New-boy Sam Hornby says he and his fellow Bantams were in awe of the speech given by Stephen Darby in the home dressing room prior to Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Liverpool FC.
The game - played in front of a new record crowd at the Utilita Energy Stadium - raised funds and vital awareness for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which the City stopper regards as the most important aspect.
He said: “It really is not nice to see someone with an illness like Stephen has, it took a lot of people back.
“Seeing him come into the dressing room and speak to all the lads before the game puts a lot of things into perspective.
“It was a very emotional speech. A lot of the boys had a lump in their throat.
“It was very well delivered and it was important to raise vital funds and awareness for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.”
Hornby walked out in front of the Valley Parade crowd for the first time and was hugely impressed by the 24,343 attendance – the highest since the ground re-opened in 1986.
He states pressure as something he will "thrive off" during his time in a City shirt and looks forward to playing in front of similar crowds.
The 24-year-old added: “When I signed here, Gary (Bowyer) asked me what I was like in front of big crowds, because I needed to be able to do that, here.
“I honestly thrive off it, I really do love occasions like this.
“Walking out in the second half and watching the boys walk out in the first half was breath-taking.
“Even when we were warming up, seeing how the stands were starting to fill up really excited us.
“Hopefully, this season, we can attract big crowds like this which will really push us on, on the pitch.”