I love my job as a football writer for the Sunday Mirror. I have been to World Cups, European Championships and Champions League finals and collected a million memories I never thought possible.
But nothing beats the thrill of playing the game you love.
The summer of 1990 will be remembered by most people for Pavarotti and Gazza's tears.
For me, as a young man cutting his teeth as a journalist with a local newspaper in Manchester, I got to realise a lifetime's ambition.
It wasn't the occasion that was so special, although it is no mean feat to reach the Wythenshawe League Sunday Cup Final.
But the final itself used to be played on Maine Road, the former home of Manchester City.
I had stood on the Kippax as a kid, dreaming of what it would be like to run out on the turf that had been so lovingly maintained by Stan Gibson.
And, on Sunday, May 6, 1990, I got to do just that in the kit of the famous Man United.
Don't be confused with Manchester United. This was Manor United, pride of Ashton-on-Mersey.
The stadium wasn't packed. I think there was a bus strike on that day!
But that didn't bother any of us - and to make it even more special, we had won a toss with our opponents Wythenshawe Amateurs to use the home dressing room.
Manor were big favourites, but we were in for an early shock.
As the game kicked off, I noticed my grandad walking to his seat in the Main Stand and tried to catch his eye. That meant I missed the Amateurs' centre-forward put the ball in our net after about six seconds.
From that moment on we played some great stuff but just couldn't put the ball in the net.
Then equalised 10 minutes from the end and went on to grab a late winner thanks to super-sub Lee Taylor.
Mancunian legend Denis Law presented us with the trophy - and a picture today sits proudly on my desk.
I've also got some snaps of the rather messy celebrations that followed, but that's another story.
Simon Mullock
Simon is the North West Football Writer for the Sunday Mirror
Follow Simon on Twitter @MullockSMirror
Memory added on April 5, 2013
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