Nicky Summerbee

Nicky Summerbee

Personal information
Date of birth	26 August 1971 (1971-08-26) (age 40)
Place of birth	Altrincham, England
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1989–1994	Swindon Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1989–1994	Swindon Town	112	(6)
1994–1997	Manchester City	131	(6)
1997–2001	Sunderland	94	(7)
2001	Bolton Wanderers	9	(1)
2001	Manchester City	0	(0)
2001–2002	Nottingham Forest	17	(2)
2002–2003	Leicester City	29	(0)
2003–2006	Bradford City	68	(4)
2005	→ Swindon Town (loan)	1	(0)
2005	→ Tranmere Rovers (loan)	6	(0)
2006	Tamworth	4	(0)
Total		471	(26)
National team
1993	England U21	3	(1)
1994	England B	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Nicky Summerbee (born 26 August 1971) 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.

Career

Manchester City

Summerbee joined Manchester City 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.

Sunderland

Summerbee made his Sunderland debut on 15 November 1997, against Portsmouth 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.

Summerbee, Sykes, and the end of his Sunderland career

During that season, an injured Summerbee enjoyed a well-publicised liaison with TV presenter, Melanie Sykes. 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),^[1] 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.

Honours and Awards

Sunderland

• Football League Division 1 winner: 1998–99

Individual

• Sunderland Solid Gold XI^[2]

References

1. ^ "Crystal Palace 0–2 Bolton". BBC. 16 April 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1278194.stm. Retrieved 10 February 2010. 
2. ^ "Solid Gold XI". Sunderland AFC. 5 March 2011. http://www.safc.com/page/SolidGoldXI. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 

External links

• A Love Supreme
• Nicky Summerbee career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Summerbee, Nicky
Alternative names
Short description	Professional soccer player
Date of birth	26 August 1971
Place of birth	Manchester, England
Date of death
Place of death