Tag Archives: Mike Doyle

The 1960s: 1965-1966 A New Beginning

Continuing the series of features on the 1960s, here’s a subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1965-66 season. This was an important season in City’s development. If you’d like to read this 4100 word article, plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.

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The 1960s: 1964-1965 A Possible Merger

Continuing the series of features on the 1960s, here’s a subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1964-65 season. This was a remarkable season when a City director held meetings, hoping to merge City and United! Plus much more. If you’d like to read this 2350 word article, plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.

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The 1960s: 1963-1964 Poyser Appointment

Continuing the series of features on the 1960s, here’s a subscriber article on Manchester City during the 1963-64 season. If you’d like to read this 1700 word article, plus all other articles on the site, then please subscribe (see below). As with most of the other features in this series it includes words from interviews I have performed with those who were there.

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Roy Cheetham

Roy Cheetham was born in Manchester on this day Manchester born (21 December) in 1939. He joined Manchester City from school in 1956 and went on to become a loyal clubman over a 12 year Maine Road career. In total he made 138 (plus five as sub) League and cup appearances, but he also made a staggering 218 Reserves games for the Blues.  Sadly, Roy passed away on 8 December 2019. I met up with him at City’s stadium shortly before Christmas 2004 for an interview. Here for subscribers is that interview. He talks about his City career, moving to Detroit to play in the American soccer league of the time and more:

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Crowd Issues At Birmingham

On this day (27 November) in 1976 a goalless game at Birmingham caused Manchester City to drop to fifth place but, with only two defeats coming in the side’s opening 15 games (and conceding only one goal in 6 games), there was still a great deal of optimism about the place.  In fact consistency was perhaps the side’s greatest strength.

On the pitch there had been few changes with Corrigan (1), Donachie (3), Doyle (4), Watson (5), Royle (9), Hartford (10), and Tueart (11) being everpresents at this stage in the season in every competition – League, UEFA Cup, and League Cup.

Off the pitch, the mid 70s was a difficult one for supporter behaviour nationally.  Although the Blues took the lead with their great work with young fans and supporters clubs, nationally hooliganism was strong.  The 1975-76 season had seen British Rail cancel all soccer specials following a number of high profile acts of hooliganism, although City’s supporters’ club took a lead in keeping fans on the move during 1976-77 as they managed to keep rail specials for members of the City travel club going.  In fact they continued to run rail specials until the 1990s.

Supporter behaviour was a major issue and there was the first call, by the Daily Mail, to introduce ID cards for fans.  The previous season the supporters of Manchester United and Chelsea had rioted in an attempt to get games in which they were losing abandoned and so City’s great work with the Junior Blues and Supporters’ Club was trying to buck the trend.  Throughout the 1976-77 season the Blues devoted a two page feature (out of 24) each programme to a different supporters branch.

Sadly, there were still instances of trouble at City games and the Birmingham match was no exception.  Young supporter Ian Hodgkinson (aged 16) was particularly upset at the situation at St. Andrew’s:  “The City fans in the Tilton Road End were attacked by Birmingham supporters.  This caused the City fans to run to the entrance.  The Birmingham police then informed us that it was safe to return, but when we got back, the police vanished and once more we were attacked.  Two of my mates had their scarves stolen and were punched many times.”

Ian’s comments were typical of many that were sent to City and the local media, but sadly despite the strength of City’s relationship with supporters at this time, there was little being done elsewhere in football, other than caging fans in (something the Blues tried to avoid at Maine Road). 

Results

27 Nov 1976 Birmingham City (A) 0-0, Attendance 29,722

Subscribers can read a 2,100 word article on the entire 1976-77 season below – a season which saw City come close to League success. You can read this below. Enjoy!

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Programme Flashback City V Stoke, 24 September 1975

On this day in 1975 Manchester City faced Stoke at Maine Road.

Here for subscribers is a flashback piece detailing what features were in the MCFC match programme that day and game information:

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Mike Doyle

On 26 May 1964 Mancunian Mike Doyle signed professional forms for Manchester City. He embodied a spirit and determination as a player that brought great success and the loyal support of City fans.  He was a vital member of two successful periods at Maine Road, and had managed to bridge the gap between Mercer and Allison’s great team of the late 60s and Book’s mid-70s entertainers. In fact he was also there for the miserable period that predated Mercer’s arrival!

Doyle joined the City groundstaff in May 1962 and made his debut in the 2-2 draw at Cardiff on 12 March 1965 and appeared in 6 games during the latter end of a traumatic season.  That summer Mercer & Allison arrived and transformed the Blues with Doyle playing a leading role in every City triumph of the period.  In fact, until recent years he shared the distinction with Tommy Booth of appearing in more finals than any other City player.  He appeared in ECWC, FA Cup and 3 League Cup finals but also played his part in the League title success in 1968 and Second Division title in 1966. He even captained City to their 1976 League Cup triumph and scored in the 1970 victory. 

Ever the determined player City fans loved his fighting spirit and never say die attitude.  Significantly, in an era of major talent and success, Doyle was voted City’s player of the year twice (1971 & 1974).  After making five appearances for England and over 550 competitive first team appearances for the Blues he moved to Stoke in 1978, where he was voted their player of the year in 1979, and later had spells at Bolton and Rochdale.

Mike Doyle was a tremendous City player who played in a determined manner.  He won many admirers with his total dedication to the Blue cause. He died on 27 June 2011.

The Death of Defensive Football: Title Race Decider

This Sunday Manchester City and West Ham face each other in the Premier League with a City victory (or an equal result to Arsenal’s game) giving the Blues the title. It’s another of those last day title deciders that City fans have had to get used to over the years.

Although there had been other seasons when City needed to get a good result in their final game to avoid relegation, earn promotion etc. the first last day title decider involving the Blues came in 1968. Back then Joe Mercer was manager and Malcolm Allison his number two. They believed in entertaining football – a contrast to what the rest of English football seemed to believe it as the following report shows.

Have a read of what was said back in May 1968 to fully appreciate how wonderful that team was and how refreshing City were to late 1960s football:

You can read about the build up to that game; the story of the match itself and quotes from those involved below.  Enjoy!

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The 1970s: A European Semi Final Victory

Francis Lee v Schalke 15 April 1970

Today (15 April) in 1970 German side Schalke 04 were defeated 5-1 in the ECWC semi-final second leg at Maine Road by Manchester City. You can read the story of that game (and watch video highlights) below.

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You can read more on the 1969-70 season here:

The 1970s: Series Starts Now!

The 1970s: Series Ends

The series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s has now ended but you can still take a look at the posts that have been made over the last couple of months. The series of articles and features ran throughout January and for much of February with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There were flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day offered something to enjoy.

Subscribers can still access to everything and there are plenty of free on this day material for all to view.

If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? Have a search through what’s been posted and see what you want to read, watch and remember. The following 5,600 word article on the successes of 1970 is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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