CITY today issued a call to arms for their legion of fans to back the club's League One promotion march.

The Bantams kick off the final five games with an away double-header against Shrewsbury and Coventry and hope to have huge travelling support.

With four wins on the bounce, Phil Parkinson's in-form troops have slashed the gap to second-placed Burton to six points – having trailed the Brewers by 19 after losing to them two months ago.

City expect to sell out their initial 1,500 allocation at Shrewsbury on Saturday and are pushing for more tickets.

Chief operating officer James Mason said: "We speak about the fans being the 12th man and we cannot underestimate the role they can play in the next five games.

"Speaking with Phil yesterday, he was saying how important it is for the team to have that support in big numbers home and away – believe you me, they do make a difference.

"What has been significant the whole season is how home attendances have been consistently the second-highest in the division by some way.

"We've also been really impressed with the amount of away following. We took 3,886 to Sheffield United, 2,908 to Blackpool, 2,584 to Doncaster, 2,582 to Wigan – and had both ends at Bury in the FA Cup with 3,489 of our fans.

"Compare that to other away followings in the Championship and Leagues One and Two and we really have got something good going on and off the pitch these days."

After the clash at the Greenhous Meadow, City head for the Ricoh Arena three days later to face fading Coventry.

"Tickets are selling fast for this weekend – and it's the same for our final away game at Southend," said Mason.

"Coventry on Tuesday night is another huge game at a big stadium and it would be great to see another large following there as well.

"It's been a long time since we've been as high as this in the football pyramid. This is a real pivotal moment in the club's history."

Plans are also in place for pre-match activities and entertainment ahead of the next Valley Parade game against promotion rivals Walsall on April 23.

Mason said: "The aim is to build up a real partisan atmosphere. The Swindon manager, Luke Williams, admitted he has never seen an atmosphere like it on Saturday and we want to repeat that for the last two home games."

Parkinson and the squad were invited to City Hall on Monday for a civic reception with the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds.

Mason said: "It's nice to be recognised but we need all the big local agencies to play their part the next few weeks and over the summer.

"We want them to help support what we're trying to do in putting the club and city on the map with the season-ticket policy.

"We need the council and local authorities in general, whether strategically or hopefully financially, to help our aim to make football not just affordable but open to every child in the city."