Defender Eiran Cashin says earning promotion back to the Sky Bet Championship with Derby County last month was a 'dream come true.'
The centre-back has been at the club for over a decade and to have played such a huge part in the 2023/24 season's success after everything, admittedly, feels surreal for the 22-year-old Academy graduate.
RamsTV caught up with Cashin to look back on that special day at Pride Park Stadium against Carisle United when promotion was secured from League One and discussed what it meant to him to have done it alongside some of his closest friends.
On how it feels to have achieved promotion from League One with Derby County...
It's unbelievable, really. When I first signed for this club I was around 11 years old and to even play for the first-team was something of dreams. To actually achieve promotion and get us back into the Championship is unreal. On top of that, to do it with some of my mates and all the lads in the changing room, it's a dream come true.
On what it felt like in the dressing room prior to the Carlisle game...
As a young player, you sort of look to the senior lads; Conor Hourihane, Collo, Nels and players like that. They were all so focused and zoned in, so you sort of feed off of them. I think it's been like that all season, when it's got tough, we've looked to the senior lads and they have shown us the way. I had some spare clothes packed in the boot of the car just in case we did go up!. You try and not to think about what could happen afterwards, but you do and I was full of excitement and anxiousness. I knew if we played well and got an early goal we'd all settle into it and Birdy came up with a massive goal for us.
On doing the 'bird' celebration with Curtis Nelson after Max Bird's goal against Carlisle...
I'd love to say that it was planned, but I was just screaming Birdy and I started giving it the 'bird'. It was just one of those things, it just sort of happened. I was buzzing for him because it was his last game for the club and you couldn't really write it much better than how it played out.
On how it feels to have won promotion alongside his friends he's come through the ranks with...
It's unbelievable. You never know what's going to happen in the future and Birdy is going now, so it felt like it was the one last chance to get it promoted and to do it alongside my brothers is unbelievable. We spoke about it all season, we've spoken about it since we've been in the first-team and to actually achieve it is special. When that final whistle went, the first thing I did is look for them and try and spend that moment with them. I'm just buzzing for all of them.
On whether he's been able to digest his own personal achievements after being named Young Player of the Season and the Supporters' Club Player of the Season, as well as in the League One Team of the Season...
Not really. My family and my friends keep me really humble. I'm sure at some point I'll look back and be proud of what's happened. Now that it's in a successful season as well, that will make it a bit more special. I'm just trying to keep my head down, enjoy the next few weeks but then get ready for the Championship.
On what Paul Warne has done for his game...
He's been really good for me. He's put a lot of faith in me, challenged me when I need to be challenged and tried to make me a better player, which I think he has. The relationship that he has brought in with Nels is massive for me too because not only has he boosted the squad but he's helped me improve my game. It's the same with Sonny Bradley, too. The gaffer knows the right people to bring in, good people. I'm very thankful for that and overall he's been very good for me on and off the pitch. To be able to pay him back with promotion and some good performances is perfect.
On the scenes with the fans at the end of the game against Carlisle...
I've said it before and I'll say it again, these fans have been through a hell of a lot in the last few years, we all have. The one positive that came from it is that it brought everyone together and you can still feel it now. We've never been so close; the fans, the community, the staff. Hopefully this will be remembered for years to come and that's what it's all about, every football club wants to have those sorts of memories and days and thankfully we gave them one.
