CITY 4 ENGLAND XI 3
Mike Doyle Testimonial
9th May 1978
Attendance 9,000
Scorers
City Barnes(54), Power(64), Channon(88), Doyle (89 pen)
England B Greenhoff(14), J Greenhoff(36), Coppell(43)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
FROM THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 10TH MAY 1978
Manchester City fans are today branded soccer’s Scrooge supporters.
Mike Doyle, with 16 years loyal service at Maine Road, deserved far better than the miserable 9,000 turn-out for his testimonial last night.
… And fans needn’t point to a shortage of buses due to industrial action as a reason for not cramming the terraces. Support was solid enough on Kippax Street. It was the more affluent Main Stand section who let down Doyle on the night. And they’ve got their own transport!
… Their snub must now throw into the melting pot the whole question of testimonials, particularly for City players.
Before Doyle, the equally long-serving Glyn Pardoe felt the draught of disapproval with a mere 4,000 for his benefit. Yet last week Jim Smith, of relegated Newcastle, welcomed 19,000 Tyneside faithfuls to his St James’ Park testimonial.
So an alternative for rewarding loyalty must be found, with huge insurance policies a possibility.
Doyle will receive in the region of £10,000 for an entertaining match where City battled back from three down to win 4-3 against an England XI.
And a feature of the game was the linking of skipper Dave Watson with Paul Futcher, a stylish young Luton defender who tops manager Tony Book’s wanted list.
They played for the England XI in which United’s Greenhoff brothers, Brian and Jimmy, aided by Steve Coppell, shot their team into a big half-time lead. But then a spectacular Peter Barnes goal followed from Paul Power and Mike Channon saw City pull level.
Then in the last minute Barnes was pulled down by Alan Kennedy and fittingly, Doyle scored the penalty that made his night complete, on the field at least.
