MARGATE’S footballers bid for a place in FA Cup folklore on Saturday when they they entertain Cardiff City in the second round.

The Welsh visitors are firm favourites to win promotion from Nationwide League Division 2 and a bumper crowd of about 5,000 is anticipated at Dover’s Crabble Ground for the tie which kicks-off at 1pm.

A 20-minute highlights package will be shown on BBC Television’s Match of the Day programme, for which Margate will receive £40,000, bringing the amount the cup run has raised so far to about £100,000.

Manager Chris Kinnear’s side earned their shot at Cardiff after defeating another Football League club, Third Division Leyton Orient 1-0. A win would put Gate, of the Nationwide Conference, into the third round draw along with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Margate chairman Jim Parmenter said: “We played Fulham in the FA Cup a few years ago when we only lost 2-1 but I believe this game is bigger than that. I never predict the outcome of football matches but what I will say is that we’re a better side than when we played Fulham and we are capable of causing an upset.”

Kinnear said: “Sam Hammam (the Cardiff chairman) has described them as the biggest club outside of the Premiership and I would imagine this time next year they will be playing in Division 1, but we feel we’ve got a chance. It’s not as if we’re playing Manchester United.”

The Gate have a number of injury worries. He is not too optimistic about Jake Leberl (back) while Simon Beard’s long term foot problem may mean he will again have to be content with a place on the bench.