Glyn Pardoe

Lore & Background

Pardoe was raised in the Cheshire town of Winsford, where his father worked for a tailor. In his youth he played for Mid-Cheshire Boys, and received approaches from both Everton and Manchester City. He chose City as his cousin Alan Oakes was on the books at the club, and so joined the club as an amateur in July 1961. He made his first team debut in April 1962 against Birmingham City.

Aged 15 years and 314 days, he became Manchester City's youngest ever player. Though Pardoe played at full-back during most of his career, his first appearances were at centre-forward. On his debut he replaced Colin Barlow in the line-up, and he had represented England Schoolboys as a centre-forward. He also won 4 England under 23 caps.

After his City debut, he played a further three consecutive matches. Manchester City's opening match of the 1962–63 season was against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pardoe was named in the starting line-up, but the match ended in an 8–1 defeat, and he was dropped from the team. Two games later he was selected to face Liverpool at Anfield, but this match also ended in a heavy defeat.

More than six months passed before his next chance, where this time he played at left-half for two matches. He made only one further appearance that season, which ended in relegation for Manchester City. The following season Pardoe was in and out of the side, making 21 first team appearances. In April 1964, Pardoe was part of the Manchester City youth team that faced local rivals Manchester United in the final of the FA Youth Cup.

In the first leg he scored City's only goal in a 4–1 defeat, and in the second leg he scored twice as City lost 4–3, making the aggregate score an 8–4 defeat. Once converted to full-back, Pardoe became a fixture in the Manchester City team, and played at left-back throughout the club's successful period in the late 1960s and early 1970s. When substitutes were introduced to league football at the start of the 1965–66 season, Pardoe became the first Manchester City player to be named as substitute.

However, he did not play, and Roy Cheetham became the first City player to come on as a substitute three games later. After spending the opening match on the bench, Pardoe was restored to the starting line-up and played every game for the rest of the season. Manchester City won the Second Division by five points, and were promoted to the First Division.

Reader's Guide

Pardoe was a versatile right-footer who played mainly on the left. He was a forward early in his career, but converted to full-back in 1966, a position he retained for the rest of his career. He was part of the Manchester City team in the club's most successful era. Under the management of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, the club won the league championship, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in a three-year period. After suffering a severe leg injury in 1970, Pardoe spent two years on the sidelines, and struggled to hold down a first team place upon his return. He retired in 1976, taking a place on the coaching staff, and remained at the club until 1992.

Did You Know?

• Pardoe scored the winning goal for City in the 1970 League Cup Final, beating West Bromwich Albion 2–1.
• He became Manchester City's youngest-ever player at 15 years and 314 days, a record that still stands in 2025.
• His grandson Tommy Doyle plays for Birmingham City (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers) and has represented England's U-17 and U-16 national sides.