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Another legend is gone!

RIP Mike!

My first real City hero. I tried to play like him in the school football team.

He also did not try and hide his hatred for the Rags .


R I P

Awful news. Mike was a City fan who got to play for his club, in many ways he represented the normal fan when he played.

RIP Mike.

WHAT THE FUCK?

GUTTED.

Gob smacked. Read his autobiography whilst away last year. RIP.

RIP Mike Doyle. Very sad news.

the word legends are banded around very loosely these days, .Big Mike was and always will be a legend R.I.P big fella!!!

What a truly dreadful shock this is.

RIP to a City great. Will never be forgotten.

Can only echo the above. R.I.P. Mike.

RIP

Saw a MEN board outside a newsagents on the way to work this morning saying 'City legend Doyle loses fight for life', I was shocked as I had heard or read nothing?

RIP true City legend.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1424925_manchester-city-legend-mike-doyle-loses-his-battle-for-life

RIP Mike, blue to the core.

Fond memories. Great Blue
His family and loved ones have had a lot to cope with, so hope they cope with this sadness too.

Great captain for rallying the troops and the best United hater of them all.

RIP

Not impressed with MEN though. After a whole article about his fight against booze and liver failure, the last line is:

"He had a reputation as a heavy drinker"

Well done MUEN

City legend Mike Doyle last night lost his brave battle for life, aged 64.

The Blues stalwart, renowned for his animosity towards United, suffered liver failure.

His distraught family had been praying for a miracle after doctors at Tameside Hospital warned them he had become very poorly.

Son Scott told the Manchester Evening News: “He was a great footballer, playing hundreds of games for City and England, but to me and the family he was our fantastic dad.”

His other son Grant said: “His consultant said he had seen only two patients pull out of this in 25 years. I took dad to the Sporting Chance clinic four years ago, which helped him get off the booze for 18 months.

“How does it reach this situation? Well, I guess it’s just what players do. He obviously had a few bob and must have got bored.”

Doyle, who played for England on five occasions and was a City captain,made his name in the game with over 500 appearances for the Blues breaking into the all-
conquering Joe Mercer-Malcolm Allison team with other youngsters such as Neil Young, Glyn Pardoe and Colin Bell.

Known for his sometimes unorthodox defensive play and a knack for goal-scoring, Doyle hit the back of the net for City 40 times.

The son of a policeman had a reputation for not backing down either on the pitch or off it.

His hatred for United only increased his popularity among the Blues faithful.

Doyle lived in Ashton-under-Lyne with his wife, Cheryl, to whom he was married for 43 years, and, as well as sons Grant and Scott, he leaves daughters, Stephanie and Natalie and six grandchildren.

Scott said yesterday before his death: “He has been in hospital for seven weeks and we have been told he has badly advanced liver failure and it seems to be an untreatable disease.

“He is a grown man and despite all efforts, including going to the Sporting Chance clinic set up by Tony Adams through the PFA, didn’t change his lifestyle.

“At the end of the day, it’s his own decision but he has lived life to the full. He’s a great person and a fantastic dad.

“He is very poorly indeed and we have all been called three times to say goodbye.

“The staff at Tameside Hospital have been fantastic.

“The nurses have got fond of my dad and we are all grateful for their superb care.”

Scott made headlines himself when he married the daughter of Doyle’s team-mate Pardoe.

As well as regular visits from family members, Pardoe, who was Doyle’s best man, had been to see his former colleague and there were calls from former team-mates Mike Summerbee and Tony Book.

After leaving City in 1978, he had short spells at Stoke, Bolton and Rochdale before becoming a rep for sports equipment company Slazenger.
He had a reputation as a heavy drinker.

Please don't let it be true...was always a hero for his attitude on the pitch.

I was shocked when I heard this , thanks for the great memories . One of the City greats.
RIP Mike.

First Big Mal, then Big Neil and now Doyley; this is terrible. The world just seems to be falling apart.

What a player he was though - hard as nails and totally committed to City.

Thanks for all the memories Big Man, just wish you could have been around a bit longer.

Very sad news.

Black day ... one of my first proper heros in football ... bah

Very sad news to wake up to - rest in peace Mike.