Menston footballer Dean Windass this week paid tribute to the friends and supporters in his home village who will be cheering him through the biggest game in football this weekend.

Dean, 39, hopes to help Hull City - his home side when he was growing up - end their 104-year wait to reach the top flight in Saturday's play-offs final against Bristol City at Wembley.

And, as the excitement for the big match built up this week, Dean proved true to his down to earth' reputation when he dropped off tickets in person to his friends at his village pub, The Menston Arms.

Dean said: "I promised the landlord that I would get him and a few others some tickets so I'm just popping down to drop them off and share a drink before I go.

"It's every footballer's dream to play at Wembley and I have never played at the new stadium. To get the opportunity to play at the age of 39 in front of my wife, my sons and my friends is brilliant.

"I just want to enjoy the game and hopefully play well and score. Menston people have been brilliant in the pub. They are very supportive and I have good friends in Menston and Ilkley who always back me and are interested in the team.

"The landlord will be coming down with a couple of other lads and hopefully I will be in there next week with a medal celebrating with friends over a couple of pints."

Dean - who lives in Menston with his wife, Helen, and sons Joshua, 14 and Jordan, nine - stood on the terraces at old Boothferry Park to support Hull City from the age of four.

And if the striker - whose previous clubs include Bradford City - achieves his personal dream of scoring a goal on Saturday he could net his club a £60 million Premiership prize.

He said: "Obviously reaching the play-offs is a massive achievement for the club more than anything else.

"We have gone from the threat of relegation to being 90 minutes away from the Premiership - it's an incredible transformation.

"Saturday will be an emotional day - it's a great opportunity and will probably be my last chance to play again in the Premiership and I really want to do it for my home town. I am lucky - I am a supporter and I play in the game and I know what it means to supporters to get into the Premiership.

"I guess my personal aim is to play well and to perform as part of the team and try to do my best. It's a bonus if we win, it's an added bonus if we win and I score a goal."

The game with Bristol City in the Wembley showdown will be watched by millions worldwide. Landlord of the Menston Arms Alistair Turnbull, 45, said he had every faith in Dean's performance this weekend.

He said: "I know Dean is looking forward to it. It's what he has wanted all through his career - to see Hull play in the Premiership and be part of it. Most of the village is behind him, he's very friendly and is comfortable in the pub - he's been coming here for the past five years.

"We are very excited about Saturday's match. Dean got a number of free tickets to give out to his family and some others which his friends have bought. We payed £68 each for ours but it will be worth it to watch him play.

"It was really good of him to get us the tickets - there are four of us going down on Saturday morning but we will have to be back on Saturday night because it's work as usual on Sunday.

"It will be the first time I've been to Wembley - I used to support Leeds but I don't really follow football so much now. I'm going to support Dean.

"We probably see him in here twice a week but he likes his fitness and at his age he is doing himself proud. I know he will be over the moon if Hull get promoted - what a great way to end his career.

"We just want him to know that we are there for him and wish him the best of luck."