The magic of The Crucible

It's1991, a staggeringly cold -20C and I'm on way to watch England play Cameroon in a meaningless friendly.

And then I see it; an image that will stay with me until the day I die: Wembley lit up in all its majesty.

I was only 12 but remember thinking this was a dream come true. Here was this stadium I had seen on TV so many times, but never got close to it.

Fast forward 18 years and I'm standing outside The Crucible in Sheffield embarrassing my wife and son by taking dozens of pictures.

Going to the 'theatre of dreams' for the first time felt like that Wembley experience as a child - but here I was, a 30-year-old man.

Like Wembley, I'd grown up with this place, lived its history but never got the chance to see it.

Now I'm kicking myself for leaving it so late.

The magic of The Crucible is in the simple things: standing outside its famous sign to walking into the warm, stuffy arena.

But it's also getting the chance to walk past the professionals in the street - and even finding yourself propped up next to them at the bar.

It's not just the English who have a love for The Crucible. Last year a Dutch gent in a bright orange top was in the front row of almost every session. And a student from China flew over for just the opening match - such is its appeal.

So if you've never gone to The Crucible, put it on the Bucket list. One thing's for sure if you do, you'll keep on going back.