Bantams keeper coach Colin Doyle eyes Wembley fairy tale

Steve Morison, whose late goal for Millwall sunk City in 2017, came across to the home dug-out for the usual pre-match greeting.

But the Sutton boss swerved a beer in the coaches room after Saturday's game – and avoided getting a bit back from the big Irishman.

“Nobody came in afterwards or I would have said something then,” laughed Doyle.

“It’s a good job he didn’t or I’d probably have a few harsh words for him!”

But who would have thought that seven years on from that play-off final agony, City’s keeper coach could be on the brink of stepping out on the biggest stage once again.

READ MORE: McDonald found it "awkward" going back into dressing room

The Bantams – and 38-year-old Doyle – are 90 minutes away from a return to the national stadium if they can overcome Wycombe at Valley Parade tomorrow night.

“Yes, I’d love to walk out again at Wembley,” he added. “I’d never have imagined that in a million years.

“But we’re not daft. It’s going to be a very difficult game tomorrow.

“The conditions are going to be difficult but all the lads are relishing it. It’s a big game because we’re one win away from Wembley and everyone wants to be involved.”

Doyle has missed out only once in City’s remarkable road to the semi-finals of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy – when he was suspended for the second round against Liverpool under-21s.

Not a bad run for a keeper whose last appearance going into the season was in May 2021 for Kilmarnock.

With Harry Lewis playing every minute last season, nobody expected to see Doyle competitively again.

But the opportunity came with the opening group game at Grimsby in October during Kevin McDonald’s brief time in caretaker charge.

Doyle said: “It was a weird one. It was one of Kev’s first games.

“I was sat in the office and Kev just suddenly asked, ‘do you fancy a game?

“I thought, ‘what!’ But I was up for it if Harry didn’t want to - he had played every game up to that point.

Colin Doyle in usual coaching mode with ex-City keeper Harry Lewis (Image: Tom Pearson)

“Kev thought it was probably best in case he went down injured at any time. I wasn’t going to say no.

“So, I played and we won … then I played another and we won again and I was steadily ticking along.”

Successive yellow cards ruled Doyle out of the first knock-out round and he thought that would be it.

But Graham Alexander put him back in against Derby and Lewis was unveiled as a Carlisle player two days later.

Instant replacement Sam Walker had already featured in the Trophy for Charlton – and Doyle’s starting spot for the rest of the competition was guaranteed.

He smiled: “That’s why I said we should sign him! I made sure we’d got someone in who had already played.

“We knew one of the games Sam had actually played for Charlton was against Sutton in the Trophy.

“But he was obviously top of our list to bring in. We talked to him in the summer because we thought we were going to lose Harry then.

“It just fell into gear that we were able to get him because he was out of contract at Charlton.

Colin Doyle is beaten by Steve Morison's goal at Wembley (Image: Pro Sports Images)

“The gaffer was fine with me cracking on playing the games. I don’t think a semi-final was really planned but here we are.”

As the back-up keeper, Doyle has to be prepared for every eventuality and he has noticed an increase in tempo in training since Alexander’s arrival as he combines both coaching with potentially playing.

“It’s a bit different to Kilmarnock where I was number three at the time, so I could concentrate more on the other two lads.

“But I know I’m one injury, red card or whatever from going on so I have to be ready.

“I am training more here than I had been up there. It’s something I need to keep on top of.

“Mainly, I need to make sure Sam is right for the league but then I step in when I’m needed.

“I wouldn’t say it’s getting easier after playing a few games. The body isn’t telling me that!

“But I do feel better. It’s something I’m enjoying and I think I’m getting the balance right between coaching the other lads and keeping on my toes.”

City start underdogs in the semi-final despite winning their last three games but can take confidence from knocking off Derby at Pride Park last month.

Colin Doyle had not played since May 2021 before October (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Doyle added: “It was one of the toughest draws we could get and everyone was probably thinking, ‘it’s been good while it lasted’.

“Most people couldn’t see us beating them but we were very, very good. The performance was right up there and we were unlucky not to win by two or three.

“I hardly had a save to make and I’ll take that every time. It would be great if that happened again.

“Wycombe are obviously a higher league than us and have had a couple of good results of late. They beat Peterborough 5-2 and drew with Oxford at the weekend.

“They beat us 2-1 in the FA Cup earlier in the season. But it’s a one-off game and we’ve played some big teams already, like Derby at their place.

“We’re not scared of anything. We’re in a good place at the moment and we’ll see where we get to after 90 minutes.”