73: Dean Windass, Bradford City, Merlin’s F.A. Premier League 2000, Millennium Edition Sticker Collection

If you’ve ever had the pleasure, or agony, of experiencing your team going through the play-offs you’ll understand that those three extra games at the end of the season always seem to manage to pack in all of the drama of the previous forty-six. As a Palace fan these games have some very happy memories. David Hopkin’s last minute hit-and-hope lob to get us promoted in 1997; Neil Shipperley bundling home from one yard out against West Ham United in 2004; Kevin Phillips’ exceptional penalty to send us up in 2013. Conversely, there’s been a lot of heartache. Steve Claridge’s shin volley in the last minute of extra time in 1996 genuinely reduced me to tears. In my defence I was only seven. And in 2008 Ben Watson’s penalty miss and a Lee Trundle strike saw us knocked out in the semi-finals, once again in extra time.

Once I’d recovered from the disappointment I remember genuinely looking forward to that year’s play-off final due to the fact that whoever won out of Bristol City and Hull City would go on to enjoy their first ever campaign in the Premier League. This is a ridiculous thing of mine that prevails to this day and applies to the main Championship season as well. Forgive the romanticism and prejudice in equal measure but I get bored of seeing the same teams yo-yo between the top two tiers (unless it’s Palace in the 90s of course). So although it would have been hilarious if Lee Trundle had become a top-flight striker I was made up when a Dean Windass’ goal sent the Tigers up on a sunny May afternoon. And what a beautiful goal it was too.

Windass, as we can see above, had previous in the Premier League having led the line in Bradford City’s debut season in 1999/2000 and he followed up his ten goals in that campaign with eight more in all competitions for the Bantams in 2000/01 despite regularly filling in in midfield to allow Benito Carbone to play in a more advanced role. With relegation all but guaranteed, and Bradford descending into financial meltdown, he moved on to Middlesbrough but injuries limited his first-team opportunities at the Riverside. Having spent loan spells at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, and returning to Bradford, Windass made the move back to his hometown club Hull City after over a decade away. Who better to smash home a Wembley wondergoal to send them into the Premier League? Even sweeter, Windass had responded to being left out in a game against Sheffield United by telling manager Phil Brown that he would score the goal that would win the game against Bristol City. Clearly it was written in the stars.

Despite being on the cusp of 40 Windass was determined to play a part in the Tigers’ Premier League debut but was forced to bide his time as Hull made a decent start to the season. In November 2008 he came off the bench to score an important equaliser against Portsmouth to rescue a point and was named on the bench for the following fixture against Stoke City. During this game he picked up a yellow card while warming up too close to the runway required for Rory Delap’s famous throw-ins. Delap found it funny. The crowd found it funny. Proof, if it were needed, that most referees have no sense of humour. Windass eventually got a start for the Tigers against Manchester City in a game that was remembered mainly for Phil Brown’s decision to deliver his angry team-talk at half-time on the pitch in front of the travelling fans. Whatever reaction Brown was aiming for didn’t materialise as City ran out 5-1 winners.

Frustrated with the lack of game time Windass moved on loan to Oldham Athletic in January 2009. In only his second game for the Latics he made the League One team of the week after deputising in goal for 40 minutes and keeping a clean sheet against runaway league leaders Leicester City. A week later he scored his first goal, and his 200th career league goal, for the club in a 2-1 win over Northampton Town but, following clashes with manager John Sheridan, returned to Hull in March despite being unavailable for selection due to the conditions of his loan deal. Following a short spell at Darlington, and brief cameos for Barton Town and Scarborough Athletic, he retired from professional football in 2011.

Retirement was not kind to Windass and, following the breakdown of his marriage and the death of his father in short succession, he made an attempt on his life in 2012. His frankness in the wake of this opened the door for better support and greater discussion of mental health in football and it is fair to say the game has made significant strides in providing the necessary help and guidance for many players. As of 2015 Windass has served as a club ambassador for Hull City and, alongside the likes of Mark Crossley and Chris Kirkland, has promoted more open discussion of mental health and wellbeing through the excellent #walkingisbrilliant charity initiative.

On the pitch Dean Windass was a huge character who delivered at the biggest moments racking up 234 goals in 732 games. Off the pitch his courage and honesty have showcased a more vulnerable side which has allowed countless footballers, and people in wider society, to open up about mental health which can only be a positive thing. If a play-off final hero can do it maybe we all can.