HOLLYWOOD script writers could not have come up with a more dramatic way for Chris Sedgwick to sign off his 18-year professional career.

The veteran midfielder announced his retirement from the game after Bury's promotion from League Two last weekend and will now pursue a career as a financial adviser.

But he made sure of the perfect ending, coming on in the second half to help steer the Shakers to a 1-0 win at Tranmere that secured their place in the third tier next season.

“For my last game as a professional footballer to get promoted like this, I couldn’t have written the script any better, it’s fantastic,” said the 35-year-old Yorkshireman, as he sipped a glass of Champagne at the post-match party.

“I can walk away a happy man with no bitterness whatsoever.

“I have had a fantastic career. That’s my fourth promotion. To finish on a promotion like that is absolutely fantastic.”

The knowledge he played an important part in that promotion ensured the bubbly tasted all the sweeter for Sedgwick.

He was the side’s talisman in the crucial final months of the campaign, making 14 of his 22 appearances for the season from Boxing Day onwards.

Amazingly, Bury won every one of those 14 games he featured in, claiming 11 clean sheets along the way, with Sedgwick often coming off the bench as a calming influence in the heart of the midfield.

“We’ve got promoted and I can say I played a part,” he said, adding to previous promotions at Rotherham (2000-01 and 2001/02) and Sheffield Wednesday (2011/12).

“When I got promoted with Sheffield Wednesday I think I only played 16 games. Obviously you have played but you have not played a big part in it. But what a feeling today.

“The group of lads we have got deserve it. Everyone is close together, from the chairman down to the coaching staff.

“I am just chuffed for everybody.

“The fans deserve it as well because they have been through the mill. They have had some tough times here this last few years, nearly going out of business, it just shows all the hard work that everyone has put in.”

Despite making the decision to retire in January, promotion has only strengthened Sedgwick’s desire to walk away, with a total of 675 games and 43 goals under his belt.

He added: “I still feel I could probably play another few seasons but I don’t want it to get to a point where people are saying he’s gone, his legs have gone.

“I want to go out on my terms and I’m ready to go out.”

Sedgwick confidently predicted the Bury squad he is leaving behind are going places, even without their lucky charm.

As he prepares for a life as a financial adviser, the no-nonsense midfielder left with a piece of sound advice for his now former club – don’t consolidate your assets in League One, go straight for the Championship!

“I was at Rotherham when we went back to back – we got promoted from this league and went straight up again and there is no reason why Bury cannot do that with the chairman’s backing,” he said.

“He is ambitious and we have got a good management team in place so there is no reason why we can’t do it.”