Gary Jones tribute to Stephen Darby as Bantams host night of celebration

Stephen Darby is not going to accept his potentially shocking fate quietly.

Tonight, Valley Parade will celebrate one of the biggest figures of the club’s recent glory days.

Former players, managers and fans will gather for an evening of fun and nostalgia to show their support for Darby.

Six weeks on from the public revelation that the former City defender had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and it still doesn’t feel real.

You cannot imagine what Darby, his family and close friends are going through.

But such a positive role model on the pitch is demonstrating exactly those same qualities during the biggest fight of his life.

Jones, one of his nearest and dearest pals, can vouch for that courage.

“I speak to Darbs all the time and he’s positive and just seems himself,” he said.

“We talk every week on the phone and he texted me the other day knowing I was at work to say he was on the driving range!

“He’s getting out and about. The best thing to take his mind off it is probably to keep himself occupied.

“He’s done bits in Bradford with ‘G Man’ (John Duckworth), the old kit man, for his charity and he goes to Bolton to watch matches.

“That’s the only way to deal with this, be positive and keep busy. I’m sure he’ll do that because that’s the type of person Darbs is.

“He’s only a young lad and has got to live for and be positive for.

“I know it’s a terrible disease but people can live long with it. You don’t know.

“You just make the most of every minute.

“It puts things into perspective. You think you’ve got problems – but you haven’t really.”

Darby had confided in his friends and family before the news was officially released. But that extra time to process what he was hearing did not make it any easier for Jones.

“I knew he was having some trouble. He was weak in his hands and things like that.

“There was obviously something wrong but when it was confirmed, it was a massive bombshell.

“When he told me a few days before it was going to come out, it just felt like an absolute tragedy.

“He’s got a great set of friends and his family and new wife Steph are unbelievable. They are being so strong for him.

“They have to be because they’ve got to see him day in day out.

“I went to his wedding in June and it was a fantastic day. There was so much happiness – and then a few months later this comes out.

“But he’ll have great support. He’s one of my best mates and we’ll all be there for him when times get tough, which no doubt they will in the future.”

James Hanson, Jon Stead, Billy Clarke and Filipe Morais will also be back at Valley Parade this evening. But it is no surprise former players are prepared to make the effort to turn up from all over the country.

Jones added: “That says it all. You also look on social media and you’ve got Rafa Benitez, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, the top players and managers in the world, coming out and showing their support.

“That shows what everybody thinks about the lad.

“I’ve known him for quite a while now and can’t speak highly enough of him. I admire him so much.

“I didn’t really know Darbs at Rochdale. He was there when I was but it was after he signed for Bradford that we got close.

“We travelled in together every day for a couple of years and were room-mates in the team hotel for away games.

“He was the best pro you’ll ever meet – and he’s the best person.

“Football-wise, you knew he’s always put his body on the line for the team. He would face any challenge head on and that’s how he will tackle this disease.”

While the current City flounder at the bottom of League One, the timing of an event to mark one of the most committed figures of the recent era is particularly poignant.

“It’s so hard to see what’s happening right now,” admitted Jones.

“The club had been on an upward curve for five years and, all of a sudden, it’s like falling off a cliff. It’s so frustrating.

“I know for sure that if you had some Stephen Darbys in that team, Bradford wouldn’t be anywhere near the bottom.”

Tonight's event is also the official launch of a new book by fan Jason McKeown titled Who We Are: Exploring the DNA of Bradford City.

The editor of fan website widthofapost.com has spoken to over 50 interviewees, including Jones, Stuart McCall, Paul Jewell, Julian Rhodes, Gordon Watson, Matt Kilgallon and John Helm, for a book focusing on the true identity of the club.

Published by Bantams Past on a break-even basis - with any extra proceeds going to the Burns Unit and MND (for Stephen Darby) - it will be available to buy on the night.