Tigers owe a huge debt to Deano
Prepared to chance his standing as a Boothferry Park icon, all chips were thrown in for one more spin of the Tigers wheel.
Two years on and City will be eternally grateful that Windass ever took the gamble.
The returns have been staggering. If a goal to ensure Championship survival was not enough during his first season back, with it he sent Leeds hurtling into League One.
Then came history when scoring the Tigers’ one and only goal at Wembley to end a 104-year wait for top-flight football.
Windass’ unforgettable home-coming has had romance and drama.
But it could so easily have gone the other way.
Twelve years on from a reluctant farewell, a tiring 37-year-old returned hungry for a swan-song.
As the loveable maverick his charm remained, but pertinent questions surrounded his ageing legs.
But a loan move from Bradford to the KC Stadium was one Windass had longed for.
During the previous two seasons following promotion to the Championship, the veteran had been keen to join the party.
So when agreeing a switch back to his home-town club on January 17, 2007, Windass could not have been happier.
Ahead of a scheduled meeting over dinner with Phil Brown that night, the ever-vocal Windass had revelled in telling local media outlets of an impending move home.
Little did Windass know how close he had come to scuppering the deal.
Hearing his “new signing” waxing lyrical en route to their meeting at Medici’s, the North Ferriby restaurant, Brown was not amused.
But such was City’s perilous plight at the foot of the Championship, Brown could ill-afford to let his loose tongue cripple the move.
Within three days, the second-coming was announced at Selhurst Park when emerging as a first-half substitute against Crystal Palace.
Despite hitting the woodwork twice, his dream return did not bring a goal and after going another four games without scoring, some questioned whether hearts were beginning to rule heads.
How wrong that minority proved to be. Opening his account with a decisive brace to sink high-flying Birmingham, Windass prophetically announced another six goals would bring survival.,/P>
Two came in a 5-2 defeat to Ipswich while another three came in a crucial 4-0 win over Southend to lift the Tigers clear of the bottom three.
Just one more was needed and as City stumbled through the final month of the season, Windass took centre stage in Cardiff.
City knew victory, coupled with defeat for rivals Leeds at home to Ipswich, would guarantee safety. Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Pouncing on Steve McPhee’s saved shot, Windass poked home the game’s only goal early in the second half. He ran headfirst into the 2,000-strong away support and into the arms of his brother-in-law for the afternoon’s abiding memory.
With Championship status assured for another year, Brown joked that Windass would be penning his own contract when finalising a permanent move from Valley Parade.
With Bradford relegated to League Two in his absence, a return to West Yorkshire was not an option.
While holding out for the best price, Windass was eventually sent on his way for £250,000 – a sum on top of the £150,000 loan outlay.
Training as hard as any at the club’s pre-season camp in Italy, Windass was not prepared to let his love affair go.
Hitting match-winning goals against Wolves, Scunthorpe, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth his stock remained high but then came a shuddering set-back.
After rescuing a 2-2 draw against Blackpool in early February, Windass was rushed to hospital with a suspected blood clot in his leg.
Privately, he sobbed with his wife Helen believing his season – and possibly career – to be over.
Happily, the diagnosis was less severe and six weeks later he was back for the promotion push.
The romantic in Windass will have been glad to be heading for the play-offs and after scoring in the first leg of the semi-final against Watford, a first appearance at Wembley was his and City’s.
What followed beggars belief.
Volleying his home side into the Premier League with a stunning strike, around 40,000 fans would have queued to kiss him.
Just 48 hours on from firing City into the Premier League and still he struggled to comprehend events.
Boarding the celebratory bus tour through the city, Windass struggled to find the words to fit the occasion.
Even when inebriated on the balcony of the civic reception and singing foul-mouth ditties, Queen Victoria Square was in raptures.
But therein lay the charm of Windass, one that transcends his abilities as a footballer.
While career earnings have brought the luxurious lifestyle which befits a footballer, fans can relate to Windass like few others.
Barracked by opposing fans and adored by his own, 20 years in the game have done little to dampen his boisterous enthusiasm to entertain.
But such a trait has eventually worked against him.
Unwilling to settle for a place in the shadows and as hungry as ever for a leading role, Windass’ final acts at City have been regrettable.
Out of favour with Brown since firing the Tigers into the top flight, a final shot at the Premier League has brought little more than frustration.
Years of reflection may see him regretting his inability to walk away after the ultimate high of Wembley.
Yet after conjuring a catalogue of memories on a magnificent homecoming, history will forgive him that.
Comment on this story