NEAL Ardley hopes that York City can deliver a performance that will live long in the memory when they host Wigan Athletic in front of the BBC cameras tomorrow evening (7:45pm).

The Minstermen face their Sky Bet League One opponents in the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup tomorrow night on BBC Two, the first time that they have ever been on terrestrial television.

A season-high crowd of over 6,000 spectators are expected to pack into the LNER Community Stadium as FA Cup fever hits the city, with the vocal South Stand already a sell-out.

And Ardley has called for his side not just to impress those in the stadium, but the millions that will be watching across the country.

“The FA Cup has that ability to make lifelong memories, and we’re live on TV. Terrestrial TV as well,” he enthused.

“All of a sudden you’ve got a a wider audience and it’s just a chance to not just put you on the map.

“York’s a wonderful city with a great football club, but it’s just a chance to maybe show that you’re not coasting around and you are pushing in the right direction.

“We need the lads to put a performance in to match that.

“It’s just lovely just seeing the buzz around the place and people talking about the fact that there could be 6,500 fans and the TV cameras are here.

“Even when I’ve been at different clubs like Solihull and we’ve had TV cameras and the people, then you’re putting Solihull on the map.

“It’s just nice to play a big part in the history of a football club and hopefully we can give the memories that people will talk about further down the line.”

York City receive midfield boost for FA Cup as red card successfully appealed

The Minstermen's rich history in the competition contains notable folklore, including back-to-back defeats to Kenny Dalglish's eventual winners Liverpool in the Fifth Round in the 1985-86 season.

Whilst City’s focus remains undoubtedly on the Vanarama National League, Ardley admits that the FA Cup and its famous magic is a nice distraction.

“When I look back on that Chester game, there was a lot on it, not only financially, but just to carry that good feeling across,” he reflected.

You’ve just got to get through those rounds and then all of a sudden you go just one more, and you’re in with those big boys.

“It’s a big game.

“It’s nice to just have a nice feeling away from the pressures of the league, and it’s nice to be underdogs because we’ve been expected to win the games before.

“Hopefully it’ll be a really good occasion.”

Spectator stretchered from crowd at UK Snooker Championships

This is the first time in City’s cup run this season that they are the underdogs, having beaten lower opposition in both Southern Premier Central outfit Needham Market and the Vanarama National League North’s Chester.

Ardley insists that the pressure remains on him and not his players, but that keeping it away from them has proved difficult.

“I put myself under pressure, I don’t put the team under it,” he explained.

“It’s trying to give them a way that they’re going to win the game, giving them that clarity and making them believe that they can, but without putting that pressure on them.

“Me, myself, it’s a challenge against a good team, good players and a good manager.

"I've got to find a way to make sure that we don't get exposed by that, that we're competitive and we give them a really good run."