THE roar of the Valley Parade faithful will be crucial to City's success this season, according to Gary Bowyer.

The Bantams kick off their return to League Two after a six-year absence with a home date against Cambridge United tomorrow.

And Bowyer, who took over in March, wants an opening-day victory to lay the foundations for a promotion push ahead.

Read more: Experts club by club guide to League Two

He says the Bantams fans' backing will help their cause, aided by more than 13,500 season tickets who have renewed this summer despite their relegation last year.

Bowyer said: "Our home form is massive this season. You have got to play well at home and pick up points away from home.

"It's important that we stick together throughout the course of the season.

"We will need them as I'm under no doubt that there will be times when we will be under the cosh. We will need their support.

"We have understood the need to reconnect with the supporters, with fans' forums and on social media. The Liverpool game brought everybody together.

"We want to make the supporters proud of the players that are representing Bradford City.

"The main aim is to be competitive in every game. We will take it game-by-game.

"We want to win every game, starting tomorrow. It is a wonderful return from the supporters, they are very passionate about this club. Before I joined I was aware of the history of the club.

"I'm delighted we will have a full house and we want to give them something to cheer.

"We know about the challenge that lies ahead tomorrow against Cambridge. They are well organised and well coached. They will be a tough nut to crack."

The former Blackpool boss expects a wide open promotion race in the fourth tier this season, with City gunning to be among the top seven.

He added: "This is one of the toughest League Twos ever been produced. It's a wide open league.

"It would be wrong of me to say it will be them, them and them, as I would probably miss a team out.

"Everybody looks at the club's recruitment. No disrespect to them, but Port Vale have had a takeover and strengthened. Crawley have done some business. People would not be talking about them."

Meanwhile, Bowyer says he is proud his City players will wear heritage numbers on their shirts for the first time tomorrow.

Almost 1,300 players have represented the Bantams since the club was founded in 1903 and every single one of them has been given a heritage number.

The numbers will appear below the club crest on all playing shirts after City were given permission by the EFL.

The current squad’s official numbers include Eoin Doyle (1250), Kelvin Mellor (1251) and Richard O’Donnell (1254).

Bowyer said: "We are the first football club to do it. It is a massive achievement for us. We're really proud of that.

"We wanted to make the players aware of the history of the football club. This is just another piece of that history."