Nottinghamshire will be playing their cricket in the top flight of English domestic cricket next season after securing the necessary points from their draw with Sussex at Hove.
The county has used 21 players in red ball cricket this season and all have played their part in ensuring that the primary goal of returning to Division One has been achieved.
Special mention must go to captain Chris Read, bowing out of the professional game after two decades at the top, for leading the side to promotion.
The 39-year scored 124 in his final innings for the county, setting up a final day in which the players knew they were almost over the line anyway.
Speaking after the game, the skipper expressed his desire to finish his career how he started it - with his pads on.
"It worked out well in the end and it’s been an enjoyable last day of my career. (Head Coach) Peter Moores spoke to me about maybe having a bowl at the end there but I’ve kept wicket for 20 years and that’s how I wanted to finish – with the pads on," he said.
"We’re thrilled to be promoted. The side we had for the first nine games would have competed at the business end of Division One.
"We’ve tested the strength of our squad in the last few weeks and it’s been extremely satisfying to see guys like Tom Moores and Billy Root perform and help get us over the line.
"We will need to use that depth next season when we lose players to international cricket and the squad is stretched but I would urge the guys to take what we have achieved forward and work out a way of winning the first division."
Read has brought his 20 year stay at Trent Bridge to a close as the wicket-keeper heads to Uppingham School and the captain believes that now is the right time to hang up his gloves.
"I will miss the wonderful friends I have made in the game, not only at Trent Bridge but in the opposition too. I’ll miss my little disorganised corner of the dressing room and sharing a beer afterwards and celebrate a win or chew the fat if it’s gone wrong.
"But trying to maintain the level of performance you expect of yourself gets harder and harder, that’s why I have decided to retire.
"I feel that my performance levels are only going to drop off but I’d like to think I go out maybe not at the top but not too far off."
A century from Luke Wells lit up the play that was possible on the last day, with Sussex scoring 229 for seven before declaring.
The seven wickets were shared between Matt Carter, who took four for 106 and Samit Patel, who claimed three for 31.
At around 4.20pm the unbeaten Sussex batsmen, Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer, were happy to take off their gloves and shake hands with the Nottinghamshire captain, to signal the draw which confirmed Nottinghamshire’s promotion.
Heavy overnight rain wiped out the entire morning session, so play didn’t begin until 1pm on the final day of the 2017 season, with 67 overs allocated.
Luke Wells and Harry Finch opened the Sussex second innings, with their side already holding an 88-run advantage.
Wells attacked in the early overs and repeatedly threaded the ball through the off side for boundaries, as he made his way to 50 from just 58 balls.
The tall Sussex captain then took a particular liking to Matt Carter’s off spin by hitting three sixes straight down the ground and into the practice nets at the Cromwell Road end.
After an opening stand that was worth 123 Notts picked up two wickets in quick succession. Finch had made 43 bit fought the wrong battle when he tried to attack Samit Patel and lofted the ball straight up for a regulation catch for Tom Moores, on as a sub fielder.
Phil Salt made just one before swishing around a Carter delivery and was bowled.
Wells reached his hundred with back-to-back boundaries, his 12th and 13th from a very fluent innings, to go with four sixes in a century that came from only 97 balls. He didn’t survive any longer though, being bowled by Patel from his next delivery.
Sussex lost four wickets in quick succession straight after tea, three of them to Carter.
Chris Nash swept the spinner straight into the hands of Jake Libby at shirt fine, for one. Delray Rawlins also went sweeping, top-edging to Steven Mullaney for nought and then Laurie Evans was bowled for 13.
Patel took the final wicket of the campaign, ending a fearsome flurry from the bat of Michael Burgess.
He hit Carter for three fours and a six but his 9-ball innings of 19 produced one last moment of Chris Read glovework as the skipper ran under the lofted ball to take the final catch of his career.
Jordan and Archer prevented any further damage, before calling off the contest with their declaration.
Players from both sides formed a guard of honour for the retiring captain as he walked from the field for one last time, bringing the curtain down on a fabulous season for Nottinghamshire, with promotion to the top flight following on from successes in the Royal London One Day Cup competition and also the NatWest T20 Blast.