‘Blue blood’ teen keeps it in family
TOMMY Doyle got some calming words from his grandfather Glyn Pardoe before following in his footsteps to make his Manchester City debut on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old midfielder put in an assured performance as City advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Southampton, but that is perhaps no surprise given his pedigree.
Doyle is the grandson of both Pardoe and the late Mike Doyle, team-mates in the City side that won the old First Division title in 1968, the FA Cup in 1969 and the League Cup in 1970.
Mike Doyle later lifted the League Cup as captain in 1976, City’s last major trophy before the Sheikh Mansour era.
Tuesday was an emotional moment for the family but the young Doyle took it in his stride.
“My mum started crying, my dad was just buzzing, and my grandad spoke to me in a calm manner,” Doyle said of the moment they learned he would play.
“He’s been there before. To play like they’ve done in the ‘60s and ‘70s is obviously brilliant.
“To continue the Doyle legacy is fantastic for me.
“Hopefully Mike was looking down proud, and I’ve done everything for him as well.”
A debut at the Etihad Stadium was a special moment for the City fan, and he was grateful to his team-mates for helping him make the most of it.
“I wasn’t too (nervous),” he said. “Kyle Walker asked me if I was feeling nervous and he said ‘I’ve got your back’.
“Once he said that I was fine, I was just looking forward to it and buzzing.
“I couldn’t rest.
“I was walking around all day and then when the time came, I was ready.”