Nick Barmby feels helping his hometown team Hull clinch promotion to the Barclays Premier League this weekend could drastically improve the profile of the city and the surrounding area.
The Tigers have never been in the top flight, but victory over Bristol City in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final may have a lasting financial impact on the club and the local economy.
With promotion reported to be worth in the region of £60million, Barmby is determined to play his part in the Wembley showpiece and believes Phil Brown's men should use Saturday's game as a springboard to greater things.
The former Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool midfielder was at Middlesbrough in the mid-1990s to witness the impact playing in the Premier League had on the club then and is keen to replicate that at the KC Stadium.
"For my hometown club, if we manage to get through and get into the Premier League it would mean everything, it really would," said Barmby, who scored in both legs of the 6-1 aggregate win over Watford in the semi-finals.
"It would mean everything to the people of Hull and, especially, to the kids of the city, who aspire to make it in the game.
"If we win the game on Saturday the kids are going to see the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo coming to the KC Stadium and we'll be going to Anfield and Old Trafford and it would have a massive, massive positive effect on the city in general.
"Look at Middlesbrough. When I first signed for them [in August 1995], they had just got in the Premier League and got a new stadium and it changed the town.
"It was the same at Blackburn and at Wigan and it can change everything, but I'm sure Bristol City are thinking the same.
"To get in the Premier League would mean everything.
"It lifts everything in a city. It lifts the standards, whether it's Hull or Bristol."
Back in October 2000, Barmby was involved in the last international game to be staged at the old Wembley as England lost 1-0 to Germany in a World Cup qualifier, a result which prompted Kevin Keegan to relinquish his post as national manager.
The 34-year-old admits the prospect of now playing for the club he has supported all his life at the revamped home of English football in the twilight of his career is a "dream" scenario.
"We're really looking forward to it and it will be something special," added Barmby, who joined Hull from Yorkshire rivals Leeds in June 2004.
"But we're not just going down there just for the occasion, we're going down there full of confidence.
"These are the games you want to be involved in. A lot of people from Hull won't have been to Wembley so I'm sure they'll enjoy it.
"That's the good thing about football, you can realise your dreams.
"Wembley is a special place and it generates such an atmosphere, so it'll be a special day for everyone.
"For me, if we did get promoted domestically it would rank up with anything I've won with some of the great clubs I've been fortunate enough to play for."
On the thought of making a top-flight return after a four-year exile, Barmby added: "My desire to play football still burns inside me.
"I still love coming to training, so no matter what league, I've always enjoyed my football. I'll only stop when that stops. I would like to play on but it depends on the body."
