Celtic legend Johnny Doyle’s daughter hears his voice for first time in 40 years in RTE documentary
CELTIC legend Johnny Doyle's daughter says she felt 'like she won the lottery' after hearing her dad's voice for the first time in 40 years.
Joanna Doyle had been searching the archives for any footage of her dad speaking for years before a short clip from an RTE documentary was unearthed.
Celtic hero Doyle was a winger for Celtic for a five year spell before he died after being electrocuted at his home in 1981, with Joanna aged just three at the time.
Joanna could recall memories of her father and watched clips of him in action on the pitch but longed to hear his voice.
And after spending a decade hunting, she was alerted to a film which included seconds of footage of her father.
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Speaking to The Times, medical secretary Joanna said: "“I was welling up, really emotional, proud, ecstatic.
“To have him suddenly there with us, talking on my phone screen, it was as if he had never left.
“People were saying, fast-forward it to the eight-minute mark, that’s when he’s about to speak.
“I did that, I saw the tape get to that point, and I just paused it. I composed myself. I thought, ‘I can’t believe this, I’m about to hear my dad speaking.’
"I had been looking for this for so long.
“Oh my God, it was amazing. I can't stop watching it."
The brief clip is short but perfectly encapsulates Johnny's character.
He is quick to make a joke about then-boss and Hoops icon Billy McNeill - which Parkhead season ticket holder Joanna knows to be a perfect representation of her humorous, clever father.
Joanna said: “That was just him. There he is, ripping it out of his manager.
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"That was him to a tee, a guy with a great sense of humour."
And while Johnny passed away at just 30 years old, Joanna is delighted to hear people think he lives on through her.
She said: "I’ve been told I’m very much like him.
"People have commented: ‘It’s just like standing talking to wee Johnny again.’
"It might just be a mannerism, but people turn to each other, and say, ‘That is wee Johnny!’ I’m happy to have inherited his traits.”
Johnny Doyle was born in Uddingston and raised to support Celtic throughout his youth.
He joined Ayr United as a teen and made his debut against Rangers in a 3-0 win where he brandished a crucifix in front of Gers fans.
He won two top-flight and Scottish Cup titles during his spell with the Hoops.
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