MATTHEW Kilgallon has spoken of his delight at joining City as he declared: It’s great to feel wanted.

The former Leeds United, Sheffield United and Sunderland centre-half has penned a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

He was left looking for a club after leaving Blackburn at the end of last season and turned down offers elsewhere to join City.

The York-born 32-year-old, who lives in Knaresborough and is a boyhood Leeds fan, played under Stuart McCall at Bramall Lane.

Kilgallon trained with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday and said: “I've played for some big clubs in my career but Bradford are a very big club too.

"They get great crowds very week, so when they came in for me it really appealed.

“I'm a fairly local lad and I thought to myself 'yes, I fancy that'.

“I'm good friends with Robbie Blake, who I played with at Leeds, and he often talks with great affection about his Bradford days.

“I also know the gaffer from my time at Sheffield United and I had a good chat with him.

“There are two sides to Stuart – he can be serious but you can also have a laugh with him and he can have you in stitches.

“He's got the respect of the lads here, which is the main thing.

“I've never played in League One before and did have interest from elsewhere, including a Championship club, but these teams said they had to get rid of a player first.

“Bradford showed they really wanted me from the outset and that's appealing as a player.

“Before I knew it, I was having a medical and it was done in two days. Bradford handled things well, so it's perfect.”

Kilgallon will battle it out with Nathan Clarke, Nathaniel Knight-Percival and Rory McArdle for a central defensive spot.

Kilgallon said: “I want to be first-choice but there are some good centre-halves.

“It's always good to have competition, all over the park, because it keeps you on your toes.

“There shouldn't be anyone playing just because he has played here or there – it should all go on how you're playing here and now.

“That's what I think anyway and if you do have two or three bad games then you should be out of the team.

“Fitness-wise, today was only first training session since the end of last season.

“I've been keeping myself fit and I'm lucky in that I don't seem to put weight on. Hopefully I'll get up to speed as soon as possible but if the gaffer wants me to play against Port Vale this weekend then of course I'm up for it.

“Adrenaline can get you through it, although I don't know how I would feel the next day!

“Coming here is a great opportunity for me because I'm hungry and I want to play, even though I'm 32.

“I still feel good, so I'm looking forward to getting going.”

Today’s scheduled behind-closed-doors friendly against Barnsley has been cancelled and trialist Rory McKeown, who played against Bradford Park Avenue and Carlisle last week, is not expected to be handed a contract.