There were more than 2000 fans at New Dundas Park
Manager Mick Kennedy says he does not believe "there's a ceiling" to East Kilbride's ambitions after they reached the SPFL for the first time and relegated Bonnyrigg Rose.
The Lowland League champions followed up last weekend's 3-1 Pyramid Play-off final first-leg victory with a goalless draw in the return in Midlothian.
It means Bonnyrigg, who finished bottom of League 2 on goal difference behind Forfar Athletic, return to the Lowland League after three seasons in the SPFL.
East Kilbride, the new town established in 1947 to house Glasgow overspill and now with 75,000 inhabitants, will have its first-ever team in the SPFL.
But Kennedy believes they should be targeting reaching the second-tier Championship within five years.
"The hard work starts to build a squad to go and compete and win League 2 next year and go into the community and grow the fanbase," he told BBC Scotland.
"I don't think there is a ceiling. The aspiration for the club needs to be a target to try to get to the Championship.
"It's been a long journey and the owners have invested a lot of money to get to this position, so it felt it was never going to come, so I'm sure there will be a party tonight."
East Kilbride lost to Stranraer in last season's play-off final, having also been beaten in the 2017 final and 2019 semi-finals.
However, they have finally made it to the senior leagues after also beating Highland League champions Brora Rangers in this season's semis.
Kennedy previously found fame leading sixth-tier Darvel to a Scottish Cup victory over top-flight Aberdeen two years ago.
"When I was asked to take the job a year ago, I promised I'd get them promoted and I'm delighted," he said.
"I think people have to that I came from amateur football. My playing career was all in amateur football, my management career was in amateur football, so it's been a bit of a journey for me.
"It is a great achievement for myself to get into this position and managing the club in the professional league."
Bonnyrigg had reached the SPFL for the first time themselves by defeating Cowdenbeath in the 2022 final.
They finished eighth twice and would have done so again had they not been penalised six points for a breach of SPFL rules regarding their pitch's gradient at New Dundas Park.
