CCFPA Sends Greetings To Sky Blue Supremo & ‘Birthday Boy’ Michael Doyle!

Happy winning 36th birthday today to our member, Sky Blue for the second time round (2003-11 & 2017- ), defensive midfielder Michael Doyle . Though some might argue he is now approaching veteran status his MOM award for his typical gutsy performance in the Sky Blues first league game against Notts County shows he he is still full of beans!  We are sure he will continue his combative leadership role as current Sky Blue captain assuming he turns out for CCFC in their Carabao cup tie at the Ricoh tonight on his birthday! 

Born in Dublin on 8th August 1981 Michael started out as a youngster with Glasgow Celtic turning full professional for them in August 1998 but did not break into the first team and was sent out on loan in the Danish Premier League club AGF Aarhus to gain match experience. The Sky Blues management team of Gary McAllister and (CCFPA member) Eric Black saw the potential and, after a trial he was brought to Highfield Road in 2003.  During his first-time Sky Blue years Michael also represented his country, the Republic of Ireland, in 2006.

After clocking up over 250 appearances for the Sky Blues, and 25 goals (not bad for a tenacious and defensively minded midfielder) plus a full season of 42 games on loan at Leeds United (in 2009-10) Michael left the Ricoh for pastures new, moving to Sheffield United in 2011.  He then became a linch pin of the Blades’ sides between 2011-15  and was club captain for a while.  He made 223 first team appearances for the United (10 goals) and the Irishman was one of the several ex CCFC players putting the boot into his erstwhile colleagues in 2014-15 and (wouldn’t you know it) Doyler’s strike against the Sky Blues was his only goal of that season in which he appeared 56 times for the Blades.

Michael with CCFPA’s Frank Pritchard after a game with the Blades in 2014

After becoming a free agent after being released by the Sheffield club at the end of that season (with some baseless speculation about a Ricoh return then) the former CCFC captain chose to accept an offer from Portsmouth for the last two seasons and racked up a total of 96 appearances for Pompey (3 goals) before returning to Sky Blue land. Mark Robins was quick to act when Pompey failed to offer Michael a new contract and clearly hopes that the Irishman’s experience in leading the south coast club to promotion from D2 can be replicated with CCFC.

Have a great day today Michael and we hope the Sky Blues come up with a win for you!!