JAMES Mason would love Stuart McCall to experience some Valley Parade FA Cup magic as manager – not just as a TV pundit.

Memories of the amazing 2015 run to the quarter-finals remain fresh for fans but McCall’s taste of the club’s knock-out heroics were restricted to broadcasting duty.

Being directly involved in such high-profile cup occasions at City would be new for both the manager and owners Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp.

Chief operating officer Mason said: “I was lucky enough to be helping the club during the wonderful FA Cup run a few years ago and Stuart was regularly back here working for BT Sport and Sky as a commentator.

“I remember seeing him before the Sunderland game pitch-side and he said ‘wow, the atmosphere that you have created here is wonderful’.

“I can’t imagine anything more satisfying or humbling for Stuart to walk out in a big third, fourth or fifth-round FA Cup game with a jam-packed Valley Parade rocking.

“Also for Edin and Stefan, they bought this club because of the support we’ve got and I’d love there to be a special game where they think ‘yes, this is why’.

“I think we achieved it against Fleetwood last season in the play-off semi-final. But only those people who were in the stadium for those big cup games will really understand just how special this place can be.

“I don’t think there is a club anywhere in the world who can put on a big occasion better than us.

“Okay we don’t have the resources like Manchester United or Barcelona but in terms of a magical cup tie down at Valley Parade, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

While City go into tomorrow’s second-round tie on the back of wins at promotion rivals Wigan and Shrewsbury, they have lost three straight at Valley Parade.

Cup opponents Plymouth inflicted one of those but Mason is confident the hosts can bounce back and book their place in the potentially lucrative next draw.

He added: “This is a great chance to kick-start our home form.

“It’s no secret that the results haven’t been what we wanted compared with last season. But it is the perfect opportunity to right some wrongs.

“Stuart will be giving his all and I know he will play a strong team like he did against Chesterfield.

“There’s no reason why winning in the FA Cup can’t breed winning in the league – it might be exactly what we need.”