SOUTHEND United’s play-off success has certainly made a mark on midfielder Michael Timlin, in more ways than one.

The 30-year-old has been left with a nasty looking scar following a serious clash of heads with Stevenage defender Bira Dembele in the first leg of the play-off semi-final.

But winning at Wembley against Wycombe Wanderers will also leave a lasting impression on the midfielder.

“This is so special for me because I’ve worked so hard since I’ve been here and it does feel as though this is a reward for that,” said Timlin.

“I’ve been through a lot since I’ve been at Southend and I think we all went through a lot during this game too.

“One minute we were all down, the next we were all up and everything just changed so quickly.

“If you had told anyone that we were going to win it like this, I don’t think they would’ve believed you.

“But it’s just a very special feeling and one I don’t think anyone with the club is ever going to forget.”

Blues were roared on by more than 20,000 fans at the home of English football.

And Timlin feels the play-off games have resulted in more of the Shrimpers supporters starting to warm to his style of play.

“I do feel as though the fans are starting to appreciate the kind of player I am now,” said the midfielder, who marries his fiancée Sorrell at the start of June.

“They know I might not be on form every week, but they know I’ll always keep trying. But the whole team was like that here and that’s why we won.”

The Shrimpers had been trailing 1-0 until substitute Joe Pigott netted with just 20 seconds of injury time remaining in the second half of extra time.

Blues then triumphed 7-6 on penalties.

But Timlin, who had more than 80 of his friends and family watching in the stands, never gave hope of coming out on top.

And he now wants Southend to maintain their momentum and secure even more success.

“I never stop believing until the final whistle goes because you have to keep pushing and see where it takes you,” said Timlin.

“That’s what we did at Wembley and it resulted in promotion which is what the club needed.

“We need the new stadium to kick on now and we want to establish ourselves in League One before seeing where we can go because there’s no reason why we can’t push on even higher with this fanbase we have.”