First there was Luton Town, winning on penalties at Wembley Stadium to complete their odyssey from non-league, fuelled by injustices to end their long exile from the top flight.
Then Sheffield Wednesday at the same venue, promoted in stoppage time with a flying Josh Windass header having trailed by four in the play-off semi-final.
Finally West Ham in Prague, Jarrod Bowen’s winner and the UEFA Conference League, a first trophy for more than 40 years and a right old knees-up in the streets of East London.
Three games inside 12 days in May and June 2023, and to witness them and all that meant to those who cared about those clubs was to stumble towards true meaning at the heart of this silly old game we all adore.