IT was 20 years ago today when Keith Branagan showed the Whites the Wembley way.

But the former Wanderers goalkeeper, whose pivotal penalty save on May 29, 1995 sparked an epic comeback in the Division One play-off final against Reading, says victory was only achieved thanks to a little help from his friends.

Bruce Rioch's side were 2-0 down after 12 minutes and seemingly heading for heartache when Branagan dived to his right to keep out Stuart Lovell's spot kick moments before half time.

It spurred the Whites on in the second half and after levelling at 2-2 thanks to goals from Owen Coyle and substitute Fabian de Freitas, they went on to win 4-3 in extra time – Mixu Paatelainen and a second for De Freitas clinching promotion.

It was a landmark day for all those with Wanderers at heart as the team reached the Premiership for the first time and, 20 years on, Branagan still holds those memories dear.

He told The Bolton News: "The memories of that era will stay with me forever.

"I am still proud to be part of the club’s history.

"We came so far so quickly.

"The team grew and had to adjust to the level.

"One or two signings helped and we made a push in what was a great season for us.

"We had been to Wembley a month or so earlier to play Liverpool so we had experience of it.

"We went into that play-off final really relaxed because of having that experience against Liverpool.

"We went there knowing it was just about getting the job done.

"Maybe that was the reason for the first 20 minutes when we got caught cold by Reading.

"I didn’t watch the game back at the time but have seen it a couple of times since.

"Watching it now I still cannot get my head around why on earth we were caught so cold early on.

"Their energy was greater and they were quicker to every ball and quicker thinking as their second goal from the free-kick illustrated.

"As we were approaching half time I was just praying we didn’t concede a third goal.

"Then came that penalty.

"My first thought getting ready to face it was what a big moment it was.

"I suppose like many of the supporters there that day, I was thinking if this goes in it is 3-0 and that will be hard to come back from.

"Their regular penalty taker (Jimmy Quinn) was on the bench and I had watched a lot of his penalties and studied them in case they got one at Wembley.

"I was prepared for him but not for (Stuart) Lovell.

"Then it was about just trying to anticipate what he was going to do.

"Fortunately it paid off for me.

"It is a big rush, the feeling you get when you save a penalty, but you also have to switch back on quickly to deal with the corner.

"You see a lot of keepers make a great save and then concede soon after.

"That took us in still 2-0 down at half time and with that team we always had a chance of a comeback.

"The reaction from the team was superb but we knew we had the character and players to turn it around.

"Once we scored our first – and even that was late in the game – there was only going to be one winner in my mind.

"Once we got one and got the bit between our teeth we were going for it.

"We had so much speed down the flanks and in attack and had done it before that season.

"We had far more energy at the end and before extra time, you could see the different feeling on each side.

"We were all stood up ready to go again and Reading’s players were all sat down.

"I looked at them and thought ‘we have got them here’.

"I was virtually a spectator after that – my bit was done really."

After two promotions in three years, manager Rioch left for Arsenal that summer and Wanderers would last just one season before dropping back down to the second tier.

But they regrouped and went on to build towards becoming a regular top-flight side.

Branagan, now aged 48, believes Rioch's team was the catalyst for that progress under Colin Todd and then Sam Allardyce.

He added: "Looking back now, that team was probably not ready to go up that year.

"We did our best the following season but came down again.

"But it was a special time at the club – a moment in time that was pivotal for where the club would go.

"It was the start of Bolton moving up to that next level, in my opinion.

"That play-off final result and what we achieved had a big impact on the club.

"We had a couple of yo-yo years after Bruce Rioch left but that was experience to build on and helped financially as well.

"It was a slow process but eventually, under Sam Allardyce, Bolton established themselves in the Premier League for 10 years."