Glyn Pardoe
Footballer
GLYN PARDOE, who has died at 73, was a key member of the Manchester City side that won four trophies, including the First Division title, in the space of three years from 1968
He became the youngest player to represent the club when he made his debut at the age of 15 years 314 days in 1962 – a record that still stands.
A skilful and defensively excellent full-back, he remained a one-club man until his retirement in 1976, although his promising career never recovered from the effects of a tackle from Manchester United’s George Best in December 1970, in which he suffered a double fracture of the leg that sidelined him for two years.
The son of Leslie and Mary Pardoe, he was raised in the Cheshire town of Winsford. Football was his passion from a young age and he attracted interest from both Everton and City after representing both the Mid-Cheshire and England schoolboy sides.
He opted for City, signing as an apprentice in 1961, because his cousin, Alan Oakes, who went on to set the club’s all-time appearances record, was already on the books.
Due to injuries, he was fasttracked into the team before turning 16, making his debut in a 4-1 defeat by Birmingham on April 11, 1962. He then became a semi-regular in the side, although some lean years followed with relegation to the Second Division. His career took off after the arrival of the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison in 1965.
City returned to the top flight and Pardoe gradually evolved from playing forward to becoming a right-half and then, ultimately, despite being rightfooted, a left-back.
He was part of the backbone of the team that won the title in 1968, the FA Cup the following year and the League cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.
Unfortunately for him, his career was remembered as much for his injury as for his achievements. City thrashed United 4-1 in that match of 1970 in which Best lost control of the ball and slid in on Pardoe in an attempt to regain possession.
At hospital he developed circulation problems, and there were initially fears that amputation might be the only way to prevent the situation worsening, or even becoming life-threatening.
Best wrote in his autobiography: “There was a terrible cracking noise and I knew instantly that he’d broken his leg. It was totally accidental and I felt awful.”
Pardoe found a new slot at right-back in 1973-74 and featured in the side that lost the League Cup final to Wolves, but he was never the same player. A knee injury limited chances further and he retired shortly before turning 30, having made 380 appearances for the club.
He took up a job on City’s coaching staff and also worked as youth development officer before being pushed out in a reshuffle in 1992.
He later did some work as a summariser on local radio.
He and his wife, Pat, had a daughter, Charlotte, who married Scott Doyle, the son of Pardoe’s friend and former City team-mate. Mike Doyle, in 2007.
Their son, Tommy Doyle, has followed in the footsteps of his grandfathers, making his senior debut for City in a 3-1 League Cup win against Southampton last October.
There was a terrible cracking noise... I knew he’d broken his leg.
George Best describes what happened after he tackled Glyn Pardoe.