Michael Doyle (25 November 1946 – 27 June 2011) was an English footballer, who spent most of his career with Manchester City and also played for Stoke City, Bolton Wanderers and Rochdale.
Career Ashton-born Doyle played for Stockport Boys as a junior, joining Manchester City in May 1962. At youth level, Doyle played at right back, but after breaking into the first team he was used in a number of roles. He made his senior debut against Cardiff City in March 1965, playing wing-half, which was followed by a number of appearances as a forward. However, most of his appearances later in his career were in central defence.
Doyle won 5 caps for the England national football team and 8 England Under-23 caps. At club level he played 448 league games for Manchester City, scoring 32 goals, and was voted the club's hardest player in the club's official magazine. He scored for City in the 1970 League Cup Final win over West Bromwich Albion, and captained the side in the 1976 League Cup Final.
Doyle made a total of 570 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 41 goals, before joining Alan Durban's Stoke City for a fee of £50,000 in June 1978. He slotted into the Stoke defence with ease and was played in 46 matches in 1978–79 as Stoke gained promotion to the First Division, and was part of the defence which kept 21 clean sheets. Stoke fought off relegation in 1979–80 and Doyle was then a regular in 1980–81 making 40 appearances as Stoke finished in mid-table. Following the departure of Durban to Sunderland, Doyle was not wanted by new manager Richie Barker and left for Bolton Wanderers in January 1982. He spent a season and a half at Burnden Park and ended his career with a season at Rochdale.
After football Mike continued to attend Manchester City games regularly after his retirement as a player, but also became a heavy drinker after his playing days were over. In 2007, he attended the Sporting Chance Clinic which helped him give up alcohol for a short time. He died on 27 June 2011 of liver failure after several weeks of treatment in Tameside General Hospital.
Tributes to Doyle were made by his former clubs Manchester City, Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers.
Personal life Doyle's son, Scott Doyle, is married to Charlotte, the daughter of former teammate Glyn Pardoe, and his grandson Tommy Doyle plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and has played for England's U-17 and England's U-16 national side.
Career statistics Club Source:
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsManchester City1964–65Second Division600000——601965–66Second Division2077100——2781966–67First Division1605100——2111967–68First Division3854030——4551968–69First Division405703020105351969–70First Division414207291106071970–71First Division375301071205071971–72First Division4112020—114621972–73First Division401501020104911973–74First Division39120110—105311974–75First Division4211020—304811975–76First Division4112091—205421976–77First Division331401020004011977–78First Division14000301000180Total4483244243323212157041Stoke City1978–79Second Division4111041——4621979–80First Division2801040——3301980–81First Division3842000——4041981–82First Division801000——90Total1155508100001286Bolton Wanderers1981–82Second Division1000000——1001982–83Second Division3020022——324Total40200220000424Rochdale1983–84Fourth Division2412020—10291Career Total6274051255623213176952
A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, FA Community Shield, Football League Trophy and Texaco Cup.
International Source:
National teamYearAppsGoalsEngland197640197710Total50
Honours Manchester City Football League First Division: 1967–68 Football League Second Division: 1965–66 FA Cup: 1968–69 Football League Cup: 1969–70, 1975–76; runner-up: 1973–74 FA Charity Shield: 1968, 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup: 1969–70
Stoke City Football League Second Division third-place promotion: 1978–79
Individual Manchester City Player of the Year: 1970–71, 1973–74 Stoke City Player of the Year: 1978–79
References
External links Obituary in The Guardian Obituary in The Independent