Nicky Summerbee
Encyclopedia
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. His grandfather, George Summerbee
, and great uncle, Gordon Summerbee, had also been professional footballers.
Summerbee played 112 games in seven years for the Robins, scoring six goals before Manchester City
paid £1.3million for his services. On 10 May 1994, Summerbee won an England 'B'
cap in a match against Northern Ireland 'B' at Hillsborough
.
in 1994. His father Mike had become a household name at the club being part of the successful City team of the late 1960s and early 1970s and also being part of the star trio of Mike Summerbee
, Francis Lee
and Colin Bell
. Nicky joined the team at a time when manager Brian Horton
also brought in Peter Beagrie
, Uwe Rosler
and Paul Walsh
. In his first season Manchester City finished towards the bottom end of the Premiership table. Then chairman Francis Lee
replaced manager Brian Horton
with Alan Ball who failed to manage the team to increased success. The team were relegated to the first division. In 1997, Summerbee joined Sunderland
in a £1million-rated swap deal involving Craig Russell.
at Fratton Park
, as a second half substitute for Martin Smith. With trademark un-tucked shirt and orange edged boots, Summerbee capped his debut by notching the final goal in a 4–1 victory, scoring with a satisfying low drive. Nicky played out the rest of the season on the right hand side of midfield, quietly effective but overshadowed by the flair of Allan Johnston on the opposite flank.
His nonchalant, some might say lazy-looking, style of play made him an easy target for the Wearmouth boo-boys, anxious for prey since the departure of the unpopular Gareth Hall
. Summerbee also fell foul of the Maine Road
faithful at times, not least because he always played in the imposing shadow of his father.
The following season saw his treatment from sections of the crowd improve, before finally winning the boo boys over once and for all with an excellent display in the 2–2 draw at Norwich.
Summerbee enjoyed some of the finest moments of his career after Sunderland won promotion to the Premiership in 1999, and become an exceptionally under-valued player.
. However, it came at a cost. Summerbee lost his place in the team following his capital night out with Mel and a 4–1 defeat at Arsenal
. Whilst he returned after one match, Nicky was substituted in both of his next two games and was relegated to the bench for the next four. He returned triumphantly to the starting eleven by scoring his first goal of the season against Everton
. Sadly, it turned out to be his last as a Sunderland player. After this goal, Summerbee was in and out of the side. He finished the season on a high note though, starting in – and starring in – the final three games.
Summerbee was left in the wilderness by boss Peter Reid
the following season. He sat on the sidelines for six months until he was given a game for the reserves against Newcastle United
. Summerbee was clearly unfit and unhappy, he lashed out at Newcastle United defender Andy Griffin
and was immediately substituted before he could be sent off.
Free transfers and quick stays at the likes of Bolton Wanderers
(where he scored once against Crystal Palace), Leicester City
and Nottingham Forest
were followed by a two and a half year stay at Bradford City
, which included loan spells at Swindon Town
and Tranmere Rovers
.
Summerbee latterly played for Nationwide Conference side Tamworth
, but was released at the end of the 2005–06 season.
Individual
Born in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, he had trials at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, and Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, before joining Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
; where his father, former England international 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....
, had connections. His grandfather, George Summerbee
George Summerbee
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....
, and great uncle, Gordon Summerbee, had also been professional footballers.
Summerbee played 112 games in seven years for the Robins, scoring six goals before 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...
paid £1.3million for his services. On 10 May 1994, Summerbee won an England 'B'
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
cap in a match against Northern Ireland 'B' at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
.
Manchester City
Summerbee joined Manchester CityManchester 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...
in 1994. His father Mike had become a household name at the club being part of the successful City team of the late 1960s and early 1970s and also being part of the star trio 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....
, Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Francis Henry Lee is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national team. Lee played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, and Derby County...
and Colin Bell
Colin Bell
Colin Bell MBE , is a former English football player who was born in Hesleden, County Durham, England. Nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" , and Nijinsky after the famous racehorse , Bell is widely regarded as Manchester City's greatest ever player...
