Playing in the Premier League with Leicester City was the pinnacle of Dean Hammond's career, the former Albion man has said.
Speaking on the MyAlbion Audio podcast, the 37-year-old revealed that while his promotions from League One and the Championship are moments he will never forget, nothing will beat playing in the top tier.
“It was my dream to try and play in the Premier League, but growing up it seemed a million miles away. I nearly got there with Southampton but it didn't quite happen. Brighton got to the play-offs when we should have been automatically promoted.
“I managed to do it with Leicester after we ran away with the Championship. In pre-season I was nervous because I didn't know if I would have the opportunity to play. In the off-season break I went away and got myself really fit because I knew Leicester were going to invest in players.
“We had a lot of competition in midfield. In football you have to have a bit of luck and Matty James got injured, so I got pushed up the pile a bit and then in the first game of the season against Everton Danny Drinkwater came off after 15 minutes with a hamstring injury, so I came on and made my Premier League debut.
“I got on and loved it and played 12 times in the Premier League that season. I played the first nine games and then got a couple of calf injuries that ruined my season. After that unfortunately I just couldn’t get fit.”
The best moment for Hammond was a famous 5-3 win over Manchester United at the King Power.
“That was the pinnacle of my career. It wasn't an FA Cup game where they put a weaker team out, they had Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, lots of big names.
“We we were 2-0 down pretty quickly, we got a goal back through Leo Ulloa and ended up winning 5-3. I watch it now when the highlights reappear on TV.
“It was the loudest I have ever heard a crowd when Esteban Cambiasso equalised to make it 3-3, because it was such a surprise for everyone. I remember walking back to the halfway line - and you don't tend to do this as a player - looked up at the crowd and thought 'this is what I have worked for'. It was worth all the sacrifice.”
That three points would prove to be vital as Leicester pulled off arguably one of the best survival stories the Premier League has known.
“We had a fantastic start to the season. We picked up a lot of points after playing some of the big games early on but then after that United match we didn't win for three months, which was a strange time.
“We were dead and buried but out of the last ten games we won eight, drew one and lost one. We found another gear, it's easy to say it but we knew it was coming.
“The biggest defeat we suffered all season was by two goals and we were in every game. We just couldn't score. The manager changed the formation to a 3-5-2 and we started finding the back of the net.
“Having that run of form is not the reason why the boys won the Premier League next season. There were loads of other factors, but it helped lay the foundations.”
Dean is back at the Amex tonight working for Leicester's media team.
You can listen to the podcast by clicking here, as Dean discusses every aspect of his fantastic career.