Manager Paul Buckle has told Setanta of his delight at taking Torquay back to the Football League after the chaos two years ago.
The club was relegated from League Two in 2007 and, after chairman Mike Bateson and boss Colin Lee left the club, Leroy Rosenior was appointed and sacked on the same day as a new consortium took charge.
Buckle then took charge and stabilised the club, but their season was to end in heartache as they lost in the play-offs to rivals Exeter as well as losing the FA Trophy final to Ebbslfeet.
However, after a difficult start this season, the club regained their form and eventually secured promotion with a 2-0 victory over Cambridge United in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday, and Buckle was thrilled with his team.
“It’s not sunk in yet,” he told Setanta.
“I’m just delighted for the players with the effort they’ve put in this season.
“The club was on its knees, but we’re now back in the Football League.”
He added: “We deserved to be promoted.
“If you’ve watched us over the last two seasons, no one could argue that we deserve to be back in the Football League.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am.”
The victory was even more special for defender Chris Todd, who was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in November last year.
The 27-year-old was out of action for just three months before returning to training and was ecstatic at having helped his team-mates earn promotion at Wembley.
“I basically fought it as fast as I can to get back playing, really. It’s incredible,” he told Setanta.
“It’s the best moment of my career – that’s how I sum it up.
“It’s for all the heartache I put my family through.
“It’s deserved because we were hurting from last year. There’s not a day that’s gone by that I’ve not thought about that.
“This is for every fan that was hurt after that Exeter game. That’s for them.”
Buckle was delighted for Todd and admits he is stunned at the speed of his recovery.
“Words can’t explain that one,” he said.
“What Chris has been through and his family... the club’s supported him, the players supported him and to see his face then was absolutely out of this world.”