SOPHIE Hicks wants 20,000 York City fans to help cheer the Minstermen to victory at Wembley.

That’s the magic number the KitKat Crescent board hope will travel to London to watch manager Martin Foyle’s men take on Stevenage in the FA Trophy final on May 9.

Hicks, the club’s community and communications director, wants to emulate the atmosphere created by the Ebbsfleet and Torquay fans in last year’s non-league showpiece, when more than 40,000 turned up at the home of English football.

And she believes enough City fans are passionate about the club and a cup final to make their fan target come true.

“We have had an amazing amount of interest already,” she said. “We know that people are incredibly excited about this. We took just short of 10,000 to the division three play-off final in 1993 and I totally believe there is more interest in football generally now than there was then.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for families and children in our community to go down. There will be no issue in getting tickets. What a fantastic occasion for all those who follow York City.

“Ebbsfleet and Torquay both took 20,000 to Wembley and I don’t see any reason why a city as large as York, and a county as large as North Yorkshire, can’t reach that target.

“The more people we take to Wembley the more the club will benefit. It is about maximising a fantastic day for the people of York and North Yorkshire.”

Hicks was only 16 when the Minstermen beat Crewe in a penalty shoot-out in that play-off final 16 years ago, and she remembers what a wonderful occasion it was to visit the then Twin Towers.

“I travelled down with Jason (McGill, City managing director) and my parents. I remember being incredibly nervous but it was a fantastic day out,” she added.

“It was fantastic going down Wembley Way on the approach to the stadium and seeing, for the first time, just how green the grass was. The game was hugely nerve-racking.

“I’ve since told Wayne Hall (who scored City’s winning penalty) that I thought he wasn’t going to score. It was just a fantastic day and it will be again in May.”

Club officials have a meeting at Wembley on April 3 to finalise ticket prices and the cost of hospitality packages.

Hicks also announced the club have taken on the York Pullman bus company as their official coach travel partners for the Wembley trip. The bus firm will be able to provide exclusive coach travel for parties of more than 35 people and have some 70 coaches standing by to ferry fans to the capital.

Anyone interested in booking should contact the company on 01904 622992.

And supporters who are travelling individually, with their families, or in small groups, can get to Wembley with the club by booking with the Minstermen’s official travel club.

Return coach travel for adults will cost £35 (under-16s £27.50).

Fans will be able to book through the club as soon as tickets go on sale and will be able to secure their coach travel at the same time they purchase Wembley seats.