RICHARD BLAKEWAY has urged York City Knights’ travelling army to turn out in force tomorrow and shout the side into the grand final.

The Knights go to Keighley Cougars for their long-awaited Championship One play-off, where victory would send James Ratcliffe’s men straight to the winner-takes-all showdown.

The club have been trying to get as many fans as possible to buy Knights flags to provide a sea of blue and red at Cougar Park, and Blakeway, who came to Huntington Stadium in July, believes their vocal backing could play a big part.

“They’ve been brilliant,” he said. “Not a lot of teams have supporters that get behind the team like York do and make that noise. If we can have that at Keighley it can spur us into the final.”

Blakeway has also been impressed by the relationship between the team and the terraces, highlighted by joint chants of When The Knights Go Marching In at the end of games.

“We do that singing at the end of games and it’s all geared towards the fans because they’re a big part of it,” he said. “For me, seeing smiling faces is a big thing.

“Tomorrow it’ll be the two best teams in the league – barring (champions) Dewsbury – and it’s now the business end of the season.

“I’m sure Barry Eaton will have his Keighley team up for it.

“They’re a group that play for each other – but so are we.

“Everybody loves the big games. Anybody can beat anybody on their day in this division.

“We’re a very good side when we play as a team and we can beat anybody.”

Ratcliffe too was hoping for a big travelling contingent – this would boost club coffers as gate receipts in play-off ties are halved, and provide the Knights with the proverbial extra man.

“We’re urging all the fans to get over there,” he said. “We’ve christened it ‘flagtastic’.

“It’s a big game – you can’t get away from that fact. Hopefully they can make a lot of noise and we can give them something to make noise about.”

Blakeway, increasingly impressive, could prove a key figure for York, especially in the absence of the suspended David March.

He moved to loose-forward against Oldham when March pulled out in the warm-up due to injury, and could fill that pivotal role again, although Ratcliffe was not publicly naming his side until just before kick off.

Second-row Rob Kelly and scrum-half Jonathan Schofield have been added to the squad that beat Swinton last time out. Kelly’s defence could shore up the leaky left side that day, while Schofield gives Ratcliffe a half-back option should he decide to switch Loz Wildbore to loose-forward.

Blakeway said: “As long as I’ve got a shirt I’m not bothered where I play. I just want to do the best I can and win that grand final.”

Such a success would be the second for Blakeway in three years, having achieved the feat with Featherstone in 2007, alongside Wildbore.

“I’d like to think I can play a big part but it’s a team thing. We need to stick together.

“There was a lot more experience in the Featherstone side but they’re a good set of young lads at York. We’ve definitely got it in us to win these play-offs.

“Dave (March) is an experienced player and you need them in the side. He’s the heartbeat in many ways in attack and defence and he always gives 100 per cent. But we didn’t have him against Oldham and we stuck together and came through. It made us closer, and it can do the same again. I’m sure if we perform like we did then we can win.”

• The Supporters’ Club’s presentation evening will take place in Bar 13, Huntington Stadium, on September 26.

It starts at 8pm, with the presentation to first-team and reserve players by guest presenter Garry Schofield, the Great Britain legend, at 8.45pm.

This will be followed by a buffet supper and dancing till late. Tickets cost £10 and are limited to the first 80.

To get one, see any committee member or phone 07958 569266 leaving your details and a contact number.

The closing date for tickets is 5pm tomorrow.