What a difference a season makes for Hull City. Last time out the Tigers were involved in a relegation battle yet now they are within one game of moving into the Premier League. For one player, in particular, it would be a dream come true. Nicky Barmby has experienced Premiership football before but not with the club where he was born. Givemefootball's Lawrie Madden caught up with him on his way to Wembley.
Q:
HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THE GAME?
A:
It's fantastic. It's the richest game in the world. For my home town team, and to see all our fans at Wembley, who've never been there, it will be something special. We're really looking forward to it. But we're not going down there just for the occasion, we're going down there to win and we are full of confidence. We know It will be a difficult game because Bristol City are a good side, a good footballing side.
Q:
HOW ARE THE LESS EXPERIENCED PLAYERS COPING WITH THE PRESSURE?
A:
To be fair the lads have coped well with it all season. They've been very consistent. We've been in the top six for the past four or five months of the season, so that was pressure in it itself, as were the play-off semi finals, and they've coped with it well. You can give them the odd word of advice but mostly they've been fine.
Q:
WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING THE LOCAL LAD HELPING THE TEAM YOU SUPPORTED GET TO THIS STAGE?
A:
That's the good thing about football, you can realise your dreams. We've always had a dream of getting into the Premiership ever since we moved to the KC Stadium. Adam Pearson deserves a lot of credit for buying the club when no-one else would, and then the new owners have taken over and been fantastic with the manager, bringing in the likes of Jay-Jay, Henrik Pedersen, people like that. They've put their finance into the club so there's always been a realistic dream of getting in the Prem. But this year, as Bristol City and Stoke City would probably agree, has been a great year to get promoted, because the Championship's been so inconsistent, with teams beating each other. So this year, we've seen it'' possible to grasp the opportunity.
Q:
DO YOU HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES OF WEMBLEY?
A:
The last game at Wembley! Good memories, to be involved, but obviously the result wasn't the greatest. It was an emotional day.The old Wembley was fantastic. I know football moves on and everyone's getting new stadiums, Arsenal, the new Wembley... I took my two lads there to watch England play Brazil and it's a superb place with a great atmosphere. The atmosphere will be fantastic because these are teams from big cities. Sure Bristol will have sold their allocation, we've certainly sold ours, so that'll make for a great atmosphere. I played there in the semi final when we lost to Arsenal and Tony Adams scored but to go out at Wembley is special.
Q:
WHERE DOES THIS RANK IN YOUR CAREER?
A:
Domestically, this'll rank up with anything I've won with some of the great clubs I've been fortunate enough to play for. For my home town club, if we manage to get through and get into the Premiership, it would mean everything, it really would. It would mean everything to the people of Hull and, especially, to the kids of the city, who aspire to make it in the game. To see the likes of Ronaldo coming to the KC, Chelsea, going to Anfield, Old Trafford, it would have a massive positive effect on the city.
Q:
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER CRACK AT THE PREMIERSHIP?
A:
I have got another year left on my on contract but I'm just thinking about the next game. Who knows, if we manage to win on Saturday, I'll go and see the chairman after he's had a few drinks, and you never know.
Q:
HOW WILL GETTING TO THE PREMIERSHIP CHANGE THE CLUB?
A:
You only have to look at Middlesbrough as an example of how things can change, improve. When I first signed for them, it changed the town, Prem, new stadium. Blackburn the same, Wigan the same. Sure Bristol are thinking the same. It lifts everything in a city. It lifts the standards, whether it's Hull or Bristol, because they're seeing these world-class stars every other week. If you want to aspire to be a Premiership player, they're the players to watch at close quarters. If you get kids out on the streets, it can influence them positively.
