West Brom boss Bryan Robson was ecstatic after they avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
A 2-0 victory over Portsmouth, combined with their three relegation rivals all failing to win, saw them stay up.
"This is the best ever," said Robson. "It is a fantastic feeling. The boys have done me proud and worked their socks off. They deserve this.
"I feel sorry for the other managers. I feel great now but I can understand how the others must feel."
West Brom become the first team in Premiership history to avoid relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas.
"That is in the past now," added Robson.
"Full credit to the players because people mention the history all the time and sometimes you can start to believe it but this lot didn't.
"I always believed in the players we have. We narrowed the squad down and once we started firing on all cylinders I knew we could do it."
Substitute Geoff Horsfield scored the Baggies' opener and Kieran Richardson added the second.
And Robson admitted that the atmosphere in the ground gave him an indication of the scores in the other matches involving teams battling the drop - and whether West Brom were in a survival position.
"Towards the end of the second half we were 2-0 up and the fans weren't really behind us so we knew Crystal Palace must be winning," he said.
"But I had told the lads to concentrate for 90 minutes and Charlton have gone and scored the goal to keep us up.
"All four teams have battled right until the end of the season."
Horsfield scored the opener within seconds of his introduction and said that helping the club survive was the highlight of his career.
"Even though I have been promoted with every club I have been at this is the best moment of my career," said Horsfield.
"I am delighted for the fans and the gaffer. We have proved all the critics wrong."
Defender Neil Clement could not contain his joy.
"Staying up means everything, it is absolutely fantastic," said Clement. "We knew we had to win to have a chance and we got the result.
"I knew we were good enough to stay up. It's been tough for all four teams at the bottom.
"I am over the moon because we have worked so hard since Christmas when Bryan Robson came in as manager."
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to pay tribute to his former captain for keeping the Baggies up.
"I thought the form of West Brom made them favourites and I think if they'd scored more they'd have been in a great position," said Ferguson.
"He learned from his experiences at Middlesbrough. I thought he did a great job at Boro but he stayed too long. Now he's at a club dear to his heart and he can transform that club."