IF TENSION is threatening to take hold of Hull City's dressing room with promotion to the Premier League at stake this weekend, Ryan France can point towards May 1, 2004 for inspiration.
Nine years ago Peter Taylor's men were chasing the club's first promotion since 1985 and, despite occupying a top-three berth in Division Three for the majority of the campaign, the pressures were beginning to take a heavy toll during the season's final weeks.
A frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Huddersfield Town continued an uneasy sequence of one win from six games.
And with two points required from the last two fixtures to guarantee a long-awaited climb out of the basement league, all roads led to Yeovil Town on the penultimate weekend of the season.
Mercifully, it was at Huish Park, in front of almost 2,000 travelling fans, that a memorable chapter in City's history was penned with a 2-1 win that began a rapid climb up the Football League.
The parallels are evident as Steve Bruce's side prepare for their own judgment weekend in the Championship's promotion race, and France has every faith history can repeat itself at Barnsley.
"The win at Yeovil was fantastic, I'll never forget that day," said France, a starter at Huish Park.
"I can remember us taking our time getting over the finish line that season, but when it came it was a great relief.
"It's sometimes to be expected. We had a few games when we didn't play to our best but we still had time to spare.
"A lot like Hull this season, it was always in our hands and that's the best feeling to have. You're not relying on anyone else.
"I'm sure the lads will be confident going to Barnsley, no question about that."
Victory over Yeovil, courtesy of goals from Stuart Green and Ian Ashbee, sealed the first of three promotions in five years on City's breathless ascent from Division Three to the Premier League.
Along with Ashbee, Boaz Myhill and Andy Dawson, France was famously one of four players to complete the entire journey and holds the unforgettable day in Somerset as one of his greatest memories.
"I can remember the final whistle going and then things went absolutely mental, celebrating with the lads and just enjoying the occasion," he recalled.
"I actually gave my shirt away to a fan and swapped it for the tightest orange t-shirt you can imagine, I couldn't even get into it! It wasn't a great swap, but I'm sure the kid I gave it to was happy enough.
"We knew what it meant to the fans and the club after such a long time in the bottom division so to enjoy that day with the lads was great.
"It would have been nicer to do it at the KC Stadium but the fans who travelled down there certainly enjoyed it.
"Winning at Yeovil was nice because it meant we got to enjoy the occasion a week later.
"If you let it go down to the last game then the pressure really does build up, but as long as it's in Hull's hands, as it was for us, it'll always be a good pressure to have."
