IT will be an "honour" for York City Knights chairman Jon Flatman to lead the Minster city side out at Wembley on behalf of fans and those who came before him.

Nowhere is the Knights' commitment to their supporters more obviously displayed than on the strip the side will wear for the 80 minutes of their 1895 Cup final clash with Featherstone Rovers (noon).

When the 2020 season was drawn to a premature close as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Knights season ticket holders were given the option to leave the money they had paid for the tickets with the club.

Those who did received the title of 'Patron' and had their names printed on this season's warm-up strip.

Tomorrow, their names will be proudly displayed as a caligram in the shape of the club crest on the backs of all the playing jerseys.

"You need to look at the unity within the club and the sport within the region," Flatman said.

"It will be an honour to take onto the field the community clubs, the refereeing societies and the masters' teams, and the patrons.

"Those people who thankfully supported the shirt during the current crisis, we'll be carrying them onto the field as well.

"The shirt is very much a symbol of what we're looking to achieve and it's a thank-you to all those people that the guys get to take onto the turf."

York's recent rise from near-extinction to coming into this season as top-six Betfred Championship hopefuls is well-documented.

And this upcoming appearance at the national stadium - the club's first since 1931 - with silverware up for grabs is testament to the efforts of everyone at the club.

"It's fitting recognition for all those involved," he said. "We get to play in this showpiece event at the national stadium and it's just reward for the hard work and the investment that everybody's put in.

"It's a day for memories, for people to consider the past as well as the future, but more importantly it's a day to remember.

"It's a landmark day for the club. Wembley doesn't come around very often.

"It's an occasion to be savoured and enjoyed, and while the match is extremely important, the whole atmosphere around Wembley and the game's showpiece occasion certainly won't get lost on York City Knights as a club or the fanbase.

"It will be an absolute honour to hopefully lead out the club at Wembley.

"I'm merely a custodian. All those people who get behind the club, I do it on their behalf, and for the tenure before.

"It's on behalf of others and it's an honour to do that."

Club president John Stabler laid a wreath at the Cenotaph at Whitehall on Friday.