I remember seeing TV pictures of the players on the pitch after the Swindon final the year before. Central News used to show this clip of us all looking absolutely devastated, with Everybody Hurts by REM playing in the background. Seeing that footage, as well as the huge disappointment of missing out on promotion in the previous two seasons, meant we were absolutely determined to finish off the job in the 1994 final against Derby.

We had a good season, challenging for automatic promotion at one stage, but ended up finishing fourth.

That meant a play-off semi-final with Tranmere Rovers. It was a tough tie and after grinding out a 0-0 draw at Prenton Park in the first leg, we won 2-1 at Filbert Street, with David Speedie scoring a last-minute winner.

I missed a lot of that campaign after injuring my knee at Middlesbrough.

I was running towards the touchline and, all of a sudden, it just felt like my knee caved in. I was in terrible pain and collapsed by the side of the pitch.

In the treatment room, a member of Middlesbrough's medical staff just said: "Bandage it up, it'll be fine."

A few days later, a scan revealed I'd ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament and would be out for months.

My first game back was against Portsmouth in the league. We were getting beaten 3-0 when I scored. I clashed with their keeper and the referee disallowed it, which I thought was wrong, but at least it cheered our supporters up a bit.

I only started one other game before the final, and I remember Brian Little taking me to one side in the build-up and asking me if I was at least 90 per cent fit.

I knew I was only about 50 per cent fit and told him I was 90 per cent so I could play. I was desperate to get out on that Wembley pitch and make a difference after spending most of the season in the stands.

During the pre-match meeting at the hotel, Brian read out the team. There were a few raised eyebrows as he plumped for a 4-3-3 formation with me playing up front alongside Iwan Roberts and Ian Ormondroyd.

I didn't agree with the line-up and thought I should've been playing at the back.

Having experienced the special Wembley atmosphere before, there was less concern about the "big day out'' or soaking up the occasion from the players. We were entirely focused on getting the job done on the pitch.

I knew I wasn't properly fit. I used to spring off my right leg to win headers and, to be honest, I never really felt I was the same player after that injury.

I didn't feel right before the final and certainly wasn't expecting to get on the scoresheet.

Derby, with quality players such as Gordon Cowans, Mark Pembridge and Marco Gabbiadini, should probably have beaten us and they missed some great chances on the day.

Tommy Johnson put them ahead in the first half but had missed a real sitter before then.

I equalised before half-time when Gary Coatsworth sent a hanging cross into the box. Iwan jumped with the keeper and pretty much took him out of the equation, allowing me to loop a header towards goal.

Derby defender Paul Williams was on the line and looked certain to clear it, but somehow he managed to miss his header and it bounced into the net, meaning it was all square at the interval.

As the game looked to be heading for extra-time, I remember John Harkes went clean through for Derby and sliced a left-foot shot wide of the post.

About a minute later we went up the other end and, after some good build-up play between me and Julian Joachim, the ball ended up with Simon Grayson on the right wing.

He whipped in a great cross, which Ian Ormondroyd met with a powerful header.

I thought it was a goal, but Martin Taylor made an amazing save. I followed up the rebound and managed to get in front of the defenders to prod it into the net.

The jubilation from the City fans was unbelievable. I think the commentator said something like: "Leicester City are in dreamland now!"

And we were.

It was an amazing feeling to score two goals in the game, especially to grab the winner and finally gain promotion.

Brian Little always said he had a three-year plan to get the club into the Premiership and he was spot-on in the end.

After the game we were up until the early hours celebrating. We were all drunk before we left the stadium after sinking plenty of beers and Champagne in the players' lounge.

After a big night at the Sketchley Grange Hotel, I went to bed at about 6am and remember being woken up just two hours later by Sabras Radio, who wanted to speak to me.

I can't remember what I said to them, but it probably wasn't one of my better interviews. I felt something in my knee during the game but, caught up in the euphoria of the victory, I didn't really pay it any attention.

I managed to get through pre-season okay and started in our first Premiership match against Newcastle.

Against Blackburn a few days later I felt the knee popping and clicking all over the place. During the first half, it completely went and I remember lying by the touchline in agony.

I carried on playing for about 70 minutes until I felt it go again. That was it and I was stretchered off.

I later found out that my cartilage was torn in four places. I remember the surgeon asking me if I had insurance as he thought it might be the end of my career.

I had other ideas. I was only 30 and believed I had another five or six years in the game.

We'd finally made it to the Premiership after years of chasing top flight football and I wasn't going to give up on it without a fight.