To call myself a champion of the United States feels incredible. I suppose it is my version of the American Dream. We travelled across this vast country into the home of our rivals – Columbus Crew, the Eastern Conference winners – and came out victorious in Major League Soccer's biggest game.

Personally, this was the best feeling of my career. It topped beating Arsenal in the League Cup because here I was captain. That win with Birmingham was fantastic, and unexpected. But to lift this trophy with the armband was extra special; so pleasurable.

We wanted to press Columbus early, but I didn't know we would press them that much! Diego Valeri put their goalkeeper Steve Clark under pressure and scored after just 27 seconds. Rodney Wallace headed in not long after. Getting those goals were the perfect start.

Liam Ridgewell poses with team-mate Nat Borchers and the MLS trophy after Portland Timbers beat Columbus Crew

Portland Timbers captain Ridgewell lifts the MLS Cup with owner Merritt Paulson on Sunday night

Ridgewell shares a conversation with owner Paulson after clinching a memorable victory over Columbus Crew

Kei Kamara scored for them to make it 2-1 and we had to grit it and defend. They were always going to come onto us as the home side but we held firm.

At half-time I told the lads, 'It is 45 minutes, we don't concede and we have won. That's it. We just have to keep concentrated. Lets do it.' Everyone was excited.

Huge credit must be given to our Timbers supporters. A couple of thousand made it to the match, which is an amazing number. The distance from Portland to Columbus is 2,000 miles, about 500 miles further than London to Moscow. It is crazy, like a Champions League game in terms of travel.

Our fans certainly made themselves heard, they sounded louder than the home crowd and spurred us on. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to follow us all year so to win the MLS Cup is the least we can do!

Ridgewell admits being crowned champions of the United States feels sweeter than winning the League Cup

Liam Ridgewell's father enjoyed a beer with a friend on a sofa while tailgating prior to the MLS Cup final

Ridgewell's brothers Clark (far left) and Gavin (far right) with friends Mark and Rob in the middle were in attendance in Ohio alongside Timber Joey, the Portland mascot who cuts a log every time they score

My dad and brothers were also in the away section. They were more than merry having been tailgating from 10.30am before the game. They had a sofa to sit on and enjoyed the barbeque with our club mascot Timber Joey.

I received dozens of text messages, my phone has been blowing up. All 'well done' and 'congratulations'.

A lot of the boys from West Brom, my last club in England, got in touch; Chris Brunt, Boaz Myhill, Ben Foster. Barry Bannan, my former Aston Villa teammate, sent me a little video on SnapChat. It was really nice of everyone.

The club laid on celebrations in a converted church, which had a hall to dance and a bar. It was perfect. We had a really good night, the lads got to let their hair down.

It turned into a karaoke session with Sean McAuley, our assistant manager, taking control of the mic. He is always singing – he does it on the bus and in the showers. So he got up on stage and did all the old school tunes. Proper rock. He was very good, it was like a concert.

The former Aston Villa, Birmingham and West Brom defender holds off Crew attacker Kei Kamara in the final

I didn't sing. I made a speech. My voice is croaky at the best of times.

Word went round that Gordon Ramsey was in town. Someone saw him at a restuarnt around the corner and took a picture. So I gave him an invite on Twitter to join us. But I don't think he fancied it in the end!

I stayed up into the early hours then got off the bed before rising to catch the flight home. We have the open-top bus parade on Tuesday evening.

I've seen Manchester United and Chelsea do it on TV, so looking forward to do it myself. They are shutting down the whole of Portland. It has been a crazy week and that will be the highlight. It might need to be a Freddy Flintoff-style sunglasses job for me though.

The 31-year-old had to keep a close eye on former Norwich striker Kamara who was joint top scorer this term

Ridgewell put in a typically solid performance for his side as the Timbers won the MLS Cup for the first time

I fly back to England on Wednesday and will see my two children on Thursday. I spoke to my son Luca briefly over WhatsApp and I will FaceTime him when I get back to Portland.

I haven't seen my kids since July. It's been a long time and very difficult being away from them. It's the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with them.

Once the celebrations are over I will be looking to keep fit. A January loan to a club in England is an option. I went on loan to Wigan last season and I need to speak to Portland over the next couple of weeks. I have a year left on my contract and maybe that is something we can talk about.