Glyn Pardoe

Verified Timeline

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.

In Their Own Story

Once converted to full-back, Pardoe became a fixture in the Manchester City team, playing left-back throughout the club's successful period in the late 1960s and early 1970s. When substitutes were introduced at the start of the 1965–66 season, Pardoe became the first City player named as substitute, though he did not play; Roy Cheetham became the first to come on as a substitute three games later. After that opening match on the bench, Pardoe was restored to the starting line-up and played every game for the rest of the season. City won the Second Division by five points and were promoted to the First Division. Still predominantly a forward, he scored 11 goals in 50 appearances, the most productive goalscoring season of his career, including six in September with braces against Carlisle United and Norwich City. His transition to left-back came in October 1966 when both regular full-back Bobby Kennedy and his replacement David Connor were injured; Pardoe, who had played half-back and centre-forward earlier that season, was chosen for a match against Tottenham Hotspur. His performances were so strong that he played left-back in all but two of the remaining matches that season. By 1967–68, he was firmly established as first-choice left-back, missing just one match due to injury against Leeds United. He played in all key matches of City's title challenge, including the 4–1 win over Tottenham known as the Ballet on Ice and a 3–1 win away to reigning champions Manchester United. City went into the final match at Newcastle's St James' Park knowing a win would secure the championship; watched by a crowd including 20,000 travelling supporters, they won 4–3. Only captain Tony Book played more matches than Pardoe that championship season.

Reader's Guide

Pardoe was the cousin of his former teammate Alan Oakes, with several other relations having played professionally. His daughter Charlotte is married to Scott Doyle, the son of former teammate Mike Doyle, and his grandson Tommy Doyle plays for Birmingham City (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), as well as having represented England's U-17 and U-16 national sides. Pardoe died on 26 May 2020, aged 73.

Did You Know?

• Pardoe became Manchester City's youngest-ever player at 15 years and 314 days, a record that still stands in 2025.
• He scored the winning goal for City in the 1970 League Cup Final against West Bromwich Albion.
• Pardoe's right leg was broken by a tackle from George Best in December 1970, and doctors at one point feared amputation.
• He was the first Manchester City player to be named as a substitute after substitutes were introduced in the 1965–66 season.