The former City striker scored the winning goal under the Arch in 2008 to beat Bristol City in the Championship play-offs and sent his boyhood club into the Premier League – a promotion which would have been seen as something of a surprise at the start of that campaign.
Arsenal v Hull City
The FA Cup with Budweiser
The Final
5pm, Saturday 17 May 2014
Wembley connected by EE
Winners receive £1.8m
Runners-up receive £900,000
Live on ITV & BT Sport
Windass’s successors are now one game away from potentially bettering that achievement in The FA Cup, as they prepare to face Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday.
Steve Bruce’s side will be tagged by many as outsiders against the Gunners, who are searching for their first trophy since lifting The Cup back in 2006.
But Windass knows that anything is possible on an occasion like this, after seeing Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City in last year’s Final.
"Nobody believed that we’d get to The Final, but now we are there and there’s no pressure on the lads, as everyone expects Arsenal to win," said the former Bradford City and Middlesbrough forward.
"The lads can go out there, enjoy the game and not get too wrapped up in the occasion because the pressure is on Arsenal.
Windass celebrates promotion with Hull City at Wembley in 2008
"Someone is going to become a hero - I went there and came away a hero - and it might be someone else’s turn now.
"We need to just go there, give a good account of ourselves and see what happens.
"We know we’re not the favourites, but I’ve watched FA Cup Finals over and over again and the underdog can come away victorious.
"Wigan almost beat Arsenal in the Semi-Final, so the lads can take encouragement from that and it’s a one-off game - it’s about who handles the occasion the best.
"The players will be looking forward to it, but you can’t get wrapped up in the euphoria of the occasion, you just have to play the game."
Despite admitting he has little recollection of the game itself at Wembley in 2008, it remains the proudest moment from a career which saw him make over 700 appearances and score nearly 250 goals.
And speaking on behalf of Beko, the official home appliance partner of The FA Cup, he is hoping that someone else can join him in the list of City legends at the KC Stadium after Saturday’s game.
Windass strikes home the Wembley winner in 2008
"It changed my life, in more ways than one," he revealed.
"I never thought that I’d ever play at Wembley when I was growing up and I certainly never thought I’d score the winning goal there for Hull City.
"It was great for me because I’m a Hull lad and a Hull City supporter, so to do it on that stage, it’s ‘Roy Of The Rovers’ stuff.
"But it happened to me and hopefully it will happen to someone else on Saturday."
Windass has spent a busy week building-up to The Final in his hometown, which he says is “buzzing”, and spent some time with local children and The FA Cup on Tuesday.
He was joined by former Arsenal defender Martin Keown at Sidmouth Primary School to help host an interactive skills coaching session before heading to the KC Stadium to meet more Cup fevered fans.
And he could not help but admit to a little envy of the local youngsters, who are now looking forward to watching their team in an FA Cup Final at Wembley.
"Times have changed since I was a lad around here," said Windass, who will be a guest of Club Wembley on Saturday before appearing as a pundit on ITV’s coverage of the game.
Windass and Martin Keown with The FA Cup and local children in Hull this week
"I’ve been working the kids at their school and they’ve just seen The FA Cup here, so it’s a very exciting time for them.
"To go up into the Premier League last year was massive and to stay in the Premier League this season was massive.
"So to go to The FA Cup Final on Saturday has got the town buzzing again and the lead-up to the day has been hectic.
"It’s a massive competition, one of the biggest in the world, so for us to be involved in The Final is amazing.
"I’m a Hull City supporter, so that makes it absolutely magnificent.
"I just hope we can go and bring The FA Cup back to Hull because it’s not very often that you get to play in an FA Cup Final so you’ve got to enjoy it when it does come around."
