Boyhood Dreams: Grand Sam

Sam, you'll be sorely missed. Thank you for the effort, the crosses, the consistency, the brilliant late clearance at Wembley and for simply being the best in your position we've ever had. Good luck.

What They Said - 2008

"Dean Windass's wonderful, magical goal - the cleanest and purest of strikes - has meant that his boyhood dreams, and that of a footballing city, have come true here in north London this afternoon."
Bill Leslie, Sky Sports commentator

"At some stage, somebody was going to win the game, and how fitting for Dean Windass to get the winner. These boys have played their heart out all season for me. Now we need a big effort in the Premier League."
Phil Brown, Hull City manager

"It's a fantastic achievement. This is a history-making day for the city and the football club and I think it's important to remember those generations of Hull City fans who never saw us at Wembley and have never seen us in the Premier League, so this is on behalf of the Tiger Nation, past and present."
Paul Duffen, Hull City chairman

What They Said - 2009

"Let us not forget some of the great things Hull have given us this season - the win at Arsenal, the win at Tottenham, the draw at Liverpool, the three goals at Manchester United. It's been a bad second half of the season but they stay up because of a wonderful first half of the season, and fans young and old can celebrate."
Jeff Stelling, Sky Sports presenter

"It's about 38 games and the boys deserve to be in the Premier League for what we've put in this season."
Phil Brown, Hull City manager

"You can't take away the incredible performance this squad of players has put in this season. They've been the underdogs since the beginning of the season, they were written off early on. It's great for all of them. For the whole football club to be doing it for a second time in 106 years is a very sweet feeling."
Paul Duffen, Hull City chairman

They bled black and amber... (heroic former players up to May 2010)