THE fate of 71 clubs was placed in his hands as he stood alongside Alan Shearer with four million television viewers watching.
The day Paul Adamson took centre stage in the crucial FA Cup third-round draw is one he will never forget - particularly as he set up the clash of the tournament by picking out Arsenal who will meet Hull City.
The draw was held at The Deep in Hull last night and was aired on BBC Two and Radio Five Live.Hull City and Arsenal were put together in both the rehearsal and live event, meaning last season's final will be replicated.
The Tigers will travel to the Emirates on the weekend of January 3 and 4 in a repeat of May's final, which City lost 3-2 after extra time.
Mr Adamson is a coach at Tickton AFC with the under-12s and also works with the pan-disablity squad.
He scooped coach of the year and volunteer of the year at
the East Riding County FA Community Awards.
Mr Adamson, 44, of Beverley, says that, when the BBC got in touch with him to take part, he thought it was a joke.
He said: "I got an email from the BBC inviting me to carry out the draw and laughed, thinking it was a joke.
"Eventually, I got a call and then it all became very real.
"I was really nervous, but it was amazing out there.
"It was fantastic standing next to a football legend and having the likes of Hull City manager Steve Bruce in the crowd.
"Shearer was brilliant all evening and managed to keep me calm.
"Both Shearer and myself laughed when Hull and Arsenal were paired in the rehearsal, so it was a big shock when it happened again during the real thing.
"It is a night I will never forget and it has been recorded by all my family."
But more important for Mr Adamson, who was with his son Oliver, 11, and daughter Poppy, eight, was the exposure disability football received.
He said: "The BBC came to film a session with the kids which was shown at half-time during the FA Cup coverage on Sunday.
"I am really keen to get the message across about the opportunities for disabled children in football."
Members of the public invited to the draw groaned when the names were read out.
But Shearer still believes Hull City have a chance in the FA Cup.
He said: "I think Hull City have a great chance to get to the final again.
"It showed last season that if you are prepared to take the competition seriously then you can do it."
On holding the event at The Deep, Shearer said: "I have taken part in the FA Cup
draw before at Wembley, but this is something different.
"It's great to have the cup go round the country and get people more involved."
Presenter Mark Chapman is no stranger to Hull, having attended university here for four years in the early 1990s.
He said: "I have been back a few times, particularly for the rugby league and I still have a couple of friend here.
"The Deep is a brilliant setting and it is good for the draw to get out and about and see people's reaction to it.
"The third-round draw is the most exciting, as it gives a chance for the small clubs to be paired with the big boys."
Colin Brown, chief executive of The Deep, believes it was a fantastic coup to have the draw at the Hull aquarium.
He said: "About four million people watched on television, which is more than the total number who came through our doors in the first ten years.
"It's fantastic and you can't buy that kind of publicity."Local pupils get up and close with the FA Cup
PUPILS at Bricknell Primary School in west Hull had the chance to get up close to the famous trophy when it visited their school before the draw.
Youngsters had their photographs taken with the cup after Year 5 teacher Jamie Kitching sent an email to the FA asking if some pupils could go to the draw.
He said: "It's been fantastic. The kids have loved it and the staff have as well.
"Each of the classes have had their photo taken with it and they loved to see it close up, especially the footballers.
"I sent a cheeky email to the FA a few months ago asking if some of the children could go to the draw, as I have seen children on previous draws, and a lot more has come of it."
