 Steve, left, and Phil Jagielka have enjoyed remarkable seasons |
In terms of promotion prizes, winning a Premiership place and gaining Football League status both rank pretty highly. To achieve them at the same time takes some doing. So last Saturday, not surprisingly, ranked as a red-letter day for the Jagielka family.
At one end of the spectrum, Sheffield United midfielder Phil was hearing the result from Leeds United that guaranteed the Blades' promotion from the Championship.
And at the other end, older brother Steve was helping Accrington Stanley clinch the Conference title and a place in League Two for next season.
"It couldn't have worked out better," Steve told BBC Sport.
"We both had the chance to go up, even though Phil wasn't playing.
"They played the night before but I know they were watching the other results so it turned out to be a great day for us.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet but I'm sure it will for both of us at the end of the season."
For Steve, Accrington's success means a return to the League stage he enjoyed with Shrewsbury Town and then briefly at Bramall Lane.
The 28-year-old did not make it into the United first team after being given a belated chance by Neil Warnock, but is delighted to see the Yorkshire club make it back up into the top flight.
He said: "It's a good club. They are a good set of people who work hard and play their football the right way.
"The fans get behind them and I'm glad they have gone up automatically.
"I think it would have killed them if they had gone in the play-offs after such a good points tally early on in the season."
And Steve believes Phil, five years his junior, will successfully handle the step up to the Premiership, which the Blades have found so elusive in recent years.
He added: "There has been a lot of speculation about him so I think he's glad he's done it with Sheffield United, because they gave him his chance in football.
"It's a good story for him as well."
Accrington have had to wait even longer to get back to where they would like to belong with their Conference success ending a 44-year wait for the resumption of League football.
"I have played most of my football in the League so it's good to get a promotion back there and be in a championship-winning team," said Jagielka.
"It's been waiting to happen and with all the history behind it it's a good story for everybody.
"To have League status is superb. It's been the talk for a few years round here and to achieve it now before the end of the season is great.
 |  There's not that much difference between this league and League Two |
"We can enjoy it for the last couple of weeks of the season and everyone can relax."
Although injury kept Jagielka out of the Stanley side for two months at the turn of the year, the midfielder played a key role in a pre-Christmas burst of six straight wins which laid the foundation for their title success.
None of their rivals could claw back Accrington's lead as a record of scoring in every game bar one has left John Coleman's side virtually untouchable
"We do base our football that way," said Jagielka.
"We can score at any time but what we struggled with last year was leaking silly goals and ending up drawing games we should be winning.
"This year we have kept a lot of clean sheets. The lads have dug in well. We have learned from last year, added a few players and the spirit is good.
"All the lads were pretty new last year but we all know each other this year."
Jagielka made 175 League appearances for Shrewsbury during a six-year stay at Gay Meadow.
And that experience allied to the record of recent Conference winners Carlisle, Doncaster and Yeovil leads Jagielka to predict further progress for Stanley.
He added: "We will have a good pre-season and the lads work very hard so that will stand us in good stead.
"And there's not that much difference between this league and League Two.
"There are a few who have kicked on so hopefully we can do the same, especially with the way the gaffer has looked at things.
"He said we were not looking to get in the play-offs, he said we were looking to win the league. He has just kept everybody focused on the main thing."
MMIX
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