AN OVERWHELMED Gary Mills admitted that it is a “privilege” to manage York City as thousands of supporters turned out for last night’s open-top bus parade.

The journey from Bootham Crescent to the Mansion House saw fans line the streets to cheer the Minstermen’s heroes following the club’s historic Wembley double.

With the FA Trophy and Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final trophies on display, City fans celebrated the club’s first national knockout trophy win and a return to the Football League after an eight-year absence.

Great scenes in St Helen’s Square greeted the players before they attended a civic reception in which the Lord Mayor Coun David Horton, leader of the council James Alexander, City chairman Jason McGill and Mills all gave speeches.

Rapper Chuitair, who wrote and sang City’s Wembley songs York City State Of Mind and York In Motion, also performed an acapella version of the latter.

Speaking to The Press from the top deck of the York Pullman bus, Mills said: “This is absolutely fantastic. I think everybody in York has come out to show their support and it’s also a chance for us all to say thank you as well.

“I keep repeating myself but York City is a fantastic football club in a fantastic city with fantastic people. I know how much it hurt everybody to be a non-League club for eight years but we can forget about that now because we are a Football League club and how good does that sound?

“I do this job for moments like this and it’s good for the players to see what it means to the people of York. I’ve been here 18 months and this city has given me moments that will live with me forever.

“I’m very proud and honoured to be the manager of York City. It really is a privilege.”

Mills turned down the opportunity to celebrate the previous weekend’s Trophy triumph over Newport in identical fashion prior to Sunday’s play-off final victory over Luton and, explaining that decision, added: “I was quietly confident we would get the opportunity to do this and did not want last week to be an anti-climax.

“I felt waiting was the right thing to do and the sun’s even come out so it’s a great finish to an unbelievable season.

“These have been such lovely, lovely times that nobody will ever forget.”

Mills and his players will now spend the rest of the week celebrating together in Benidorm as a reward for their historic campaign.

On that prospect, he said: “It will be great. There are times to celebrate and there are times to enjoy.

“I’ve been saying to the lads that there’s nothing better than sitting on a beach and having a beer when you’ve been promoted and that beer is going to taste lovely in Benidorm.

“It’s hard as a professional footballer in terms of when you can and can’t celebrate with a drink, but we have certainly earned the right to go away for a few days and enjoy ourselves.”

Mills also revealed that he will not discuss the futures of any of City’s out-of-contract players until the party return from their Spanish break.

He said: “When I come back the work starts again and I’ve got some big decisions to make but I’m trying to put all that to the back of my mind for now and enjoy what myself, my assistant Darron Gee and this group of players have achieved.”