Mark Cartwright has praised boss Micky Adams for making him feel part of Albion's promotion party.

Adams dropped the keeper and transfer-listed him following a 3-1 setback for the Seagulls at Cheltenham in February.

Cartwright has not played since, but he has continued to train and travel with the team and joined in the promotion celebrations against Plymouth and Darlington.

"Obviously it was disappointing when the gaffer told me what he was doing, but his attitude to me has been brilliant," Cartwright said. I have never not wanted to carry on and be at Brighton.

"Some managers would make a decision like that and forget about you, but he has been really helpful. That has made it easier for me to carry on and keep my enthusiasm going in training.

"As soon as we got promotion at Plymouth Micky came over to me, shook my hand and thanked me for everything I have done. The players have all been brilliant as well. They said well done to me and told me I had been part of it."

Cartwright certainly has. Six of the club record-breaking 22 clean sheets have been down to him.

That created a record in itself, because he achieved the shut-outs in six successive appearances.

Four of them were in September and the other two prior to the Cheltenham defeat after hernia surgery ruled Cartwright out for months and gave Michel Kuipers the chance to establish himself as No.1.

"The injury cost me a lot," said Cartwright. "Michel has got to take a lot of the credit, because he has played in the majority of the games.

"But it's nice to have six clean sheets and be in the record books in some way."

Cartwright will also have a tangible reward for his topsy-turvy season with the Seagulls.

He was thrilled when I broke the news to him that he will be entitled to a title winners' medal.

He has made an unlucky 13 appearances, which is just over the 25 per cent guideline laid down by the Football League.

"That makes you realisle you have been a relatively big part of the whole thing," Cartwright said.

"Promotion is my biggest achievement in football, so it's something I will never forget. I won the Welsh Cup with Wrexham, but that was a one-off and we weren't playing against quality opposition. This has been over the whole season."

Cartwright abandoned a business management degree in Florida earlier in his career.

He knows his time with Albion is almost up and he is keeping his options open.

"I was toying with the idea of going back to America, playing professionally there for six months and going back to university to finish my degree," he revealed.

"At this point in time, having spoken to the gaffer and my parents, I will probably wait and see what happens in the summer. Hopefully I can get myself with another team pre-season.

"When I was at Wrexham I was always worried about things at this time of year, but Micky has given me advice and been spot-on with me.

"From day one the players and fans made me feel welcome and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself down here. It's a shame it has got to end, but I am glad it is ending with happy memories."