George Summerbee

Football player infobox
playername = George Summerbee


fullname = George Michael Summerbee
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1914|10|22|df=y
cityofbirth = Winchester
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1955|4|19|1914|10|22|df=y
cityofdeath = Cirencester
countryofdeath = England
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Wing half
youthyears = c.1932–1934
youthclubs = Basingstone Town
years = 1934–1935
1935–1946
1946–1947
1947–1950
1950–1952
clubs = Aldershot
Preston North End
→ Portsmouth "(guest)"
Chester
Barrow
Cheltenham Town
caps(goals) = 0 19 0 (0)
0 3 0 0(0)
0 9000(0)
0122 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
managerclubs = Cheltenham Town
manageryears = 1950–1952
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

George Summerbee (born 22 October 1914, Winchester; died 19 April 1955, Cirencester) 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.

Playing and Managerial Career

Summerbee began his professional career with Aldershot, who he joined from non-league side Basingstoke Town in May 1934. While at Aldershot he played alongside his brother Gordon [cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= p.13-16 |id=ISBN 1-7472-3218-0] . In January 1935 George joined Football League First Division side Preston North End for £650 [cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= p.18 |id=ISBN 1-7472-3218-0] . 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 [cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= p.61-65 |id=ISBN 1-7472-3218-0] .

He joined Football League Division Three North side Chester in May 1946 for £600 [cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= p.81 |id=ISBN 1-7472-3218-0] , where he was to again struggle 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 [cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= p.111-112|id=ISBN 1-7472-3218-0] . He died just three years later from Addison’s disease, after a spell scouting for Bristol City [cite book | author=Colin Shindler | title=Fathers, Sons and Football| year=2001| pages= p.117-123|id=ISBN 1-7472-3218-0] .

His life story is featured alongside the other footballing members of his family in ‘Fathers, Sons and Football’ (Colin Shindler (2001), Headline Book Publishing).

External links

* [http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/fa-cup-countdown-winning-in-the-name-of-the-father-521426.html The Independent article on football families, featuring the Summerbees]

References