A LATE arrival in the professional ranks and forced to accept early retirement by the age of 30, Ryan France can count himself unfortunate when reflecting on his playing days with Hull City and Sheffield United.
What his career lacked in longevity, it found adequate compensation in glory.
As one member of City's golden quartet, France joined Ian Ashbee, Boaz Myhill and Andy Dawson in climbing all the way from Division Three to the Premier League between the 2003-04 and 2007-08 seasons. Throw in back-to-back ascents with non-league Alfreton Town during his semi-pro days and France was something of a promotion prince during a curtailed career.
Where the Sheffield-born midfielder was part of the seventh, eighth and ninth promotion of City's history, number 10 now rests in the hands of Steve Bruce's side this weekend.
A win at Barnsley this weekend is guaranteed to trigger an Oakwell party and send the Tigers following in the Premier League footsteps made famous by Phil Brown's men five years ago.
A four-point advantage held over third-placed Watford ensures City are favourites to join champions Cardiff in taking the easy route to the top flight and France is confident there will be no late complications.
"You can talk about pressure but it's a good pressure the players will be under," said France, who made 151 appearances in six years at City.
"I know Hull have played well all season and built up their confidence as a team so it's a nice pressure to have on you.
"There's a difference between the pressure at the top and the pressure at the bottom, for obvious reasons, and these are the moments you want as a professional footballer.
"The big thing is that it's still comfortably in their hands. It's about what they do in the last two games.
"In my eyes it's a case of when they get over the line, not if, so that buzz and excitement will be huge in the squad."
Although a model of consistency for much of Bruce's maiden season as City boss, the Tigers' trademark vibrancy has been absent from their last two fixtures.
After moving six points clear with a 2-1 win at Ipswich 11 days ago, a 1-0 loss at Wolves and a flat 0-0 draw with Bristol City have allowed Watford to close the gap.
Bruce has promised his side will return fully focused for the challenge at Barnsley this weekend and, appreciative of the pressures, France added: "You switch off to a certain extent, but it's always there at the back of your mind.
"It's not all nerves, though, it's about the excitement of what you could achieve.
"That's what will be going through their heads, they could be just one game from the Premier League.
"It's easier said than done to tell someone to go out and enjoy these experiences, but the reason people say it is because you tend to do something better if you're enjoying it."
France was new to such expectations as he chased the first of his promotion hat-trick nine years ago.
Signed from Alfreton Town for just £15,000 by Peter Taylor in 2003, the versatile rookie was a key figure in the Tigers' rise out of Division Three during his first season.
A runners-up spot in League One followed 12 months later, before France assumed a bit-part role in the Championship play-off winning side of 2008.
Each campaign saw City hold their nerve when it mattered most and the retired 32-year-old recalls a wealth of confidence linking the promotions.
"When I first joined Hull the pressures were a lot different to what they are now," he explained.
"It wasn't really expected for us to be winning games and being at the top end of the league.
"Challenging for promotion was all new for the club and for me it was something very different. I hadn't played professional football before.
"It was a great experience and just to be involved in a winning team week in and week out gives you confidence.
"The first two years, where we won most of the games we played, were brilliant. We had so much confidence, in yourself and your team-mates. That's a great feeling and one I'm sure this team has after such a good season."
Bruce is aiming to join the likes of Cliff Britton, Colin Appleton, Brian Horton, Taylor and Brown in masterminding a City promotion.
Having twice previously guided Birmingham into the Premier League in 2002 and 2007, a personal hat-trick can be rubber-stamped at Oakwell.
None will feel the tension quite like the 52-year-old, but France believes the manager's experience will stand City in good stead – just like in the Taylor years.
"The pressures we had were pressures we wanted to be under," he said. "We knew exactly what we needed to do and Peter Taylor knew it.
"It wasn't something that needed spelling out. The gaffer just helped us along. Of course, there were words of advice when it was needed, but he trusted us to get on with it. I'm sure Steve Bruce is the same."