. Nicky joined the team at a time when manager Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
also brought in Peter Beagrie
Peter Beagrie
Peter Sidney Beagrie is a former English footballer who played as a left-winger. He played for ten different clubs at professional level notably Everton, Manchester City, Bradford City and Scunthorpe United...
, Uwe Rosler
Uwe Rösler
Uwe Rösler is a German football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Brentford.Rösler was previously a successful player who played for several clubs, most notably Manchester City , where he was the leading goalscorer for three consecutive seasons from 1995–96 to 1997–98, and 1...
and Paul Walsh
Paul Walsh
Paul Anthony Walsh is a retired English footballer.Walsh was a diminutive and pacy centre forward who shot to fame in the 1980s during spells with Charlton, Luton, Liverpool and Tottenham.-Charlton Athletic:...
. In his first season Manchester City finished towards the bottom end of the Premiership table. Then chairman Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Francis Henry Lee is a former professional footballer, who played in the 1960s and 1970s, including 27 appearances for the England national team. Lee played for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, and Derby County...
replaced manager Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
with Alan Ball who failed to manage the team to increased success. The team were relegated to the first division. In 1997, Summerbee joined Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in a £1million-rated swap deal involving Craig Russell.
Sunderland
Summerbee made his Sunderland debut on 15 November 1997, against PortsmouthPortsmouth 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...
at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
, as a second half substitute for Martin Smith. With trademark un-tucked shirt and orange edged boots, Summerbee capped his debut by notching the final goal in a 4–1 victory, scoring with a satisfying low drive. Nicky played out the rest of the season on the right hand side of midfield, quietly effective but overshadowed by the flair of Allan Johnston on the opposite flank.
His nonchalant, some might say lazy-looking, style of play made him an easy target for the Wearmouth boo-boys, anxious for prey since the departure of the unpopular Gareth Hall
Gareth Hall
Gareth Hall is an English-born former Welsh international footballer of the 1980s and 1990s.He started his career as an apprentice at Chelsea and made his first team debut on 5 May 1987 against Wimbledon F.C., having featured in a reserve match earlier in the day...
. Summerbee also fell foul of the Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
faithful at times, not least because he always played in the imposing shadow of his father.
The following season saw his treatment from sections of the crowd improve, before finally winning the boo boys over once and for all with an excellent display in the 2–2 draw at Norwich.
Summerbee enjoyed some of the finest moments of his career after Sunderland won promotion to the Premiership in 1999, and become an exceptionally under-valued player.
Summerbee, Sykes, and the end of his Sunderland career
During that season, an injured Summerbee enjoyed a well-publicised liaison with TV presenter, Melanie SykesMelanie Sykes
Melanie Ann Sykes is an English television presenter and model.-Career:Melanie Sykes was born to an English father, and an Anglo-Indian mother. She first came to public attention as the bikini-clad girl in the Boddingtons beer advertisements with the broad "Northern" accent in the mid-1990s...
. However, it came at a cost. Summerbee lost his place in the team following his capital night out with Mel and a 4–1 defeat at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Whilst he returned after one match, Nicky was substituted in both of his next two games and was relegated to the bench for the next four. He returned triumphantly to the starting eleven by scoring his first goal of the season against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Sadly, it turned out to be his last as a Sunderland player. After this goal, Summerbee was in and out of the side. He finished the season on a high note though, starting in – and starring in – the final three games.
Summerbee was left in the wilderness by boss Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
the following season. He sat on the sidelines for six months until he was given a game for the reserves against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Summerbee was clearly unfit and unhappy, he lashed out at Newcastle United defender Andy Griffin
Andy Griffin
Andrew "Andy" Griffin is an English footballer, currently playing for Championship team, ReadingGriffin began his career at Stoke City, where he established a reputation as a solid wing-back defender...
and was immediately substituted before he could be sent off.
Free transfers and quick stays at the likes of Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
(where he scored once against Crystal Palace), Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
were followed by a two and a half year stay at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, which included loan spells at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.
Summerbee latterly played for Nationwide Conference side Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
, but was released at the end of the 2005–06 season.
Honours and Awards
Sunderland- Football League Division 1 winner: 1998–99
Individual
- Sunderland Solid Gold XI