FORMER Oxford United trio Dean Windass, Sam Ricketts and Brian Horton, will pit their wits against the top names in the world after Hull's promotion the Premier League on Saturday.

And Windass proved the hero, scoring the only goal as the Tigers beat Bristol City 1-0 in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final at Wembley.

The striker, who scored 15 goals in 33 league games for a struggling Oxford in 1999, is the club's record signing, joining for £475,000 from Aberdeen.

He left Oxford to join Bradford City for £950,000, and later moved to Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday (on loan), before rejoining Hull, his home-town club.

And Windass admitted that scoring the winner was a moment he will never forget.

The veteran striker broke the deadlock with six minutes remaining in the first half against Bristol City and achieved his dream of helping Hull reach the top-flight.

"It's a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life," he said.

"Fraizer Campbell picked me out brilliantly and I just knew I was going to volley it. I was absolutely delighted to see it hit the back of the net."

The 39-year-old added: "It feels unbelievable. I don't think there is anyone left in Hull today looking at how many supporters we've got here.

"To score the wining goal is fantastic. We've worked hard from the start of the season and we've got our rewards.

"I've never been here Wembley before so to get the winner is a great feeling."

For Ricketts, it caps a fairytale change in fortunes since he left United in the summer of 2003 to join Conference side Telford.

A series of fine displays for them - including starring in their FA Cup giant-killing, earned a move to League Two side Swansea.

And from there, Ricketts, the son of show jumper Derek Ricketts, and a nephew of former jockey John Francome, has not looked back.

He won promotion with the Welsh side, earned a call-up to the full Wales squad and secure a £300,000 move to Hull in the summer of 2006.

Horton became assistant to Phil Brown on May 23, 2007 - 19 years after he resigned as Hull manager.

After leaving Oxford in 1993, Horton managed Manchester City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton, Port Vale and Macclesfield before rejoining Hull.