Former Bantams join MND walk from Valley Parade to Anfield

“Nobody has had to think about it. With everyone it’s been a case of ‘absolutely I’ll do it’ as it should be.

“I don’t think anyone could say a bad word about him and that’s very rare in football.

“He had so many good traits about him and everyone got on with him. That’s showed by how many people have agreed to do this walk.”

Davies is one of the Bradford City alumni who will join around 800 walkers on the 178-mile trek from Valley Parade to Anfield this weekend in aid of Stephen Darby's charity, the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.

Many of Darby’s former team-mates and those of ex-Huddersfield striker Marcus Stewart, who suffers from the same condition, are taking part in the “March of the Day” which sets off from City at 9am on Friday. The target is to reach Liverpool on Sunday afternoon – raising £100,000 along the way.

Davies is among 350 who will do the first stage from Valley Parade to Elland Road – some, like Filipe Morais who has helped organise the Bantams side of the walk, aim to cover the whole distance.

“I’m looking forward to it and meeting up with some old team-mates,” added Davies. “Bradford was a special place for me and always will be.

“The turn-out will be fantastic and there will be a lot of really good memories from Valley Parade. It will be nice to have a chat with everyone.

“There’s going to be a lot of stories. I still speak to the odd team-mate but football is like ships in the night, you are close to someone and then you don’t see them for years.

“Then you’ll meet back up with them and feel that you’ve never been away. I’m really excited for it and obviously it’s such a good cause.”

Darby will be there at the stadium to see the journey begin and Davies remains humbled by his continuing courage to fight the deadly motor neurone disease.

But he is not surprised to see the City legend meet this ultimate challenge head on.

“Darbs was that type of player, roll your socks up and just get on with it.

“What a great captain he was for the club and a team-mate. Everyone says the same thing.

Andrew Davies is among several former City players taking part (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“It’s so sad what’s happening but it just shows what character he has to be able to deal with it. That says so much for Darbs.

“I spoke to him a bit more at the beginning and he was still able to chuckle about stuff. I couldn’t believe him, it was like, ‘wow, how do you deal with that?’

“But I could just tell in his voice, ‘I’ve got this, I’m going to tackle this and I’ll give it everything I possibly can’.

“That’s what he’s done and full credit to him.

“When I played with him, he was such an easy person to get on with. He was an easy team-mate, there was never an issue.

“He was always there to talk to. He was a real, true personality and an infectious person to be around.

“I’d do anything for him if I’m honest and we all feel the same. That’s the type of lad he is.

“This is just a little thing that everyone is taking part in and it will be good to do what we can.”

Davies now runs a coaching academy in his native north-east with former players Tommy Miller and Danny Graham. He also works as a personal fitness instructor.

“I’ve retired but I’ve got to be honest, over the last year or two I was thinking about putting my boots back on.

“A lot of my clients want to do running. I do that much, I’m probably fitter now than I was when I played!

“But I still keep on top of it and everything’s good.”

Click HERE to donate towards “March of the Day”.