Absence of Wembley medal fuels Colin Doyle's desire to succeed with Bradford City

CONFIDENT: Bradford City's Colin Doyle. Picture Tony Johnson.

The Bradford City goalkeeper, famously bought last summer for £1 after Blackpool’s release clause was triggered by manager Stuart McCall, was at Birmingham City when the Midlands club lifted the League Cup in 2011.

Doyle, however, was confined to the stand as Arsenal were defeated under the Arch due to being Cup-tied – meaning his usual place on the bench as back-up to Ben Foster was claimed by Maik Taylor.

“I went on loan at the start of that season to Coventry, played one game and it was in the League Cup,” recalls the Bantams goalkeeper.

“I spent the rest of the season on the bench for Birmingham so it was a frustrating one to miss. I didn’t get a medal or anything, which was disappointing.

“But I was there celebrating with the lads on the pitch afterwards – so, hopefully, I can celebrate again this Saturday.”

If Bradford are to be toasting promotion come tomorrow evening, Doyle is likely to have a big role to play against arguably the most dangerous strike force in League One, Steve Morison and Lee Gregory.

“We have played against them together up here at Valley Parade and they are a handful,” added Doyle. “But we will be prepared for it.

Colin Doyle, in action for Bradford City against Chesterfield. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“We have worked hard this week and know which way we want to play. It is going to be a good game and, hopefully, we will be on the right end of the result.”

Several of McCall’s squad were in the City side knocked out of the play-offs by the Lions last season, meaning they have first hand experience of the intimidating atmosphere that the London club’s fans can generate.

Doyle, too, knows all about this from three separate spells on loan at The Den in the 2005-06 campaign.

“It was all right to be honest,” said Doyle when asked about playing in front of the Millwall crowd. “Sometimes you looked over and they were fighting between themselves at some stages, not the other fans.

“It is what it is. I have played a couple of times back there since being on loan in that relegation season, but it is going to be a different atmosphere come Saturday.

“Plus, when you are out on the pitch, you are not looking to see what is going on in the stands to see what the fans are doing. You try to blank everything out and concentrate on the game.”