JON FLATMAN has urged supporters to “be part of what we hope is history” ahead of a huge weekend for York City Knights.

York’s Ladies side face St Helens in their maiden Challenge Cup final on Saturday morning (11.15am) in front of the BBC Two cameras.

Then, on Sunday afternoon (2pm), the Knights’ men’s outfit host Swinton Lions in the 1895 Cup semi-finals and stand just 80 minutes away from a first appearance at Wembley since 1931.

For the latter, York have announced that the LNER Community Stadium will have a capacity of 2,000 fans, double that of their home match against Oldham last month.

As a cup tie, the game is an all-ticket event and, on this occasion, there is no ballot for general sale tickets as was previously in place.

Knights chairman Flatman has issued a rallying call to the club’s fans and the city to be involved in what promises to be a momentous weekend.

“It’s probably the biggest weekend from a rugby league perspective for many a year,” he said.

“I think it’s the dream of every player and every fan to play or watch your team at Wembley and you get very few opportunities in your career or in your time as a supporter to see your club feature there.

“This is one of those weekends that we’ll look back on, hopefully, with very fond memories.

“Wouldn’t it be fantastic for people to say ‘I was there’?

“Tickets are available, and remain available, and this is a really important rallying cry for the people of York and North Yorkshire to get behind their club, rugby league and the city and make their way to the stadium, to drive us home and to get us to Wembley.”

Until the Knights faced Oldham in the Championship towards the back end of last month, it had been more than a year since supporters had been allowed into stadia at York’s level as a result of the restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

And after such a long time without the customary backing from the stands, Flatman has expressed his delight at being able to have as many as 2,000 fans in for this weekend.

“There may be a preconception that it is sold-out already and the capacity is back to that very limited 1,000,” he added.

“But here’s an opportunity for people who may have been rugby league fans all their life or may be new to the sport and new to the city to come along and be part of what we hope is history.

“Tickets are available online, via the ticket office or over the phone. There is no ballot, so once you’ve booked your ticket, it’s yours and you can be part of something very special on the day.”

On May 23’s win over Oldham, the first game with fans back in the ground since the pandemic’s outbreak, Flatman commented: “It was a great experience and that roar of the crowd when the players came out and went back in after the warm-up was reminiscent of the past.

“If we can put double the amount of people in the ground, I’m hoping that it will be twice as loud.

“It’s really important that we have home fans behind us this weekend and I’m really looking forward to it.”

He added: “This is a first-class environment to watch sport, it’s brilliant for families and juniors cost zero - if you are under-16 you can come in for free.

“We want you there to be part of it and to make your mark on Sunday to allow us to create a Wembley opportunity.”

To enquire about Swinton tickets, see yorkcityknights.com/tickets, phone 01904 942232 or email tickets@yorksmc.co.uk.