George Summerbee
Encyclopedia
George Summerbee was an English
professional footballer who played in The Football League
for four clubs. He was father of Mike Summerbee
and grandfather of Nicky Summerbee
, who both played for Manchester City
.
, who he joined from non-league side Basingstoke Town
in May 1934. While at Aldershot he played alongside his brother Gordon. In January 1935 George joined Football League First Division
side Preston North End
for £650. In 11 years at Deepdale
, Summerbee made just three Football League
appearances. During this spell he also spent several years during the Second World War guesting for Portsmouth
, where he made 149 competitive appearances while working at a nearby aircraft factory.
He joined Football League Division Three North side Chester
in May 1946 for £600, where again he struggled to earn a regular first-team place, and he moved to Barrow
. He made more than 100 league appearances in three years at Holker Street
, with his final Football League
outing being against Lincoln City
in May 1950.
Summerbee then joined non-league side Cheltenham Town
as player-manager, but he left in 1952 after his contract was not renewed. He died just three years later from Addison’s disease, after a spell scouting for Bristol City
.
His life story is featured alongside the other footballing members of his family in "Fathers, Sons and Football" (Colin Shindler, Headline Book Publishing, 2001).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for four clubs. He was father of Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee
Mike Summerbee is an English former footballer, who played in the successful Manchester City side of the late 1960s and early 1970s....
and grandfather of Nicky Summerbee
Nicky Summerbee
Nicky Summerbee is an English former professional footballer.Born in Manchester, he had trials at Manchester United, Leicester City, and Norwich City, before joining Swindon Town; where his father, former England international Mike Summerbee, had connections...
, who both played for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
.
Playing and managerial career
Summerbee began his professional career with AldershotAldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
, who he joined from non-league side Basingstoke Town
Basingstoke Town F.C.
Basingstoke Town Football Club is an English football club based in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Camrose, named after their late benefactor, Lord Camrose. Their motto, 'Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum', means 'No stepping...
in May 1934. While at Aldershot he played alongside his brother Gordon. In January 1935 George joined Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
for £650. In 11 years at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
, Summerbee made just three Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearances. During this spell he also spent several years during the Second World War guesting for Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, where he made 149 competitive appearances while working at a nearby aircraft factory.
He joined Football League Division Three North side Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in May 1946 for £600, where again he struggled to earn a regular first-team place, and he moved to Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
. He made more than 100 league appearances in three years at Holker Street
Holker Street
Holker Street, also known as the Furness Building Society Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is a sports stadium located in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Currently and originally used as a football ground, it has also previously been used for speedways races...
, with his final Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
outing being against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in May 1950.
Summerbee then joined non-league side Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
as player-manager, but he left in 1952 after his contract was not renewed. He died just three years later from Addison’s disease, after a spell scouting for Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
His life story is featured alongside the other footballing members of his family in "Fathers, Sons and Football" (Colin Shindler, Headline Book Publishing, 2001).