Brendan Gallagher column: Raise a glass to the Bramley Road faithful

It's a long way from Bramley Road Southgate to the Grande Stadium Lyon and that journey has taken the best part of two decades but Saracens were finally crowned Kings of Europe yesterday and didn't the smiles just say it all.
None beamed wider than Nigel Wray, who has been the one constant throughout their odyssey. Wray was the visionary – and the money man – who set it all in motion and although he is no longer the main financial powerhouse he remains the club chairman and was there in Lyon yesterday living every moment.
Afterwards he tried to deflect attention from his own extraordinary contribution. “I have had a hell of a journey and have learned so much personally in you how should behave, how you treat people and the concept of a sporting family. I didn't expect that when I ‘joined up' 20 years ago, it has been huge learning curve.”
Typically he was also already thinking of the future. “This is really good group of people, they love each other, they play for each other. That might sound airy-fairy but it really matters as we saw today. This team can achieve enormous things in the next five years.”
Wray won't give a damn that conditions dictated that the match became an arm wrestle and kick fest, albeit of the highest quality. In fact deep down he will rejoice because the qualities that saw Saracens prevail yesterday were the qualities that have served them so well for ever and a day. Indomitable team spirit, honest endeavour, courage and when push comes to shove, sheer bloody mindedness.
Although there are a few “rags to riches” stories in rugby these days I still can't remember any modern day “big club” rising from humbler beginnings than Saracens.
And given that, perhaps Sarries' greatest achievement is that they have always, in my experience, retained that small club informality and welcome. Somehow through their trials and tribulations, and through their massive growth spurts, each generation has passed that on to the next.
Match day at Bramley Road in their promotion year of 1994-95 and very earliest days in the Premiership was a unique experience.  The main wooden stand could house 300 fans top whack and the Press box accommodated three reporters and had no phone. That was downstairs in the club bar, close to the changing rooms which made life a tad awkward when dictating news of a poor performance or controversial incident.
Famously the local Council parks keeper scoured the pitch an hour before kick off with a spade and plastic bag looking for dog excrement because the First XV pitch was still nothing more than common park ground with universal public access. In truth more often than not he found drug syringes and condoms.
It was rough and ready but inside the clubhouse afterwards it was always buzzing and it was that energy that Wray tapped into. A huge successful businessman Wray played for Sarries' teams down the ladder purely for recreation but he was drawn like a magnet to the possibility of “professional' rugby which emerged after the game went open in August 1995.
Not to make money as such. Indeed Wray had lost – rugby prefers the word invested – many personal millions before the club secured major financial backing in the shape of South African businessman Johan Rupert.
No, Wray's objective was to somehow hammer out the template for a professional club for those who follow and, as an extension for that, to help create a domestic and European club professional club game that is fit for purpose. It's an ongoing process but he's getting there.
As well as celebrations in Lyon last night I like to think that Saracens warriors past and present were all necking a few beers as a nod to old Bramley Road traditions. They are all part of Wray's sporting family.
People like Brian Davies, who captained them when they were promoted from the Courage Divison Two in 1995 and commuted twice a week from Wales just to train let alone play on Saturday; Andy Lee his partner in crime at half-back; Dean Ryan, Jason Leonard, Ben Clarke and that fine centre John Buckton. Kris Chesney, who made a club record 338 club appearances and club stalwarts such as Tony Diprose, Chris Tarbuck, Greg Botterman, Matt Cairns, Steve Ravenscroft, Kyran Bracken, the peerless Richard Hill and many others.
And that's before you even start listing the long stream of overseas signings. Not every such venture was a success but Sarries have had their share of good ‘uns – Michael Lynagh, Philippe Sella, Franciois Pienaar – who also coached the club – Simon Raiwalui, Paul Wallace, Roberto Grau.
Then came the modern day tranche of superbly committed professionals with many taking their cue in terms of commitment from the inspiring Jacques Burger. All number of mighty rugby people have been involved in the rise and rise of Saracens and yesterday the club finally topped out.
For me, there can only be one proper ending to this story. At some stage in their busy schedule Saracens need to squeeze into the ramshackle Bramley Road clubhouse, place the European Champions Cup on the bar, order the beers up and toast not only victory but those who paved the way.