PHIL Parkinson today led the glowing tributes for City “history maker” Stephen Darby as football struggled to come to terms with the devastating news that he is suffering from motor neurone disease.

The 29-year-old announced his retirement after being diagnosed with the fatal illness.

Darby went in to training at Bolton to personally tell his team-mates the devastating news.

Darby, who joined Parkinson at the Championship club last year, will always be remembered for his major role in City’s renaissance under their former boss and the famous cup exploits.

He played 239 times in five years at the club and was a cornerstone of the 2012-2013 side that reached the Capital One Cup final and won the League Two play-offs.

Parkinson said: “That Bradford team had certain characteristics and he typified everything.

“Before we got him that summer, I was watching DVDs of him playing for Rochdale.

“I remember shouting to my son George to come and look at this – another goal-line clearance, another last-ditch challenge.

“Look at his determination to defend. He ran back as quick as he ran forward.

“Darbs was the sort of lad that the more you watched, the more you appreciated what a good player he was.

“We were sitting in an executive box at Valley Parade when I was meaning to sign him.

“I remember saying: ‘Look Darbs, we need players who will drive standards at this club and bring in a winning mentality. We need players who will come on a journey with us ready for the challenges that lay ahead.’

“He just looked back – and his look just said ‘you’re talking about me’. If ever a player fulfilled the criteria of what I spoke about in that first meeting, it was Stephen Darby.

“I really can’t speak highly enough of him as a lad and what he did for us at Bradford.”

Parkinson revealed that Darby was happy to switch the topic of conversation to those times when he came to Bolton’s training ground this morning.

“We were reminiscing today about it and the lads we had. It was a very special group of people to work with.

“I’ll never forget it and Darbs is the same. We spoke about his illness but then went on to talk about football and it was a great period.”

Former joint-chairman Mark Lawn felt Darby epitomised the spirit of a team that reversed City’s fortunes after a decade of decline.

And he can never remember the Valley Parade fans serenading a full back before.

“The club were in a downward spiral and he helped turn it upwards again to give the fans two Wembley trips and promotion,” he said.

“Without players of the calibre of Stephen Darby, we wouldn’t have been able to do it.

“He’d give you 100 per cent on the pitch every game but it wasn’t just that. He would be exactly the same off it and had a great rapport with the fans.

“He’s the only right back I can ever think of having his own song. That’s the mark of the man.

“There were no pretensions about Stephen and I truly am devastated.

“I don’t think words can convey how awful it feels. It just goes to show that life is not fair.”

Darby found opportunities limited in his last season at City when Stuart McCall succeeded Parkinson. But the current Scunthorpe manager felt his attitude around the club was an example to everyone.

“I would say he’s the best professional I’ve managed,” said McCall.

“When I came in, I obviously knew all about him and he’d been captain. But he was out injured along with Rory (McArdle).

“For somebody who had been captain and a regular, to not be playing in a successful side must have been hard. But he was so supportive, trained unbelievably and when his chance came, he’d take it.

“It’s easy being professional when you’re in the team and doing well. But you saw the real character of Darbs when he wasn’t in the 11 and how great he was around the place.

“I remember his first game back after injury was Millwall away and he’d hardly trained. It was the toughest place to come back but he was man-of-the-match and had two clearances off the line.

“It’s gut-wrenching to hear the news and my heart goes out to him.”

City striker David Ball is a friend of Darby and admits he is struggling to come to terms with what has happened.

Ball said: “So many people think the world of Darbs as a person and what he brought to a dressing room.

“I played on loan with him at Rochdale and we travelled in together with Gary Jones.

“For me as a friend, he was the nicest man in football and I’m heartbroken. This just hasn’t sunk in.

“I can’t imagine what him and his family are going through. It doesn’t feel real.

“Darbs is a brave person and I’m just happy to call him a friend.

“We spoke yesterday and he wanted to talk about Bradford and how much he loved playing for the club. It shows the type of character he is.”