CITY must keep the fans onside as they prepare to play in front of a bulging Valley Parade, Phil Parkinson stressed today.

Season-ticket and flexicard sales have topped 18,000 – beating the average home crowd for the club’s first year in the top flight – after the £149 campaign was declared a roaring success.

Shrewsbury’s visit to Valley Parade on August 15, the first home game of the new campaign, should potentially break the 20,000 barrier. That has not happened in the league since West Brom's promotion party at the ground 13 years ago.

Valley Parade’s largest League One attendance last season was 16,032 for Preston on Easter Monday.

Parkinson, whose side lost nine times in front of their own fans last term, insists that performance levels must match that fervent backing.

The City boss said: “It’s an amazing effort and a fantastic response from the people of Bradford to get behind the club.

“One huge advantage we can have this season is our home support and the ground going to be as full as it will be for every game here. We need to use that to our benefit.

“We’ve got to keep the relationship going between the team and the supporters. That’s the most important thing.

“I’ve always said to the players that we have to put in a committed, honest display first and foremost whenever we put on the Bradford City shirt.

“Do that – and we have done the majority of the time – and the crowd will stay behind you win, lose or draw. They will identify with the team giving their all.

“Valley Parade is a great stage to play on. The fuller it is, the better the atmosphere and we’re all looking forward to experiencing that again.”

Parkinson admits he feels the buzz from a Valley Parade full house just as much as the players. He cannot wait to replicate the size of crowds that followed last season’s FA Cup run to the quarter-finals.

He said: “You look back at the big home games we’ve had and there’s nothing better for a player or a manager than driving into the ground and sensing that special atmosphere.

“Hopefully we’ll have those same type of occasions with the crowds expected this season.

“Everyone wants to be involved in that kind of atmosphere. When we’re talking to other players, the people we speak to can all see what is happening here.

“Selling so many season-tickets is a great indication of the size of this club and what we are trying to build.”

Chief operating officer James Mason said: “To beat 18,000 exceeds all our expectations.

“It just proves what we knew all along that there is a tremendous appetite for professional football in Bradford.

“What we hope to do now is to encourage those who have bought a season-ticket for the first time to become lifelong fans going forward.”

Meanwhile, Billy Knott is expected to miss Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly at Farsley Celtic after rolling his ankle in training.