Peter Jackson today saluted the City fans for making him feel one of their own again after his cancer battle.

The Lincoln chief admitted he was still humbled by the reaction from his old club after he was diagnosed with throat cancer earlier in the year.

And he reckons it has buried the “bad blood” caused when he was in charge of hated rivals Huddersfield.

Ahead of the Boxing Day clash with the club he once captained so proudly, Jackson recalled the overwhelming reaction from City fans to his illness.

He said: “I got more support from Bradford than any other club in the country. That was a surprise because of the feeling towards me when I was manager of Huddersfield.

“There was a bit of bad blood and I thought my time at Bradford had been well forgotten.

“But the response from the supporters was amazing and I still can’t thank them enough. I thought I would get one or two messages of support but I literally received thousands.

“The care and affection of the Bradford public came shining through during my illness and it was very emotional.

“I think that now they look back to when Peter Jackson was City’s captain. They don’t see me as the former Town manager; I’ve gone back to Peter Jackson the footballer at Bradford, which is how it should be.”

It is the second year running that City and Lincoln will lock horns on Boxing Day but Jackson does not anticipate the same emotional ties in the all-ticket Sincil Bank clash that surrounded last season’s meeting at Valley Parade.

He added: “The first fixture that I always look for is Bradford and, being on Boxing Day again, there’s going to be a great atmosphere.

“Last year was a very emotional day with it being the first time Lincoln had gone back to Valley Parade (in the league) since the fire. With Stuart (McCall) and myself there as managers as well, there was a lot surrounding the occasion.

“I don’t think it will be as difficult this time, although there will always be strong feelings between the supporters because of the connections and people who were there on that day.”

Jackson was given the all-clear in June after under-going sessions of radiotherapy but he faces regular check-ups over the next five years to ensure he does not relapse.