Gary Bowyer has spoken of the importance of maintaining healthy relationships with local clubs, following City's triumph over Bradford (Park Avenue).
A penalty shoot-out won the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy for the Bantams in their penultimate pre-season outing.
And the City boss has hailed the "community aspect" of last night's contest, which took place at the Horsfall Stadium.
He said: “It is essential for myself and the club that we continue building links with the local sides.
“There is a lot of history at Bradford Park Avenue in terms of the club and their connection with Bradford City so, overall, it was another great challenge.
“It is a fantastic thing for the local community and the people of Bradford to come out and celebrate watching the city's two teams.
“It is important we can hold these kinds of relationships with other local clubs. We have seen examples at Brighouse and Eccleshill and now at Park Avenue as well.
The former Blackpool boss has stressed the importance of game time as the opening day of the 2019/20 campaign edges nearer, going the "extra mile" to ensure his players are match fit.
Members of his first-team squad who were not involved at the Horsfall Stadium played a behind-closed-doors friendly earlier in the day in preparation for the beginning of the season.
Bowyer added: “It was a very productive exercise. We have had two games in one day, so a lot of the lads have now played a full 90 minutes.
“The plan, all along, was to give as many of the players a full game as possible, in whichever respective match they were playing in.
“To get a full 90 minutes now will make sure they are as prepared as they possibly can be, for Saturday (final pre-season friendly away to Rochdale).
“Our aim is to have as much game time under as many belts as we can, to make sure everyone is fully match-fit before the game against Cambridge."