YORK City manager Billy McEwan has challenged his players to become this year's fairytale story in the FA Cup.

The Minstermen take on unbeaten Conference leaders Grays Athletic in a mouthwatering first round clash at KitKat Crescent tomorrow afternoon and McEwan is hoping his team can negotiate that tough tie before going on to make a lasting impression on this season's competition.

The City boss would love to emulate the past giant-killing achievements of sides like Hereford United, Colchester United and Denis Smith's 1984 Minstermen team that knocked out Arsenal.

He would also settle for a plum tie in a later round, remembering how Conference rivals Exeter City forced a replay at Old Trafford in last season's competition.

McEwan said: "The FA Cup still has a magical aura for little clubs like us. Just look at Hereford against Newcastle all those years ago.

"There's always a fairytale. Maybe this season it could be us.

"We are a club that was in administration little more than two years ago and almost heading for oblivion last season but we will only be one of those stories if we believe in ourselves."

McEwan also realises that his team must show the mental strength to overcome a side that are still unbeaten this season and have lost just one of their last 44 matches.

But the Minstermen came within seconds of winning their league clash at Grays in August before conceding an injury-time penalty and McEwan is calling on his team to seek revenge.

He said: "We should have won that game handsomely and should have been 3-0 up inside 15 minutes so when I heard the draw at Gainsborough I felt a lovely tingle. I thought it's a chance for revenge, let's go at them and sort them out.

"It's a great challenge for us and the players are up for it big time. Grays have not lost a game but I have thrown down the gauntlet to my players to become the first team to beat them."

McEwan is calling on a big crowd to help inspire his team to a memorable victory and is also guaranteeing goals.

Grays have scored ten more goals than any other Conference side this season with City the second highest marksmen on 29.

But the Minstermen, Exeter, Morecambe and Hereford have all conceded less goals than last season's Conference South champions and McEwan added: "They are a marauding team and have scored a lot of goals but they didn't score many when they played against us.

"We know where their weaknesses are as well - they let in goals and we have got two players who can score them. I don't think they will be relishing coming to us.

"We don't want to be cavalier because their threat is going forward but we have got the home draw and we have got to make that pay. We need the crowd to be our 12th man and I want our fans to come out in force to get their fantastic support behind the boys.

"It will be an exciting game. It won't be a 0-0 draw. I think there will be plenty of goals because the players on view guarantee them."

Updated: 10:52 Friday, November 04, 2005