.2.
Prince William could not contain his emotions at full-time (Image: Sky Sports)
Smith's men had taken the lead a minute before the end of a disappointing opening half through Anwar El Ghazi and when Derby keeper Kelle Roos gifted them a second in the 59th minute it looked like it was all over.
Roos made a disastrous blunder that really ended up costing Frank Lampard's men when he tried to catch a ball like a wet lettuce and allowed pint-sized John McGinn to shrug him off it and head home.
That looked to be that, but oh no, Derby provided a frantic last ditch attempt to get themselves back in it and they so nearly did.
Substitute Jack Marriott smashed one into the bottom corner from 12 yards in the 82nd minute and Villa were left hanging on for dear life as The Rams laid seige on their goal.
It just wasn't quite enough and when ref Paul Tierney called time with the two of them still slogging out, Grealish went on the run he'd dreamt of since he was six years old.
He raced off, signalling for his team mates to follow suit and slid towards the claret and blue clad fans - and the Prince himself.