The definition of a football miracle has been added to by the fact thatNottingham Forest have been at the bottom of the table for the best part of a century.
In the first 52 days of the Championship campaign, the Reds were in the bottom three.
Chris Hughton paid the price for the poor start with his job as a result of his proven promotion credentials.
In mid-September, Steve Cooper became the head coach. Forest were transformed from that moment on.
After that, the Reds picked up more points than any other team in the second tier, as they surged up the table to claim a play-off spot.
Even the most ardent Forest fan wouldn't have entertained the idea that their side would head to Wembley for the first time in 30 years and be just 90 minutes away from a return to the top flight.
Those on the banks of the River Trent are well versed in the miracle rises of the past, having gone from the old Second Division in 1977 to win the English title a year later, before going on to win back-to-back European Cups under the late, great Brian Clough.
Ahead of Forest's Championship play-off final against Huddersfield on Sunday, the club's latest remarkable season was looked at by the BBC.
Oh dear, here we go again.
It was only the first day of the season, but the Reds were out of ideas and energy as they were beaten by the City.
Forest hit the back of the net less than the three sides that were demoted that season.
The tone of disappointment heard in the voice of the Forest great was to be repeated for much of the next two months.
The only point they got in the first seven league games was from a draw with Wayne Rooney's Derby County. It was a late effort.
Colin Fray, a commentator for the radio station, described the 2-0 loss by Forest to Middlesbrough as a "sorry night".
Thousands of fans abandoned their seats before the full-time whistle, but one supporter made his voice heard after the match as he yelled his disapproval at Forest's directors box.
Steve Hodge, a former Forest and England player, said his former side looked frightening, lacked trust, and were vulnerable.
Hughton was proved to be wrong a day later.
Without a manager and bereft of hope, Forest were the bottom of the Championship.
No team in history that had been in this position before had finished higher than 14th.
Cooper would change that.
Cooper was brought in by Forest despite the fact that he left the club in July after their Championship play-off final defeat.
It has proved to be the shrewdest piece of business done by the club in the 21st century.
He oversaw four wins in his first five games. He had a perfect record in his first 15 matches, but his only loss was to the title winners.
When Forest conjured a dramatic three points against Bristol City in late October, thanks to 91st and 92nd-minute goals from Lyle Taylor, former defender Brian Laws saw a massive change in attitude.
Laws asked how many times they had spoken about Forest when they had tied the game.
The "never-say-die" attitude was to become a theme, as an injury-time Jack Colback goal at Queens Park Rangers and a late Lewis Grabban strike saved points.
After a run of five draws in six games, a late show with goals from Ryan Yates and James Garner earned them three points at the start of December.
Cooper returned to south Wales as Forest beat his former side Swansea 4-1 a week later and vaulted them into the top half of the table for the first time.
The new year started with a bang, as Forest bundled out of the competition 14-time FA Cup winners.
In the first meeting between the two rivals in almost eight years, the Reds were next to eliminate the holders. Rodgers said the 4-1 loss was embarrassing.
Alan Shearer, a former England captain, said on the radio that it felt like the Forest had something good going on.
They reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 20 years, getting past the Terriers.
The hosts were beaten by the cup winners in a tie that they felt they could have won. The atmosphere was so captivating that he was left in awe.
The crowd celebrated like they scored a goal after each challenge they won. It felt like a European night.
Laws said teams couldn't live with Cooper's side as their revival picked up pace during the cup run.
The former full-back, who twice won the League Cup with the club, said the 3-1mauling of Queens Park Rangers in March wasphenomenal.
The Reds didn't move into the play-off places until April after one week in the top six.
Nine wins in 10 league games in that time saw the Reds gatecrash the automatic promotion race.
The idea that Forest could go straight up was ended in their final game, as Bournemouth won a high-stakes clash at home to seal their return to the top flight.
Laws said that Forest were getting a taste of what Bournemouth had tonight. They have to do it at Wembley.
It took a penalty shoot-out and the goalkeeping heroics of Brice Samba to get to the national stadium.
Cooper has been praised as Forest boss for the journey from a miserable beginning to unexpected heights.
The comparisons with Clough are the highest praise that has been given.
Cooper shares a similar football philosophy with his former boss, says a two-time European Cup winner.
Brian used to say, "I don't care what you can't do, only what you can do."
The players that were there with one point to now are just incredible because Steve has put that slogan into them. It looks like he has given them a chance to express themselves and do what they do well.
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